2023 Winners

BROKERAGE AWARDS 


Authorised Representative Network of the Year

Authorised Representative Network of the Year

Shaun Standfield, Insurance Advisernet

Judges’ comments include: A comprehensive holistic business model with clearly defined business objectives that keep the eye on the prize and ensure that all stakeholders are winners including the community.; Continued on an impressive growth trajectory with excellent client and AR satisfaction results.; Financially stable, solid IDR/EDR process leading to consumer confidence; Demonstrates a clear understanding of corporate responsibility. Growth figures sustainable and steady.

Excellence Awardees
Australian Broker Network
Community Broker Network
McLardy McShane Group
Oracle Group Australia

Best Customer Service from an Individual Office

Best Customer Service from an Individual Office

Adam Squire, Gallagher

Judges’ comments include: Professional processes driving good outcomes for customers; A clear passion to deliver excellence and financal outcomes for clients at a time of need; Structured approach to a difficult segment of the business in these times. Measured KPIs for clients is impressive. 

Excellence Awardees
allinsure
AUZi Insurance
Bell Partners Insurance
Elliott Insurance Brokers
Imperium Insurance and Financial Solutions
InterRe Insurance Brokers

Innovation Group Best Digital Strategy – Brokerage

Innovation Group Best Digital Strategy – Brokerage

Joshua Scutt, Shielded Insurance

Judges’ comments include: A business focused on its people and technology to deliver impressive growth in a niche market; A business that truly values the importance of people to their success; Outstanding points of differentiation 

Excellence Awardees
AUZi Insurance
DKG Insurance Brokers

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Brokerage of the Year (1-5 Staff)

Brokerage of the Year (1-5 Staff)

Darren Pavic, Insurance Lab

Judges’ comments include: Strong organisational culture and commitment to client excellence.; Absolutely the standout with clear vision, target market and strategy to grow.; Strong growth through specialisation, good overall submission with clear examples provided 

Excellence Awardees
Cruden Read
InterRe Insurance Brokers
J&B Insurance Brokers
Praden Insurance Broking and Advisory
Smith & Lane Insurance

Brokerage of the Year (6-20 Staff)

Brokerage of the Year (6-20 Staff)

Matthew Bates, Bell Partners Insurance

Judges’ comments include: Stand-out, with evidence based data across all criteria. Strongest link between strategy, objectives and proofpoints releveant to 2022.; Fantastic vision and execution of strategy 

Excellence Awardees
Agile Insurance
allinsure
ARMA Insurance Brokers Young
Clear Insurance
Elliott Insurance Brokers
Grace Insurance
Stewart Insurance Group

Brokerage of the Year (20+ Staff)

Brokerage of the Year (20+ Staff)

Poppy Foxton, Honan Insurance Group

Judges’ comments include: Strategic approach to partnering combined with new technologies for growth.; Addressed the criteria extremely well. 

Excellence Awardees
Aon
CRM Brokers
McLardy McShane Insurance Brokers
Shielded Insurance

Specialist Brokerage of the Year

Specialist Brokerage of the Year

Gary Sim, CCM Insurance Group

Judges’ comments include: Demonstrated a very intimate approach to serving clients and understanding the construction industry they operate in.; A company who seeks feedback, undertakes research to innovate and enhance offerings; Solid business, clear experts in their field with incredible growth. 

Excellence Awardees
AMA Insurance Brokers
AUZi Insurance
CRM Brokers
Cruden Read
Insurance Lab
Trade Risk

BROKER AWARDS


QBE Broker of the Year – Authorised Representative

QBE Broker of the Year – Authorised Representative

Aimee Henderson, Grace Insurance

Judges’ comments include: Excellent- demonstrating genuine commitment without hyperbole and marketing speak.; A dedication to client service and local community, supported by continued education. 

Excellence Awardees
Anthony Anastasio, Everest Risk Group
Matthew Bates, Bell Partners Insurance
Shane Brady, McLardy McShane South East Insurance Brokers
Ken Dixon, Dixon Insurance Services
Sumit Sopori, Imperium Insurance and Financial Solutions
Jay Vuppala, Mga Insurance Group - Melbourne

Sponsored by

 

Broker of the Year (1-19 Staff)

Broker of the Year (1-19 Staff)

Kay Jackson, Simplex Insurance Solutions

Judges’ comments include: Clear evidence of a strong customer service focus and as a result great customer retention.; Impressive growth from starting up alone, community connection, education focused; Passionate about the industry and great advocate, actively participating in promoting the industry. 

