Meet our partners: Briony Barclay-Ridge

TAL’s partner community brings together leaders from across the superannuation sector. This month we speak with Briony Barclay-Ridge, General Manager of Workplace Solutions, Superannuation and Investments at AMP, about her path into financial services, what employers want from a super fund, and why the best partnerships go beyond product.

Tell us about your career and what led you to your current role at AMP.     

My career hasn’t followed a traditional or linear path and that’s been one of its strengths. I studied economics at university, and when I graduated, a large insurer offered me a role after my first interview. I took it without thinking twice. I started in the contact centre, moved into a team handling more complex member issues, and ended up leading it. I made connections and lifelong friends who went on to work across financial services. 

One of those friends referred me into AMP, and I look back and laugh when I remember that I nearly resigned after my first six months.   

Fortunately, my boss convinced me to stay for a team conference, and meeting everyone away from their desks changed my perspective. I realised I’d been confusing demanding people for passionate people working hard to deliver on their promises. I ended up staying for five years, left for another organisation, and then got the tap on the shoulder to come back to AMP. I jumped at the chance, and I’ve now been at AMP for over 18 years across two stints and have always been very proud of the heritage and long history of helping Australians. 

What are employers looking for when they choose a super fund for their corporate plans?

It’s a competitive, commoditised landscape. To compete, you need low fees, strong performance and comprehensive cover, but what employers are really asking is: how are you going to look after their people, not just at retirement, but through every life stage?  

At AMP Super, we work with organisations ranging from very large employers through to small businesses. While their needs differ, the common requirement is knowing their people are being looked after with easy access to support, clear communication, and a fund that will be there when members need help the most.

TAL’s health and wellbeing offering plays a role in AMP’s proposition to employers. How does that support your conversations with prospective clients? 

Partnering with AMP gives employers a platform to serve up more value to their employees, and TAL’s health and wellbeing resources are an important extension of that. It reinforces the fact that insurance isn’t just about paying claims; it’s about giving people avenues for support before a difficult period becomes a crisis. 

When I think about the societal issues we’re facing around mental health, having those resources available is so important, because prevention is always better than the cure. When that support is available earlier and easier to access, it leads to better long-term outcomes for members, and that’s what makes it such a valuable part of the conversation with employers.

Return to work is a growing focus across the industry. How does AMP approach early intervention for members?

Early intervention can make all the difference when it comes to helping our members get the support they need at the right time. It’s important that people understand returning to work is not about getting someone off a claim. We want people to return because we know they are more likely to lead a better, healthier life through the purpose and value that work gives them. Everyone needs to feel needed, to feel useful. 

We support our members with rehabilitation and recovery services that focus on the whole person. Earlier intervention helps people maintain their dignity, independence and financial confidence. 

What do you value most about AMP’s partnership with TAL? 

Superannuation and insurance play a critical role in Australians’ lives, often at moments that are deeply personal and challenging and our partnership with TAL goes well beyond a product solution. I can pick up the phone, talk through a challenge and ask, “what are you seeing, what are you hearing?” That informs how we think about the solution. It’s a knowledge-sharing partnership where two perspectives come together and something better emerges. 

Trust is built through delivering on your promises, and part of that is finding the best partners to deliver the best outcomes for members. TAL is very much part of how we show up for our members.