ANZIIF announces ‘Making a Difference’ award winners for 2022

Underwriting – Sara Rusdiah, Flex Insurance

Life – Karen Robertson, AIA

Claims – Ali Wilkinson, Tower

ANZIIF CEO Prue Willsford congratulated the winners, emphasising that it is essential to celebrate professionalism, highlight excellent initiatives, recognise excellence in the industry, and provide a platform to promote insurance to a broader professional community.

“Our ANZIIF ‘Making a Difference Awards’ highlight individuals who have gone above and beyond to display professionalism in their workplace and for their customers,” Willsford said.

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On receiving the Making a Difference Award for Underwriting, Rusdiah said: “This award gives credibility to what I do professionally. There is nothing I look forward to more than seeing us grow collectively and being able to take greater pride in what we do every day. It was important that customers didn’t feel rushed or treated as if they were just a number.

“Being able to champion the things you care most about is one of the greatest personal rewards that can come out of anyone’s career journey. I would highly encourage others to participate in this award in the coming years.”

Upon receiving the award for life insurance, Robertson said: “I truly believe in the health benefits of good work, that it gives people a purpose, independence, and link to the community and to set themselves up financially, which being in the insurance business I can see is critical for all.”

Wilkinson, the Making a Difference award winner for claims, recently managed a crisis response as the head of Tower’s Pacific operations, following the volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami that hit Tonga. She said: “We made it quick and easy for our customers to access our services, which ultimately meant they were able to get back to real life and recover as quickly as possible. I’m incredibly proud of the courage and dedication displayed by our teams to do what is right – for our customers and really make a difference in their lives.”