ANZIIF announces winners of Donna Walker Awards

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has announced the winners of the Donna Walker Awards, created in remembrance of its late board member.

In August, the ANZIIF introduced the Donna Walker Awards to celebrate individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of insurance professionalism and promoted diversity and inclusion throughout the insurance industry.

On September 30, ANZIIF announced the winners of the prestigious awards at its Women in Insurance Virtual Event:

• Inspiring leadership: Jo Broomhall, executive general manager at IPAR;
• Inspiring leadership: Hoa Bui, managing director at Bui Advisory and non-executive director at AIA Health; and
• Emerging talent: Shannen de la Motte, junior legal counsel at AIG.

Walker, who passed away in 2019 while climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, was a well-known leader in the insurance industry. Aside from being a board member at ANZIIF, she was also a chief technical officer at Allianz.

Read more: ANZIIF introduces Donna Walker Awards

Commenting on winning the award, Broomhall shared that she and Walker crossed paths in the workplace and events when they were both at CGU.

“I am truly honoured to receive the Donna Walker Award for inspiring leadership,” Broomhall said. “I remember her kindness. I also remember how highly her team spoke of her leadership. Seeing senior female leaders like Donna in the industry inspired me – perhaps that would be me someday.”

Another winner of the inspiring leadership category, Bui, shared that she and Walker worked at the same company at the start of their career.

“Donna was always a senior actuary that I knew of before I met her in person, Donna being Melbourne based and I in Sydney. Nevertheless, I am happy that I met Donna while she was alive; and I still remember clearly the day I met her in person and what we spoke about,” Bui said.

“I feel very honoured to win the Allianz Donna Walker award. Donna was a business leader who was universally respected, loved by her team, her peers, and her company. The win was a huge surprise; there are so many talents in the industry. For me, it was a very special moment.”

Meanwhile, emerging talent winner de la Motte shared that she never met Walker, but she was in awe of the late leader’s career journey and the messages she stood for.

“She demonstrated the role of the modern executive, displaying the leadership qualities that I strive to develop,” de la Motte added.