Gala awards night showcases industry's finest

On a glamorous evening at the Star Grand Hotel in Sydney, the insurance industry gathered to honour its finest at the 20th ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry Awards.

A full house of more than 800 professionals reflecting the who’s who of Australia’s insurance industry attended the annual gala event held this year on 22 August.

The evening was a vibrant celebration of individuals and organisations within the sector. A well-deserved shout-out to the talented ANZIIF crew including the leadership team, Industry Engagement Team, Events and Marketing.

From the moving Welcome to Gadigal Country from Aunty Donna Ingram to the upbeat music accompanying each winner down the Logies-style red carpet — from the multicoloured flower arrangements on each table to the gourmet food and quirky MC, Osher Günsberg, it was a night to be exceedingly proud of the role each award attendee plays in shaping the future of insurance in Australia.

“This night is not just about recognising excellence, but about inspiring each other to continue reaching for new heights and making a difference in our fields and our communities,” ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said in her opening address.

“May we all be inspired by tonight’s honorees and carry forward the spirit of excellence and impact in all that we do.”

Lifetime Achievement Award

Richard Enthoven, founder of Hollard Insurance and Petsure Insurance took home the prestigious Lifetime Achiever award based on his trail blazing spirit, dedication, innovation and unwavering commitment to excellence. 

Having established an Australian presence for an overseas insurance business, Enthoven was recognised for approaching his work with a vision that extends beyond the known; demonstrating the power of perseverance and a firm belief in the transformative nature of the insurance industry.

“Over the years, Richard has shaped not just our industry but also the lives of countless individuals,” Shanks told excited attendees.

“The Judges were inspired by Richard’s vision to create a company that meets clients’ needs, while fostering a culture of empowerment and creativity amongst employees. His work has created opportunities, inspired future generations, and left an indelible mark on the fabric of our insurance community.”

Enthoven, who was unable to attend in person shared in a passionate video address that he is currently visiting the USA to celebrate the 80th birthday of another lifetime achiever, his father, Patrick Enthoven.

He acknowledged that the importance of long-term, win-win business partnerships and “exercising social licence responsibly to benefit all stakeholders equally” was instilled in him by his father from a young age.

Enthoven thanked ANZIIF and expressed his gratitude for being recognised at such a pivotal time in the industry.

“As an industry we’re not perfect, and we are acutely aware of our past mistakes,” he said in his video address.

“And while we should acknowledge and respect our critics, I believe our industry has shown remarkable resilience in the face of a set of unimaginable set of challenges”.

Insurance Leader of the Year

Andrew Hall, CEO of the Insurance Council of Australia was awarded Insurance Leader of the Year. He was selected unanimously by the judges for his commitment to fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders, which has led to the development of innovative solutions that benefit both insurers and policyholders. Throughout his varied career, he has led teams big and small and approaches his work with a fundamental mindset of curiosity.

In accepting his award, Hall thanked ANZIIF for its industry leadership and acknowledged its 140 year anniversary this year [2024].

“Next year will be 50 years for ICA and hopefully we will do the industry very proud in the coming 12 months,” Hall said.

“I’m blown away by receiving this award,” he added “I was asked to help lift the industry up and drive it forward. For the last four years in this role, that’s the one thing I’ve been focused on.  We at the ICA want to make sure the industry has the voice and respect that it deserves. Insurance plays a critical role in the economy, and in the lives of every Australian.”

Hall also acknowledged that he wouldn’t be accepting an award without his amazing team and board. “I want to thank them for the very hard work they do every day on behalf of the industry,” he said.

“Our industry owns the term resilience. The definition of resilience is an ability to bounce back, and that’s what each and every one of us does every day. I was proud to hear parliamentarians who have returned to this country from overseas say ‘we’ve got a really good insurance industry in Australia and all we’ve got to do is help them make it better’.”

Insurance Claims Team of the Year

NTI is congratulated for winning two categories at last night’s ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry awards, namely Underwriting Agency of the Year and Claims Team of the Year, the latter for the second year in a row.

The company was commended for its investment in supply chain safety and efficiency, and focus on meaningful interactions, especially evident in a case study involving an insured who hit a cow in remote South Australia causing a tanker at the rear to spill diesel into a dry creek bed.

NTI’s swift engagement at the scene strengthened relationships between remediation providers and independent geo-techs who devised a way for local farmers to treat the contaminated soil, saving around $1 million. In addition, NTI’s onsite team embraced the involvement of the local Indigenous owners enabling works to take place near sacred sites.

Visibly delighted, Chief People and Claims Officer Kerrie Challenor thanked ANZIIF, the judging panel and the NTI claims team, which is “passionate, dedicated and come to work every day wanting to demonstrates expertise to support customers when they need it most”.

“We are so delighted to accept this award. We all know how hard it is to provide an appropriate claims service. NTI is a very special company. We are immensely proud of every individual talented professional and the work that they do at this organisation,” Challenor said.

Excellence in Workplace Diversity

Allianz Australia took home the award for Excellence in Workplace Diversity for the second year in a row, standing out to the judges as a shining example of diversity and inclusion leadership in a field of excellent candidates.

The judges were impressed by Allianz’s gender equality initiatives, which were praised as being empathetic and innovative. The company well exceeded its diversity targets in 2023, and incorporated data throughout to showcase its outstanding D&I results.

An example of Allianz’s remarkable achievements is reaching a 13.4 per cent gender pay gap, which is 10 per cent lower than the industry median.

Judges also acknowledged Allianz for its consistent engagement with organisations aimed at providing neurodivergent people with employment opportunities.

“For all the diversity, equity and belonging professionals out there, you know we don’t do what we do for awards,” said Diversity and Inclusion HR specialist Edyta Torpy on behalf of Allianz Australia. “But having said that, it’s lovely to be recognised for the things that we do for our people and customers every day.”

Torpy thanked the Allianz leadership, executive sponsors, employee network groups and volunteers without whom the D&I work would not be possible.

 “I would also like to acknowledge the other finalists in this category. As diversity specialists, I see you. I know some of the challenges we face and I know we are on the right path.”

Looking back on the incredible accomplishments of 2024 nominees and winners, Katrina Shanks reflected that Nelson Mandela's words on achievement are apt:

"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."

“Congratulations to each of you for your hard work, dedication, and the difference you are making,” Shanks said.

Image: ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks addresses more that 800 insurance professionals at the 20th Australian Insurance Industry Awards in Sydney.

Read about all the winners of the 2024 ANZIIF Insurance Industry Awards