The Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) has opened applications for its annual Ron Shorter Award, a public speaking competition for young professionals in the insurance industry.
The competition – free to enter – is open to those aged 35 and under. Interested applicants must apply online before April 28, 2023, and propose an insurance-related topic for their speech, if selected to participate.
“Contemporary presenters are expected to hold an audience both online and in person, and the competition has been adapted in 2023 to challenge applicants in both those mediums,” said Cameron Roberts, AILA national president and Thomson Geer Lawyers partner. “The competition provides invaluable training and exposure to industry peers and luminaries for young professionals who are the future of the industry.”
AILA will choose 30 applicants to attend a free 90-minute live online public speaking training workshop with the association's training partner, the Australian Institute of Management (AIM), on May 19, 2023.
On June 2, the participants will join AILA and AIM representatives for 90 minutes to give a two-minute presentation on their selected topic. Afterwards, AILA will choose three finalists to progress to the live final in Sydney on August 23 and receive an additional six hours of intensive training with AIM.
At the final, competitors will speak for 10 minutes on their topic before a panel of judges and live and online audiences of industry professionals. The first prize is $1,000, second is $500, and third is $250. Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers sponsors the gold award, while Dever's List sponsors the first prize.
The award honours Ron Shorter, a practice manager at Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers in Sydney until his death in 2012.
Shorter was a long-time AILA supporter and inspired and mentored many young professionals. He recognised that confident public speaking was a vital skill for all insurance professionals seeking to advance their careers.
The award has benefited more than 500 young insurance professionals since it was established in 2012.
Aside from hosting the public speaking award, AILA will soon host the AIDA (international insurance law association) XVI World Insurance Congress, an event held every four years.
