The 2026 finalists represent organisations, teams and individuals from across New Zealand’s insurance ecosystem, including general and life insurance, broking, claims, underwriting, insurtech, financial advice, professional services and service providers.

This year also marks the introduction of Financial Advice Provider/Authorised Body of the Year, a category recognising the growing importance of advice-led models in delivering strong customer outcomes.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks congratulated this year’s finalists.

“The calibre of this year’s finalists reflects the professionalism, innovation and commitment to customers that continue to strengthen New Zealand’s insurance industry,” Shanks says.

“We look forward to bringing the industry together to recognise their achievements and celebrate the people and organisations setting the standard for excellence.”

2026 Finalists

Broker Network of the Year

• Community Broker Network New Zealand
• Insurance Advisernet

Claims Team of the Year

• AA Insurance
• Asteron Life
• Chubb Insurance New Zealand
• Fidelity Life Claims Team
• Godfreys Managed Services (GMS)
• Medical Assurance Society – General Insurance Claims Team
• Partners Life
• Vero Insurance

Financial Advice Provider/Authorised Body of the Year

• Invicta Financial
• Resure
• RIVAL Wealth

Insurtech Start-Up of the Year

• Announced on the night

Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year

• Blanket Advice Limited
• Fundagroup Insurance Brokers Limited
• TWG Financial Services

Large Broking Company of the Year

• Announced on the night

General Insurance Company of the Year

• AA Insurance
• Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance New Zealand
• FMG
• Tower
• Vero Insurance

Life Insurance Company of the Year

• Asteron Life
• Fidelity Life
• Partners Life

Professional Services Firm of the Year

• Finity
• McLarens
• Morgan Home Repairs
• Sedgwick New Zealand
• Wotton Kearney

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry

• Arc Projects
• IVAA Contents Procurement
• Johns Lyng
• RedBook New Zealand
• Simfuni
• Xceedance

Underwriting Agency of the Year

• Delta
• Emergence Insurance

Young Insurance Professional of the Year

• Anika Thomasson – Sedgwick New Zealand
• Chloe Keen – Marsh
• Darcy Hughes – Marsh
• Erika Cox – McLarens
• Irene Chiang – Marsh
• Joey Gregory – SHARE NZ – The Advisory
• Musa Olatunji – Godfreys Chartered Loss Adjusters
• Nick Swiney – Medical Assurance Society
• Sam Paterson – Fidelity Life
• Tahlia Rogers-Brown – Zurich

The ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced on the night following a separate industry nomination and judging process.

We look forward to bringing the industry together to celebrate excellence, leadership and achievement across the profession at a new venue.

The 2026 Awards will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre on Tuesday 10 November.

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Katrina Shanks

ANZIIF has launched Communication Skills for the Insurance Professional, a new short course that builds the communication and persuasion skills insurance professionals routinely need as interactions become increasingly automated.

The course focuses on the conversations that require human judgement most, such as explaining complex decisions, responding when something goes wrong or handling difficult conversations with customers, colleagues and leaders.

It is the second in ANZIIF’s new series of non-technical skills short courses, designed to build capabilities that insurance professionals can apply throughout their careers.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says strong communication skills are fundamental to good insurance outcomes.

“Insurance is a people business. When a customer is making a claim, a colleague needs support or a difficult decision must be explained, how we communicate matters.

“Technical expertise gets you part of the way. Being able to communicate clearly, build trust and handle tough conversations is what makes that expertise count.”

Learners are introduced to the RIPPLE Model, a practical communication framework that helps insurance professionals prepare for, navigate and close conversations in a way that builds understanding, confidence and lasting trust.

Using insurance scenarios, learners will practise applying the framework to challenging interactions and identify how they can use the skill in their own workplace.

The course covers communication across claims, underwriting, distribution, support and leadership, with a focus on its impact on trust, complaints, customer outcomes and internal collaboration.

