It’s not uncommon to hear the phrase “plagued with difficulties” bandied about in a casual fashion. But it took on uncomfortably literal implications in 2020, as COVID-19 ravaged the world and businesses found themselves in the unenviable position of pivoting to accommodate the new normal.  

The insurance industry, of course, was not immune from its effects. Insurance Business Australia found itself at the frontline of reporting on developments within the Australian industry, working to gather insights around both the current situation and the likely future as both the pandemic – and the months – dragged on.  

Indeed, in many ways the trials of this year have brought a new significance to the Insurance Business Awards. It would be easy to take a doom-and-gloom approach to the events of the year; but in amidst the trials it’s critical to celebrate the wins as they come along. People within the insurance space are achieving remarkable things, irrespective of – and sometimes because of – the wider world situation.  

For the first time in their history, the Awards were broadcast live over the web, rather than being an in-person event. Looking ahead to 2021, there’s no question that it would be great to have everyone back in the same room – and indeed, things look to be on track for that at time of writing – but this year’s event was unquestionably a remarkable display of industry solidarity.   

Brokers and insurers the country over are to be commended for their resilience in the face of incredible trials. For many, the most immediate challenge was to seek a way to ensure that staff were working within a safe environment. In practical terms, this tended to mean having to engage with a newly remote workforce, which in turn brought its own set of unique challenges.  

Yet there was also the opportunity for reflection, as well. The drastic reorganisation of working practices during 2020 has led to considerable discussion about best practices within the industry. Is the current model suitable? Or are there changes that need to be made in the face of the changing way we work and live?  

Without simply opting for a centrist stance, it would be fair to say that there are both positive innovations and room for improvement at play in the modern insurance marketplace. But as you’ll see over the coming pages, the winning and highly commended businesses have taken key lessons to heart. 

Methodology

Process 

• Insurance Business Australia issued an open call for nominations to the title’s country-wide readership of 8,500 insurance professionals 
• Prospective nominees sent in submissions online – we received 200 of nominations 
• After a lengthy vetting process, the shortlisted candidates were invited to send additional information to be considered by the judges
• Our 30 judges cast their vote to decide on the winners; each awards had it’s own judges
• Gold Winners and Excellence Award recipients for each category were announced in a virtual awards ceremony in October.

Categories 

The Insurance Business Australia Awards featured 28 individual and company categories, recognising employers, teams and leaders from small to large businesses 

Key dates 

October 7, 2019 — Nominations open
December 13, 2019 — Nominations close
October 22, 2020 — Winners announced on Insurance Business Australia online 

Here are the winners of Insurance Business Australia 2020:

National Awards

Australian Broker of the Year

Winner: Max Cuzzocrea, Maxton Insurance Brokers

Australian Brokerage of the Year

Winner: Scott Winton Insurance Brokers

Australian Young Gun of the Year

Winner: Joshua Scutts, Shielded Insurance Brokers

Brokerage Awards

QBE Brokerage of the Year (20+ Staff)

Winner: Scott Winton Insurance Brokers

Excellence Awards:

• BAC Insurance Brokers
• McLardy McShane Insurance Brokers
• Zenith Insurance Services

Brokerage of the Year (6-20 Staff)

Winner: Austbrokers Coast to Coast

Excellence Awards:

• allinsure
• City Rural Insurance Brokers
• Shielded Insurance Brokers

Brokerage of the Year (1-5 Staff)

Winner: CPR Insurance Services

Excellence Awards:

• Clear Insurance
• Global Risks

Specialist Brokerage of the Year

Winner: CCM Insurance Group

Excellence Awards:

• Avatar Brokers
• BAC Insurance Brokers
• Work Health Options

Best Customer Service from an Individual Office

Winner: Scott Winton Insurance Brokers

Excellence Awards:

• allinsure
• Australian Elite Insurance Solutions
• Dixon Insurance Services

Authorised Representative Network of the Year

Winner: Insurance Advisernet Australia

Excellence Awards:

