Leadership potential, insurance knowledge and skills, and an ability to communicate in writing – these are among the things that applicants to the 2022 ICNZ (Insurance Council of New Zealand – Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa) and ANZIIF (Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance) Scholarship will have to demonstrate, and ANZIIF chief executive Prue Willsford is calling on all those who are eligible to apply.
For this year, applicants are discussing how climate change might pose a reputation risk to insurers, and how that risk might be managed.
Submitted essays will be marked based on the use of external resources and appropriate referencing, sound understanding, structure of argument, original thinking and ideas expressed, coherency and clarity, logical conclusion or summation remarks, and ability to support assumptions or subjective statements with factual analysis.
Consider how the argument will be structured, recommended Willsford, who will be judging essay entries alongside ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton, former IAG NZ chief risk officer Karl Armstrong, Aon executive director Kai Dwyer, and Medical Assurance Society chief people officer Huma Houghton.
For the ANZIIF chief, the scholarship process sees “smart people really doing some good thinking about the big issues” – in fact, CIP (Certified Insurance Professional) points will be awarded to every eligible entry in recognition of the work and learning that the submission entails.
Meanwhile other suggestions include supporting an applicant’s commentary with research and examples; using own experiences and knowledge to draw conclusions and inferences; closing with a relevant and thought-provoking conclusion; and making the essay a “great” reading experience.
Aside from writing a 2,500-word essay, applicants will also have to outline their career aspirations in the insurance industry and note their plans for achieving them. Educational and work achievements, as well as a preliminary personal development proposal, are also to be presented.
Willsford highlighted that the ICNZ and ANZIIF Scholarship has significantly contributed to winners’ professional development, leadership skills, and industry networks. Notably, even those who don’t win benefit from the opportunity to engage with industry leaders and delve into pertinent issues.
Open to direct employees of ICNZ members who are aged 34 and under and have permanent residency in New Zealand, the scholarship will allow a young New Zealand insurance professional to attend an international conference or seminar programme by covering appropriate event attendance and registration fees, return economy airfares, and accommodation costs.
