NIBA reveals Queensland award finalists
The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has revealed its Queensland finalists for this year’s broker and young broker awards.
The state finalists for Broker of the Year are: WTW Property and Casualty Account Director Sally Coulton, Aon Team Leader Vanessa Hilton, and Nutrien Ag Solutions Divisional Insurance Manager North Queensland Rebecca Gilbert.
The winner of each of the two categories will be announced on July 13 at the NIBA Queensland gala lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Five regional winners – from NSW/ACT, Queensland, Victoria/Tasmania, WA and SA/NT – will then go on to compete for the Stephen Ball Memorial Award for Insurance Broker of the Year, sponsored by QBE.
The Queensland finalists for Young Professional Broker of the Year are: Thompson Insurance Account Manager William Thompson, Collective Insurance Brokers Queensland Branch Manager Alison Morrissey, and Allegiant IRS Senior Account Manage Cormack Hankinson.
The broker selected winner from those four finalists will join the prestigious Young Brokers Alumni Program of sponsor Vero and compete for the national Warren Tickle Memorial Award for Young Professional Insurance Broker of the Year.
“Each of these finalists has demonstrated a commitment to professional integrity and ongoing improvement as they progress through the award process towards announcing the national winners,” NIBA CEO Philip Kewin said.
Ms Coulton says she is humbled and privileged to be nominated to represent Queensland for the prestigious industry award.
Ms Hilton says she is honoured and the award is recognition of the commitment shown to her clients over the last 20 years, and the “passion and integrity that I display every day”.
Ms Gilbert says the award recognises the important role of brokers and says she is “immensely passionate about my customers, colleagues and the insurance industry” and has “a lifelong ambition to continue to be a contributing member”.
Mr Thompson says it is “a great feeling to become a finalist” and that “all of us brokers put in a lot of work and sometimes it can go unnoticed.” Being recognised by NIBA “motivates me to continually push further in my career,” he said.
Ms Morrissey says she admires insurance professionals for their “intellect, hard work, and leadership,” and the award acknowledges “the very same qualities I have strived to uphold”. She wants to inspire and encourage other young professionals, particularly from rural communities, to consider a rewarding career in insurance broking.
Mr Hankinson says he is proud of having achieved several successful placements involving large companies operating in challenging industry sectors, such as timber and underground mining, and the nomination is “incredibly humbling”.
Last month, Hobart-based Gallagher Senior Account Executive Daniel Quintin was crowned this year’s Victorian/Tasmanian Broker of the Year.
Aon/Affinity Insurance Brokers Client Manager Greg Shallard is that region’s 2022 Young Professional Broker.
The 2022 NSW/ACT finalists for Broker of the Year are: Citadel Insurance Services Director Nicholas Bedggood, Aon Placement Director Property Sarah Worpole, and Intuitive Insurance Solutions MD Shane Thaw.
The NSW/ACT finalists for Young Professional Broker of the Year are: Principle Insurance MD Elliott Morris, Austbrokers Client Service Manager Brian Compay, DLB Insurance + Risk Solutions MD Dean Bowen, and Ausure MD Sam Hunter.
Finalists for WA and SA/NT have not yet been announced.
