Profile
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
Liam Bassett is the director of digital learning (P–12) at Westbourne Grammar School and works with a dynamic and high-performing team to enact the school’s digital strategy. As a senior leader and member of the school's academic executive team and wellbeing executive team, he is passionate about change management, school transformation and project management.
Over the last decade, Bassett has pioneered significant initiatives in education across a range of management and strategic roles. Recognised as an Education Rising Star at the 2021 Australian Awards and featured in The Educator’s Hot List 2022, his leadership in pedagogical change is grounded in trust, collaboration and evidence-based innovation.
Throughout his career, Bassett has demonstrated outstanding communication, interpersonal and coaching skills that have developed and sustained strong relationships. By focusing on listening and creating a shared language around vision, he is able to build a team’s capacity for improvement and create opportunities for meaningful change.
Bassett is a passionate, engaging and innovative educator who draws from contemporary evidence-based research to spark new ideas. Above all, he loves teaching and learning and sharing his expertise with the wider education sector.
300 Sayers Road, Truganina, Vic 3029
03 9731 9444
bassett.liam@westbourne.vic.edu.au
linkedin.com/in/liambassett
westbournegrammar.com
Liam Bassett
Director of Digital Learning (P–12)
Westbourne Grammar School
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Bio
Milestones
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females”
Alice Phillips Topping
Ryan Specialty
2015–2017
2017–2020
2020–2021
2022–2023
Present
VCE English Teacher at Mentone Grammar
2015–
2017
2017–2018: Assistant Year 7 Coordinator at Mentone Grammar
2018–2020: House Coordinator (Years 10–12) at Mentone Grammar
2017–
2020
2020–2021: Head of Digital Learning and Innovation (ELC–12) at Mentone Grammar
2021: Educator Australian Education Rising Star of the Year – Excellence Award
2020–
2021
2022: The Educator’s Hot List; The Educator’s Rising Star
2023: The Educator’s 5-Star Innovator School (school and leadership team recognition)
2022–
2023
Director of Digital Learning (P–12) at Westbourne Grammar School since 2021
Present
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
• Gold award for Magazine or Newspaper Advertisement
• Silver award for Promotional Email
• Silver award for Most Out-of-the-Box Idea
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
“We keep evolving the brand as we grow and expand, which is equally rewarding and satisfying,” adds Phillips Topping.
“Marketing is a very busy space. The challenge is to keep it fresh and keep it new. There’s so much out there. You have to think about how to break through.”
Since joining the firm in 2015, Ryan Specialty has:
• completed 28 acquisitions
• launched 10 companies
“With each acquisition and de novo formation, a large branding component is involved,” says Phillips Topping.
Speaking on the importance of spotlighting marketing professionals, Phillips Topping says, “It’s imperative to shine a light on those who aren’t necessarily brokers or underwriters. There are so many different aspects of the industry. It’s nice to show all the great work that’s being done behind the scenes.”
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