Allianz to announce winners of Donna Walker Awards at online event

Allianz will announce the winners of the prestigious new prestigious Donna Walker Awards at an online event highlighting contributions to innovation and technology in insurance.

Last month, the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) introduced the Donna Walker Awards, created in remembrance of the late board member.

Walker, who passed away in 2019, was a chief technical officer at Allianz and a board member at ANZIIF, where she engaged with emerging insurance leaders to improve the insurance industry.

As part of ANZIIF's Women in Insurance month initiative, Allianz will host the Women in Insurance Virtual Panel Discussion, allowing industry leaders to talk about contributions to innovation and technology in the industry.

At the event, the insurance giant will give the Donna Walker Awards to individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of insurance professionalism and promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the industry.

Read more: ANZIIF introduces Donna Walker Awards

The Donna Walker Awards will be awarded to winners in two categories: inspiring leadership and emerging talent. The winners will each receive a $1,000 cash prize and be recognised for demonstrating outstanding professionalism, commitment, achievement, and passion in the insurance industry.

Meanwhile, the panellists will discuss the role technology has in the future and switching the dial, what drove them to insurance innovation, the barriers blocking innovation and how they are overcoming them, and experiences of gender bias within their career.

The panel comprises:

• Angela Kelly, the chief insurance officer of the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA);
• Aurora Voss, the co-founder and CEO of Zemble;
• Shreya Sethi, the senior director and strategic advisory and global president of salesforce women's network at Salesforce; and
• Naby Mariyam, the CEO of Coverhero and the moderator of the Women in Insurance Virtual Panel Discussion.

Kelly previously commented that she is looking forward to participating on the panel.

“Creating new connections and hearing how different parts of the sector are responding to the challenges of our environment is a terrific way to build your own knowledge and make a contribution to the exciting future of insurance at the same time,” Kelly told Allianz. “After 30 years in the industry, the past year has been [the] most exciting time of my career.”