Excellence Awardees
Dean Kennedy, Cruden Read
Luke McMahon, Bespoke Insurance Group & First Nations Insurance Group
Frans du Plessis, Grace Insurance
Daniel Webber, Webber Insurance Services

Broker of the Year (20+ Staff)

Broker of the Year (20+ Staff)

Dale Hansen, BMS Coast to Coast

Judges’ comments include: Strong servicing ethos which has resulted in strong retention rates. Goes above and beyond for clients; Stand out submission across all six criteria. Exceptional personal response to floods and contribution to industry and community; excellent lead generation and approach to innovation. 

Excellence Awardees
Shannan Gardner, Guardian Insurance Brokers
Simon Gray, Planned Cover
James Musial, Honan Insurance Group
Olivia Pollock, Shielded Insurance Brokers
Daniel Reid, Honan Insurance Group

Broker of the Year - Specialist

Broker of the Year - Specialist

Gary Sim, CCM Insurance Group

Judges’ comments include: Highly qualified broker with a very serious commitment to his chosen market sector.; Honed personal learning to be able to intelligently assess and assist clients with insight and foresight.; Strong submission clearly articulating the clients focus, successful initiatives and guidance given to others. A great mentor. 

Excellence Awardees
Shabab Maqsud, Honan Insurance Group
Leanne Murphy, Praden Insurance Broking and Advisory

Young Gun of the Year – Independent (1-19 staff)

Young Gun of the Year – Independent (1-19 staff)

Tate Harris, allinsure

Judges’ comments include: A well-rounded individual operating at all levels of the business, able to step up at short notice to ensure the organisation is well led.; Comprehensive and thoughtful submission showing great client engagement and support. 

Excellence Awardees
Joseph Cuzzocrea, Maxton Insurance Brokers
Regan Pugh, Elliott Insurance Brokers
Olivia Taylor, Praden Insurance Broking and Advisory
William Thompson, Thompson Insurance
Siobhan Wilde, ARMA Insurance Brokers Hunter Valley Pty Ltd
James Wilson, Delmont Insurance Group

CHU Underwriting Agencies Young Gun of the Year – Independent (20+ staff)

CHU Underwriting Agencies Young Gun of the Year – Independent (20+ staff)

Hannah Tormey, Honan Insurance Group

Judges’ comments include: Blends a dedicated focus on her clients with a team spirit that sees her stand out as an insurance professional.; Great energy and concrete plans for expansion; Impressive portfolio statistics 

Excellence Awardees
Will Bird, Insure 247- Ausure
Adam Sloan, Ausure

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AXA XL Young Gun of the Year – International 

AXA XL Young Gun of the Year – International 

Mahrukh Hamayun, Marsh

Judges’ comments include: An outstanding professional, clearly demonstrating how she is leading the way for women and Muslims in insurance.; Excellent submission with clear direction in progressing her career, her value to the company and clients; Amazing what she has achieved in her short career; One to watch. 

Excellence Awardees
Hayden Moorcroft, Gallagher
Lisa O’Sullivan, AON
Ben Willis, Gallagher

Sponsored by

INSURER AWARDS


Australian General Insurer of the Year

Australian General Insurer of the Year

Allianz

Judges’ comments include: Strong submission showing impacts on community.; The focus on a fit-for-purpose claims management system is a stand out considering the wide product range, most impressed with the Next Gen claims process.; Well documented submission highlighting strengths and areas of improvement. 

Excellence Awardees
Berkley Insurance Australia
CGU
Chubb Insurance

Underwriting Agencies Council Australian Underwriting Agency of the Year

Underwriting Agencies Council Australian Underwriting Agency of the Year

Troy Filipcevic, Emergence Insurance

Judges’ comments include: Identified a clear niche allowing them to be 110% dedicated to serving their customers and brokers. Staff are over-qualified, they’re contactable 24/7 as cyber criminals never sleep, their specialisation allows them to be uniquely innovative and they deliver excessive value to their customers.; Aachieved significant growth while implementing material changes to their business and expanding geographically.

