Hundreds of professionals from across the industry gathered at Sydney’s Fullerton Hotel on May 3 for the Insurance Business Australia Awards 2024. The official commemorative guide for that big night is now available free and includes a full list of winners, photos and a short video of the action.
The evening focused on celebrating the industry’s high achievers across 21 categories. There was also a three-course dinner, music and live entertainment.
One novelty at the seventh annual awards ceremony was new categories, including the Lifetime Achievement award, won by Keith Roderick from Roderick Insurance Brokers. Other newbies included the Woman of Distinction prize, won by Claire Burke from CHU Underwriting Agencies; and, CEO of the Year, won by Tony Dodd from GT Insurance.
“It’s absolutely fabulous,” said Roderick to Insurance Business when he won the Lifetime award, the night’s highest honour. The managing director of the Melbourne-headquartered firm has enjoyed an insurance career that spans six decades.
“I’m a very lucky person to have worked in the industry,” he said after his big win. “It’s a great industry.”
The event’s master of ceremonies was the witty comedian, radio broadcaster and television presenter Merrick Watts. In his opening remarks, Watts considered the significance of the insurance industry.
“It’s worth reflecting on the industry that we all, including me this evening, are a part of,” he said. “You play an unusually important role.”
Watts said it was a privilege to be MC for the Awards.
“I had been booked to be a judge for the Victoria’s Secret lingerie awards,” he said. “Then my manager rang up and said, ‘Hold it! The Insurance Business Awards has called!’ And I said, ‘I think we know where I’ll be going on Friday night!’’
A picture of Watts with Peter Furst from Emergence Insurance (main picture above) captures the evening’s fun.
Furst is clutching champagne provided by sponsor Financial Education. His firm was joint winners with CHU Underwriting Agencies of the Claims Team of the Year Award, sponsored by AAMC.
“It’s such a diverse industry and it does a whole lot of good that maybe people don’t understand,” said Daniel Lukich, sales and strategic relationship manager for AAMC, a provider of motor accident management services.
His firm sponsored the Claims Team of The Year award.
“Recent events have placed claims performance under the spotlight, with the sector experiencing more than its fair share of negative press,” said Lukich. “This award is a timely reminder of the great work that goes on with a claims team.”
Another of the night’s big awards was the Medium Brokerage prize.
“For the insurance industry there are not many forums for brokerages to get acknowledgement for the work they do,” said underwriter Aman Dhaliwaal. He said his firm, ShieldCover, was very proud to be the sponsor of the award.
“The Awards actually bring these insurance professionals together on to one stage to celebrate and be appreciated for the work they do,” said Dhaliwaal.
Delegates from across the industry, representing insurers, brokers, underwriters, claims management companies, loss adjusters and other firms all enjoyed the evening.
Matt Whitley, from PSC Insurance Brokers, won another biggie: Broker of the Year. This award was sponsored by Australian Underwriting.
Other important awards on the night: the Authorised Representative Network of the Year and the Authorised Representative of the Year, both sponsored by QBE Q nect.
“As our Q nect model is specifically designed to help our authorised representatives and brokers achieve their business ambitions, we’re proud to be part of this recognition,” said Steve Talbot, head of Q nect, Partnerships, QBE Australia Pacific.
Insurance Advisernet won the AR Network of the Year. Sumit Sopori from Imperium Insurance and Financial Solutions won the AR of the Year award. Meanwhile, McLardy McShane Insurance Brokers who took out the Australian Brokerage of the Year award. Aon’s Merusha Naidoo received the Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion award for Aon.
During the event, the photo booth, sponsored by Crawford, proved to be a popular hangout. The champagne provided by Financial Education continued to flow long into the night.
Did you attend the Awards? Now that you’ve had time to reflect, please tell us what you enjoyed about the event below