Taking approximately 50–60 minutes, it is designed for insurance professionals at all career stages, from those entering the industry through to specialists and leaders.

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Katrina Shanks

ANZIIF has launched the Executives Guide to General Insurance Workshop, a new Business School program designed to equip current and emerging insurance leaders with the commercial insight and capability to create value in an increasingly complex general insurance market.

Developed with Finity Consulting, the intensive one-day workshop is designed for senior managers stepping into executive roles, leading strategic change, planning for an AFSL, or seeking a stronger understanding of how to work strategically with general insurers.

Rather than examining performance drivers in isolation, the workshop demonstrates how executive decisions across measures including revenue, operational costs, governance and risk combine to create sustainable value. This equips participants to navigate priorities and lead through volatility and change.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says investing in leadership capability is critical to building a strong and sustainable insurance industry.

“Great insurance leaders need to understand how every part of the business contributes to value,” Shanks said. “This program gives current and emerging executives the necessary perspective and practical insight to make better decisions and lead with confidence.”

The program will be led by Raj Kanhai, Principal at Finity Consulting, who brings 30 years’ leadership experience across general and life insurance, alongside Mike Hooton, an executive with more than 38 years’ experience in Australia and the UK, who leads an interactive business simulation where teams navigate a simulated 10-year insurance cycle.

Raj Kanhai, Principal at Finity Consulting, says the partnership reflects a shared commitment to building industry capability.

“Developing strong, commercially minded leaders is critical to the future of the insurance industry, and this collaboration brings together practical experience, industry insight and contemporary thinking to help insurance professionals create lasting value for their organisations, customers and communities.

“We’re proud to share ANZIIF’s commitment to capability-building across the industry and look forward to contributing to the conversation.”

The workshop runs on 28 October 2026 in Sydney and participants earn 6.5 CIP points. Early-bird registration is open until 18 September.

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April Rinne

ANZIIF has confirmed the full program for its inaugural International Summit, a two-day event bringing professionals to Sydney from across insurance, risk and financial services in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond.

The Summit takes place on 11 to 12 February 2027 at the International Convention Centre Sydney and is built around four concurrent content streams. Delegates can move between them to shape the two days around the issues most relevant to their role and organisation.

The four streams span the forces reshaping the industry.

• Macro: explores the global economic, geopolitical and societal trends reshaping the insurance landscape.
• Technology examines the transformative impact of AI, cyber, digital innovation and data-driven decision making.
• Innovation showcases emerging products, evolving business models and customer-centric strategies that are redefining the industry.
• Resilience focuses on navigating uncertainty through effective risk management, governance, regulation, leadership and operational resilience.

The keynote line-up spans international and local voices. Global thought leaders Jerry Michalski and April Rinne join Australian speakers Tane Hunter and Michael McQueen, alongside senior industry leaders including Munich Re Managing Director Scott Hawkins, Sedgwick Australia CEO Simon Kay and Aon Head of Climate Analytics APAC Dr Tom Mortlock.

The program also draws speakers from beyond insurance. ANZ Chief Economist Richard Yetsenga, geopolitics analyst Dr Merriden Varrall of Vantage Geopol, Future Skills Organisation CEO Patrick Kidd and Pierre Skorich of the National Anti-Corruption Commission Taskforce bring economics, global risk, workforce and integrity to the agenda.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the cross-sector line-up was a strategic choice.

“We wanted a program that looks outward, not just inward. Economic shifts, geopolitics, workforce change and integrity are all reshaping insurance, whether we engage with them or not.

“We built the Summit to bring those voices onto one stage alongside insurance leaders, so the industry can understand these forces and get ahead of them.”

The Summit is expected to draw more than 900 delegates and over 60 marketplace exhibitors.

Event details

The 2027 ANZIIF International Summit takes place 11 to 12 February 2027 at the International Convention Centre Sydney. Early bird registration closes on 18 September 2026.

Registration and full program details are available at the Summit registration website.

