Alice Cahill

Corporate Responsibility Manager, Sydney, Australia

Why Zurich?

"Zurich in Australia was offering a first-time role in Corporate Responsibility, with the opportunity to design and implement community and environment programs from inception. This suited my passion to help organizations make a difference working within their communities and the environment. I was excited to join a company with strong values, and with "being a good corporate citizen" as one of its core values".

• Born in Sydney, Australia; speaks English; enjoys theatre, swimming, fitness and adventure travel to places such as Mongolia and Africa.
• Graduated from University of Technology Sydney with a Bachelor of Business in Finance and Economics. Returned to study during her career to complete a Masters in Community Management; in 2007, was personally trained by former US Vice President Al Gore to be one of his 1,500 climate change ambassadors and present the climate change message featured in his film "An Inconvenient Truth".
• Early on worked in the banking, finance and venture capital sectors, and later spent three years working for a Sydney-based Corporate Social Responsibility consultancy, called Positive Outcomes based in Sydney.
• Since joining Zurich in 2004: has been the Corporate Responsibility Manager in Australia, managing community and environment programs; is facilitating the development of a strategic approach to the Corporate Responsibility agenda with a focus on how relevant social and environmental issues will be incorporated into Zurich's business strategy.
• Significant projects: developing and managing Community Connections, Zurich's Australian community program which encourages and supports employees to get involved in their local communities. Working with the business units to implement relevant programs that fit with Zurich's social purpose.

Why I'm still here?

"Because I have the scope to develop exciting initiatives, investigating how we can incorporate relevant social and environmental issues into our business strategy. Zurich gave me an exciting opportunity to become one of only six Zurich employees chosen to be an Environmental Champion. We worked in association with Earthwatch on a project restoring mangroves in Sri Lanka following the devastating tsunami of 2004".

Bottom line

"If I were interviewing you I'd look for you to come to work with a sense of purpose, and apply yourself fully to your role".

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