Excellence Awardees
Agile Underwriting Services
ARAG Australia
CHU Underwriting Agencies
GT Insurance
Pen Underwriting
Solution Underwriting Agency
Underwriting Agencies of Australia

Sponsored by

 

Best Digital Strategy – Insurer

Best Digital Strategy – Insurer

Amar Roomi, Blue Zebra Insurance

Judges’ comments include: Fantastic submission effectively demostrating how a business can deliver a technology strategy aligned to a targeted business strategy; A truly digitally enabled underwriting agency providing good support to intermediaries in underserviced market segments. Continue to invest in core digital capabilities for improved outcomes for customers and insurer partners. 

Excellence Awardees
Berkley Insurance Australia
Emergence Insurance
ProRisk Underwriting

Best Service Provider

Best Service Provider

Gallagher Bassett

Judges’ comments include: A customer centric business that continues to innovate and proactively engage with partners and community. Impressive focus on cultural elements of the business and clear recognition of their accountability to key stakeholders.; A focus on delivery of a superior product to the local market by being a trusted multiline and functional claims administration service that remains the core of their service offering. 

Excellence Awardees
AAMC
Advisr
Allied Universal Compliance and Investigations
BizCover
Crawford & Company Australia
Duck Creek Technologies
DXC Technology
Kanopi

General Insurer BDM of the Year

General Insurer BDM of the Year

Michael Walker, CGU

Judges’ comments include: A well presented submission articulating a wide range of experience and expertise; Clearly demonstrated value-add to the brand; Passionate and innovative. Thoughtful submission including financial measures and client feedback. 

Excellence Awardees
Bradley Gray, QBE
Sanj Reddy, Allianz
Luke Wennerbom, Vero Insurance
Bernadette Wood, Allianz

AAMC General Insurer Claims Team of the Year

AAMC General Insurer Claims Team of the Year

Barbara Stenning, Berkley Insurance Australia

Excellence Awardees
AIG Australia
Chubb Insurance

Sponsored by

 

Underwriting Agencies Council Underwriting Agency BDM of the Year

Underwriting Agencies Council Underwriting Agency BDM of the Year

Katrina Johnson, CHU Underwriting Agencies

Judges’ comments include: Demonstrated ability to concurrently manage the growth objectives for the business both holistically across the wider organisation and at an individual larger client level.; Seasoned professional with a clear approach and plan – executing with purpose and the results show it. 

Excellence Awardees
Tena Dedic, Longitude Insurance
Connie Gane, Underwriting Agencies of Australia
Jessica Hutchinson, Dual Australia
Jessica Jenkins, Solution Underwriting Agency
Daniel Joiner, Mecon Insurance
Anthony Porter, AFA Insurance
Chris Varkoly, Prorisk Underwriting

Sponsored by

 

Wilbur Underwriting Agency Claims Team of the Year

Wilbur Underwriting Agency Claims Team of the Year

Emergence Insurance

Judges’ comments include: Compelling claim proposition across all five criteria, especially service levels given urgency of cyber incidents, engagement with customer/stakeholders pre and post claims, and innovation.; Excellent submission demonstrating a different way to think about claims in this sector; good examples of the value their unique offering brings. 

Excellence Awardees
GT Insurance
Woodina Underwriting Agency

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NATIONAL AWARDS


AUSTRALIAN BROKER OF THE YEAR

AUSTRALIAN BROKER OF THE YEAR

Dale Hansen, BMS Coast to Coast

Excellence Awardees
Aimee Henderson, Grace Insurance
Kay Jackson, Simplex Insurance Solutions
Gary Sim, CCM Insurance Group

AUSTRALIAN BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR

AUSTRALIAN BROKERAGE OF THE YEAR

CCM Insurance Group

Excellence Awardees
Bell Partners Insurance
Honan Insurance Group
Insurance Lab

AUSTRALIAN YOUNG GUN OF THE YEAR

AUSTRALIAN YOUNG GUN OF THE YEAR

Hannah Tormey, Honan Insurance Group

Excellence Awardees
Mahrukh Hamayun, Marsh
Tate Harris, Allinsure
2023-winners