Rebuilding Canterbury

          Vero wins ANZIIF 'General Insurance Company of the Year' Award

          The Australia and New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards honoured the insurance industry’s best and brightest companies and individuals in front of a sold out audience of more than 700 insurance industry leaders at the Sydney Hilton last night.

          The awards, hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and Asia Insurance Review, recognise outstanding achievement in the Australian and New Zealand insurance marketplace.

          The winners of the 2006 Australia and New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards were:

          • Life Insurance Company of the Year – MLC Insurance
          • General Insurance Company of the Year – Vero Insurance New Zealand Limited
          • Reinsurance Company of the Year – Swiss Re
          • Broker of the Year – Aon
          • Premium Funder of the Year – Macquarie Premium Funding
          • Loss Adjuster of the Year – Freemans Australia Pty Ltd
          • Risk Practitioner/Team of the Year – Santos Limited
          • Technological Innovation of the Year – Westpac & Lumley
          • Service Provider of the Year – Finity Consulting Pty Limited
          • Law Firm of the Year – Allens Arthur Robinson
          • Services to the Community – Suncorp
          • Insurance Personality of the Year – Mr Michael Hawker, CEO, Insurance Australia Group

          A Merit Award was also given to insurance broking organisation C&G Rothbury.

          Now in their 3rd year, the awards, which were emceed by radio personality Adam Spencer, have cemented their position as the premier insurance industry event, uniting the entire industry in celebration of outstanding achievement.

          Joan Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF), said, “This was a record year for nominations and the calibre of the submissions was exemplary. These awards highlight the dedication to professional excellence and the commitment to best practice that the insurance industry places upon itself.”

          “Winners in each of the 12 award categories were determined by a panel of 14 judges who are highly regarded industry leaders representing all sectors of the industry. The judging process required them to consider and rank each application against established criteria to decide the winners. Deloitte then independently audited the process to ensure its rigour and transparency”, Ms Fitzpatrick said.

          Sivam Subramaniam, editor-in-chief of Asia Insurance Review, agreed, saying that a sell-out attendance of over 700 demonstrated an industry committed to recognising excellence.

          “This year’s event sold out well in advance, confirming that the Australia and New Zealand insurance industry is truly committed to recognising and fostering professional excellence.”

          “Tonight the insurance industry can be supremely proud, publicly acknowledging its solid commitment to quality and excellence,” he said.

          “ANZIIF and AIR would like to thank the award sponsors, including Ernst & Young, Sirius, Elders, Zurich, Red Planet, Cover Note, Aon Australia, IBM, KPMG, CMGL and Arch Re.”