• Community Broker Network
• Marsh Advantage Insurance

Best Community Engagement Program – Broker

Winner: allinsure

Excellence Award: Insurance Advisernet Foundation

Best Digital Strategy – Brokerage

Winner: AUZi Insurance

Excellence Award: CCM Insurance Group

Broker Awards

Young Gun of the Year – Independent (1-19 Staff)

Winner: Joshua Scutts, Shielded Insurance Brokers

Excellence Awards:

• Joseph Cuzzocrea – Maxton Insurance Brokers
• Tate Harris – allinsure
• Aimee Williams – Austbrokers Coast to Coast

Young Gun of the Year – Independent (20+ Staff)

Winner: Nick Daffy, McLardy McShane

Excellence Awards:

• Lauren Reeves – Guardian Insurance Brokers
• Nikita Willis – SRG Group

AXA XL Young Gun of the Year – International

Winner: Caleb Richards Gallagher

Excellence Awards:

• Taylor Burstow – Willis Towers Watson
• Laith Parissi – Gallagher
• Michael Pham – Aon

Broker of the Year – Independent (1-19 Staff)

Winner: Max Cuzzocrea, Maxton Insurance Brokers

Excellence Awards:

• Dale Hansen – Austbrokers Coast to Coast
• Karen Hardy – Acme Insurance Brokers
• Amanda Morris – Arma Insurance Brokers

Broker of the Year – Independent (20+ Staff)

Winner: Jesse Thorp, Adroit Insurance & Risk

Excellence Awards:

• Kim Gilbert – Zenith Insurance Services
• Evan Jackson – Guardian Insurance Brokers
• Avi Tatarka – Scott Winton Insurance Brokers

Redkite Broker of the Year – Specialist

Winner: Ryan Mansom Gallagher

Excellence Awards:

• Stephen Elms, Gallagher
• Rebecca Innes, AUZi Insurance
• Enrique Sicurella, CCM Insurance Group

Broker of the Year – Authorised Representative

Winner: Peter Chamberlain, allinsure

Excellence Awards:

• Matthew Bates – Bell Partners Insurance
• Tate Harris – allinsure
• Kristy Martin – Insurance Advisernet Merimbula

Insurer Awards

General Insurer BDM of the Year

Winner: Gordana Bailey, Allianz Australia

Excellence Awards:

• Lisa Hetherington, Zurich Financial Services Australia
• Shelley Turner, Vero

Underwriting Agencies Council Underwriting Agency BDM of the Year

Winner: Katrina Johnson, CHU Underwriting Agencies

Excellence Awards:

• Claire Farmer – CHU Underwriting Agencies
• Con Stoitsis – Steadfast Underwriting

Blake Oliver Consulting Australian General Insurer of the Year

Winner: CGU Insurance

Excellence Awards:

• Allianz Australia
• QBE

Underwriting Agencies Council Australian Underwriting Agency of the Year

Winner: ProRisk

Excellence Awards:

• Blue Zebra Insurance
• Emergence Insurance
• Tego Insurance

360Globalnet General Insurer Claims Team of the Year

Winner: AXA XL

Excellence Awards:

• Chubb
• Zurich Australian Insurance

Underwriting Agency Claims Team of the Year

Winner: GT Insurance

Excellence Awards:

• AM&T
• CHU Underwriting
• Mecon Insurance

The Bridge International Best Digital Strategy – General Insurer

Winner: Vero

Excellence Award: AIG

Best Digital Strategy – Underwriting Agency

Winner: Blue Zebra Insurance

Excellence Award: Blend Insurance Solutions

Morse Building Consultancy Best Community Engagement Program – Insurer

Winner: Insurance Australia Group

Excellence Awards:

• AIG
• Allianz Australia
• NTI

Best Service Provider

Winner: EMLife

Excellence Awards:

• DXC Technology
• Gallagher Bassett
• Insurx
• Sedgwick