Diary of an Insurer: Zurich’s Laurie Deans

Monday

Monday is my non-working day, so I start the week with my one-year-old twin boys. 

They’re always on the move, and today we’re off to our toddler class, they have a long nap, and I grab a coffee with my mum. With twins, organisation is everything, so I prepped their bottles and nursery clothes too.

I’m grateful to balance a job I love, working part-time alongside parenting. 

After a year of maternity leave, I’ve returned refreshed and ready to launch our new five-year strategy – ‘enriching communities together’. 

I’ve taken the baton back from Samantha Owen, our interim head of ZCT, who’s now leading a team supporting our charity partners.

I stepped into the role in December 2023 after more than 20 years at Zurich and serving on the trust executive since 2020. 

I joined the company through the actuarial graduate scheme and spent many years in pricing and underwriting, most recently as head of EEA implementation and engagement. 

I felt drawn to work in charity and community engagement, and as head of ZCT, I can continue contributing to the insurance industry while making a positive impact beyond it.

Tuesday

After a successful nursery run, it’s time for a decaf coffee and emails. 

I try to avoid checking them on my non-working day, so I dedicate the first couple of hours of my working week to filing and responding to messages, touching base with my PA, and planning the days ahead.

I spend the rest of the morning connecting with my team in one-to-one meetings, discussing any challenges, checking in on their personal goals and development, and reviewing our progress toward strategic objectives.

Together, our 12-person trust team is united in supporting charity partners so local communities benefit fully and each organisation gains the greatest value from the partnership beyond the unrestricted, multi-year funding package. 

I feel genuinely proud to be part of the trust and the impact we make.

After a lunchtime walk, I join a call with my Zurich Municipal colleagues to compare notes and share knowledge on our governance, safeguarding and compliance standards. 

Zurich Municipal’s expertise in this sector provides valuable input for my board report, which I spend the afternoon developing. 

Wednesday 

Today I’m out and about attending a ‘seeing is believing’ visit in Whiteley – the best way to see our partnerships come to life. 

We take some of our executive committee and local leadership team to one of our charity partners to see their work in action. 

The session aims to create an emotional connection and understanding that will help spark some volunteering and skill-sharing opportunities between Zurich UK employees and our new charity partners. 

Next up, I join a call with some of my team to finalise our communication strategy. 

It’s important to highlight those authentic moments when Zurich employees have truly made a difference for our partners. 

With this plan, volunteers should feel empowered to share their stories, whether internally or externally. The aim? To inspire even more people to use their volunteering days and give back to local communities, allowing the trust to focus on strengthening these partnerships. 

To round the day off, I join an internal call for the Employees Driving Gender Equity (Edge) committee. 

As a former co-chair and passionate advocate, supporting gender equity is a cause close to my heart and it’s great to continue to support from the sidelines. 

Thursday 

Today I’m in our Swindon office, our central team hub, for a ZCT senior leadership session. 

We start with budget reviews, then move on to the newly launched Partnership Plus programme, exploring how our charity partners plan to use their £5000 grants for training, development, and wellbeing. 

Based on previous feedback, we’ve ring-fenced additional funding specifically for staff wellbeing and training, often overlooked but vital for helping teams stay resilient. 

After lunch and a catch-up with a colleague in the canteen, we shift our focus to sustainability funding. 

Our local partners can now obtain annual grants supporting sustainability or DEIB, and we review several exciting project proposals already coming through. 

On Wednesdays and Thursdays my husband does both drop-off and pick-up, which allows me to work two longer days. 

There’s nothing better than seeing the boys’ happy faces at the end of the day and having this flexibility means I can make the most of my time in the office without rushing home.

Friday 

It’s been a busy week, so I start by regrouping – checking emails and planning for the following week. 

I then lead a coaching session with a colleague at Zurich UK who is eager to develop their skill in corporate social responsibility. 

I completed a coaching apprenticeship and enjoy helping others unlock their potential and build on their strengths. It’s especially rewarding for me to support development within the charity space.

The afternoon sees me head to the Pride of Swindon Awards, now in their 14th year. These awards are a highlight for Zurich Community Trust, celebrating the inspiring charities and community groups we support, and reinforcing our commitment to local impact. 

ZCT has proudly funded an award since 2008, making this event especially meaningful for us.

After an uplifting afternoon recognising local changemakers, I head home for dinner with my family. 

Once the twins are in bed, my husband and I catch up on our current Netflix series, Adolescence, before getting ready for a weekend full of playdates and birthday parties.