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Will Freyer has been announced as the recipient of the 2026 Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship.

ANZIIF and Lloyd’s Australia are proud to announce Will Freyer, Graduate, Technical Division at Allianz Australia, the recipient of the 2026 Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship.

Freyer received the scholarship for his pitch, “Carbon Performance Protection Facility: Unlocking carbon project finance through innovative risk transfer”, which explores how innovative insurance solutions could help address financing risk and enable investment in carbon projects.

The scholarship recognises emerging insurance leaders with bold ideas for tackling the risks reshaping the industry, while supporting them to build their professional expertise.

This year, applicants were challenged to draw on Lloyd’s legacy of innovation to address climate resilience and extreme weather or digital risk and AI-driven insurance innovation.

From a record number of candidates, the judging panel said Freyer stood out for his ability to frame a highly specialised risk as an opportunity with broad market appeal.

His proposal explores insurance as a potential enabler of project finance. The judges also praised his enthusiasm and engaging presentation, describing him as exactly the kind of forward-thinking talent the scholarship aims to support.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the scholarship gives emerging professionals an opportunity to develop new approaches to some of the industry’s most complex risks.

“Insurance has an important role to play in finding new ways to respond to emerging risks and unlock opportunities for businesses and communities. Will’s proposal demonstrates the kind of forward thinking this scholarship was created to encourage, and we look forward to supporting him as he develops his expertise and takes the idea further.”

Freyer, currently on the Allianz Graduate Program, will receive enrolment in ANZIIF’s Lloyd’s Demystified course and support towards an ANZIIF Diploma valued at up to $5,000 and a one-year Individual Insider membership with Insurtech Australia worth $462. An Insurtech Australia mentorship will help him develop his winning idea further.

He will also be invited to a day-in-the-life experience at the Lloyd’s Australia Sydney office, offering first-hand exposure to the Lloyd’s market and its approach to insurance and reinsurance innovation.

The Lloyd’s Australia Innovators Scholarship champions innovation in insurance while recognising future leaders and creative thinkers with the potential to help the industry respond to emerging risks across the region.

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Katrina Shanks

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has announced the launch of its new Industry Connect Series, a national event program designed to help insurance professionals stay informed on the code, regulatory and legislative developments shaping the sector in 2026 and beyond.

Delivered across five locations in October and November, Industry Connect will bring together professionals from across claims, broking, underwriting, risk, compliance, operations and customer service for a practical update on the key changes influencing the future of insurance.

The two-hour interactive sessions will combine expert-led industry intelligence with dedicated networking time, offering attendees an opportunity to strengthen their professional connections while gaining a clearer understanding of the issues likely to affect their roles, organisations and customers.

The program will feature updates on major industry code reviews currently underway across life insurance, insurance broking and general insurance, including a deeper discussion of the proposed General Insurance Code of Practice and the practical implications for insurers, brokers and insurance professionals.

ANZIIF is delighted to announce that Sparke Helmore Lawyers will join the event series to deliver a forward-looking update on the regulatory and legislative developments expected to influence insurance in 2026 and beyond, highlighting the emerging issues and reforms most relevant to today’s insurance professionals.

Katrina Shanks, CEO of ANZIIF said Industry Connect reflects ANZIIF’s role in supporting insurance professionals to navigate a period of continued change.

“Insurance professionals are operating in an increasingly complex environment, with code reviews, regulatory reform and legislative change creating new expectations for the sector. Industry Connect is designed to give professionals a clear, practical and timely understanding of the changes ahead, while also creating space for meaningful industry connection.”

Industry Connect Series dates:

• 8 October – Industry Connect VIC
• 15 October – Industry Connect NSW
• 27 October – Industry Connect QLD
• 29 October – Industry Connect WA
• 5 November-| Industry Connect SA

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Katrina Shanks

The 2026 AICLA/ANZIIF Claims Convention (CC26) is set to return this year with a dedicated focus on the insights required to navigate a fast-evolving claims landscape.

