NIBA reveals WA award finalists

The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has revealed its WA finalists for this year’s two broker awards.

The finalists for Broker of the Year are: FordSure Director Derek Ford, Grace Insurance Director Frans du Plessis, JL Insurance Brokers Director Jade Lyons, and Imperium Insurance & Financial Solutions MD Sumit Sopori.

Winners are to be revealed on July 8 at the NIBA WA gala lunch at Crown Perth.

The recipients will then compete nationally for the Stephen Ball Memorial Award, sponsored by QBE, against 2022 winner Gallagher Senior Account Executive Daniel Quintin, and yet-to-be announced winners from NSW/ACT, Queensland and SA/NT.

The WA finalists for Young Professional Broker of the Year are: Lockton Companies Senior Associate Construction Cameron Gaspar, Aon Client Manager Mining and Construction Nikita Piil, and Marsh Managing Principal Selena Piggott.

The winner from those four WA finalists will compete nationally for the national Warren Tickle Memorial Award against 2022 Victorian/Tasmanian winner Aon/Affinity Insurance Brokers Client Manager Greg Shallard, and yet-to-be announced winners from the three other regions.

They will also join the prestigious Young Brokers Alumni Program of sponsor Vero.

Mr Ford says the award is a celebration of the industry and a culmination of hard work from so many individuals and he hopes he “can use my voice to celebrate the award and profession, not just within the industry but outside of it as well.

“The awards are a fantastic opportunity for us to show off the broking industry to the rest of the country. They allow those outside of broking to see just what makes our profession so rewarding and so valuable to society,” he said.

Mr du Plessis says becoming a finalist “proves to me that I am on the right career path” and “means so much to my business, giving me an uplift in recognition across new markets that I’m hoping to expand my business to. I also hope that this award will allow the younger generation to be inspired by the recognition and achievements of others, to see the opportunities in this industry.”

Ms Lyons says the award provides a platform for her to share her success story as a female role model and she is “very passionate about mentoring and collaborating with other women to help them build confidence and achieve their own success. I believe that this is instrumental to me achieving my own success, and sets an example for my daughter.”

Mr Sopori is “honoured and humbled” to be a finalist, which was “a recognition of my hard work and the consistent effort that my team and I have put towards our clients. It is an honour to contribute towards the industry and work alongside like-minded professionals.”

Mr Gaspar says being named a finalist was “an exciting and0 honourable achievement”.

“When you look at the alumni of the previous award winners, they are the leaders of our great profession, which is absolutely one of my career ambitions,” he said.

Ms Piil says it is “an extremely rewarding acknowledgement, for all the hard work, devotion, determination, sacrifices and late nights”.

“Contrary to the norm of falling into the industry, I chose to be in insurance, and I’m so proud to be a part of such a fascinating and truly rewarding industry,” she said.

Ms Piggott says compiling her NIBA award submission allowed reflection on her career so far and the interview panel’s questions triggered introspection and “has given me a push to review my goals” and she hopes “to use the nomination to share all the great things that our industry does and what incredibly dynamic and interesting careers are available”.

Queensland winners will be announced on July 13 at the NIBA Queensland gala lunch at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the NSW/ACT winners will be crowned on July 21 at the equivalent NSW event at Doltone House Hyde Park in Sydney. Finalists for SA/NT have not yet been announced.

The Queensland 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 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 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.