Howden Australia has appointed Lyndall Ridley to the role of Partner Group Risk to address rising rates of illness and injury and the impact on the workplace.

She joins the Group Risk team, which comprises Head of Group Risk Chris Sinclair, Partner Group Life Nick Kouteris and Senior Associate Group Risk Kylie Lawrence, formed to help clients respond to a challenging talent market and address the impact of illness and injury on employees and employers.

The team specialises in Group Life and Salary Continuance Insurance and using insurance as a tool to improve the health and wellbeing of an organisation’s workforce.

“More and more employers are investigating ways in which Salary Continuance Insurance can mitigate against these risks while simultaneously enhancing their overall employee proposition,” Mr Sinclair said.

Howden says it has developed a Salary Continuance Insurance product suite aimed at improving the key drivers of claims and costs – physical wellbeing, recovery from cancer and mental wellbeing – and it can help organisations lower costs and optimise current programs.

“Howden has developed specific prevention and intervention solutions backed by research, which are proven to deliver better health outcomes and reduce the longevity of claims, allowing employees to return to life and work sooner,” Mr Sinclair said.

Established in 1994, UK-based Howden employs more than 9000 people worldwide and operates in more than 90 territories.