Covert juggling of work and babies, rejecting low ball pay offers and educating colleagues that “I don’t have a wife at home that’s got everything done for me”.

These are the anecdotes women in senior insurance industry roles shared with insuranceNEWS.com.au about their career experiences in the lead up to International Women’s Day today.

Incoming QBE Australia and Pacific CEO Sue Houghton, who is also the first female President of the Insurance Council, tells us that while many industry bodies are headed by women and females make up half the industry, a pay gap near 30% is “disappointing” and more work needs to be done to reach parity.

“This is not over,” Ms Houghton said. “We have got to be really conscious about it from every perspective and proactively looking at diversity in recruitment processes.”

New National Insurance Brokers Association President Dianne Phelan reveals that 43 years ago when she began in insurance, she was often the only woman in the room at industry events.

“When I was young it was the men that got invited to these things. Women … just were not promoted into roles that allowed you to get out and network and meet other people in the industry. It has vastly improved but clearly we still have a way to go,” she says.

Natasha Gale, MD of legal expenses underwriting agency ARAG, says Allianz had a male-only gym in the building when she started out and tells of “covert, under blanket” juggling of work and raising four children while reassuring male colleagues that her productivity would be the same if they allowed a little flexibility.

“If you get a promotion, take a woman along with you. Keep in contact, be a mentor,” she said.

Aon Affinity MD Lisa Henderson explains how she negotiated a critical pay rise and Sharon Ooi, Swiss Re’s Head of Australia and New Zealand, says women executive numbers are still too low.

“We as an industry and a region need to make diversity a strategic priority,” she says, adding that workplace equality “will strengthen our governance, profitability and sustainability for the long term - an outcome that will ultimately benefit all of us”.

See ANALYSIS.