QBE announces Australian paratriathlete as official ambassador
QBE today announced the appointment of paratriathlete Lauren Parker as an official ambassador.
The announcement comes after QBE supported Lauren as a beneficiary of an Accident and Health insurance policy. The partnership will see QBE support Lauren with her sporting career, recovery and ongoing rehabilitation.
Lauren, who won bronze at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, just 12 months after a horrific accident which left her paralysed from the waist down, has become an inspiration to all Australians, and the world, who are in awe of the spirit she has shown during her return to competition.
Lauren met with an accident during a routine cycle training ride during final preparations for the Australian Ironman Triathlon in April 2017, where she was tipped as a podium favourite.
Lauren’s transition to adapted sport was one of the quickest the International Triathlon Union (ITU) has on record. Lauren has partially attributed this transition to the support she received from QBE, where she was insured through her membership of Triathlon Australia.
In her role as QBE ambassador, Lauren will attend and speak at a number of events for QBE employees, partners and customers, as well as support QBE in competition with logo placement on her kit.
Chief Customer Officer of QBE’s Australian and New Zealand Operations, Bettina Pidcock, said the organisation prides itself on enduring partnerships and all employees are driven by their commitment to help the Australian community.
“Lauren has shown true grit and determination throughout her journey, where so many others would have given up. This drive to turn an incredibly challenging situation into a positive is nothing short of inspirational and I have no doubt Lauren’s positive attitude has contributed to her incredible success so early on,” Ms Pidcock said.
Lauren has already spoken with QBE employees to share her experience and highlight how her claims experience had made such a significant impact on her recovery.
“Already, our people have been inspired by Lauren and we were all cheering her on during the Commonwealth Games earlier in the year. We’re absolutely delighted to be continuing to support Lauren in the next phase of her career and we’re looking forward to working with such a champion,” she said.
Lauren said knowing she didn’t have to worry about how her bills will be paid meant she could focus 100 per cent on her rehabilitation.
When the accident happened, I felt my life was over. Doctors were telling me I could no longer do what I loved, and all the while my bills and medical expenses were piling up,” she said.
“QBE paid my claim in full within two weeks of my accident. I then started working with my QBE Injury Management Advisor, who worked tirelessly to help me and my support team come to terms with my life change, giving me security and direction at the time I needed it most.”
This week Lauren jets out to Hawaii to support fellow athletes competing at the iconic Kona Ironman, where Lauren herself hopes to compete in the future. While there, she’ll be testing out the course for her own preparation.
“I still have a lot of work to do, but my plan is to spend the summer in Australia training, working on technique and building up my fitness. The Olympics are firmly in my sights, so next year I’ll be spending time competing in Europe to on the road to qualifying for Tokyo 2020.”
For further information please contact:
Kate Sinclair
External Communications Manager - QBE Corporate Communications
Phone: +61 435 688 785
Email: kate.sinclair@qbe.com