Under the theme The Evolution of Claims – From Response to Strategy, this year’s program will explore the increasingly strategic role of the claims function, including the most pressing challenges and opportunities reshaping the profession.

From catastrophe response and fraud detection to complex strata claims, motor claims reform and the growing impact of multiple weather events, delegates will hear from industry experts keen to share their industry experience at the helm of innovation and change.

In 2026, the AICLA/ANZIIF Claims Convention will also offer a panel discussion on claims performance and response for loss adjusters, plus deep dive case studies drawn from real-world events.

Recognised as Australasia’s premier claims event, the convention once again brings together insurers, brokers, loss adjusters, lawyers and claims specialists at Sydney’s iconic, and newly renovated, Sofitel Wentworth.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said claims professionals are operating in an environment where technical expertise alone is no longer enough.

“Claims performance influences customer trust, organisational resilience and commercial outcomes,” Shanks says.

“The claims professionals leading the next decade will be those with a growth mindset, who can combine technical excellence with strategic thinking and the confidence to navigate increasing complexity.”

Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted more than 350 delegates, CC26 is expected to provide a major forum for industry collaboration, technical learning and professional networking.

Early bird registrations close August 14,.

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April Rinne

ANZIIF is excited to announce the first speakers confirmed for the inaugural 2027 ANZIIF International Summit, with US futurists Jerry Michalski and April Rinne to headline the program and leadership strategist Holly Ransom as MC. The Summit will be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney on 11–12 February 2027.

Jerry Michalski is a futurist, technologist and founder of Open Global Mind based in the USA. He interviewed more than 4,000 startups as managing editor of the influential technology newsletter Release 1.0, and has since advised corporations on where to deploy AI and other exponential technologies. Curator of the world’s largest personal knowledge graph, built over 27 years, he brings a forward-looking view of the technology trends reshaping insurance.

April Rinne is the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, ranked by Forbes among the world’s 50 leading female futurists based in the USA. She advises organisations including Airbnb, Nike and the World Bank on navigating uncertainty, and brings insights into the workforce and demographic trends reshaping the industry.

Holly Ransom will MC the Summit. Chief executive of Emergent Global, a Fulbright Scholar and bestselling author of The Leading Edge, she has hosted events across more than 25 countries and interviewed figures including Barack Obama, Hiliary Clinton and Brené Brown.

Drawn from outside the industry, all three work on questions at its centre: how technology is reshaping decision-making, how workforces and customer expectations are shifting, and how organisations perform when both are changing at once.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks says the speakers were chosen to bring perspectives from beyond the Australian market.

“This is an international summit, so we looked beyond our own market. Jerry and April are among the sharpest thinkers in the world on technology and change, and they bring thinking our profession does not hear often enough,” Shanks says.

“Ours is an industry powered by people and accelerated by innovation, and this first line-up speaks to both. We want delegates to leave with fresh perspective and ideas they can act on.”

The two-day Summit is expected to attract more than 900 delegates and feature more than 20 international and local experts, thought leaders and innovators. The program spans keynote sessions and breakout streams across macro, technology and innovation themes.

Take a look at the speakers and topics confirmed so far and reserve your seats for what promises to be an unmissable two days of insight and connection.

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Katrina Shanks

 ANZIIF has expanded its professional development offering to help insurance professionals build practical capability in AI and cyber risk, two of the industry’s fastest-moving areas. The expansion includes a new trilogy of short courses in AI, alongside a new short course in cyber risk.

The AI trilogy offers a structured pathway to build capability in how AI should be assessed, governed and applied responsibly, while a new short course in cyber risk equips professionals to recognise, prevent and respond to today’s most pressing threats.

Katrina Shanks, CEO of ANZIIF, says these new short courses respond to a clear need for practical, industry-specific education as both risk areas accelerate.

“As AI becomes embedded in everyday decision-making, professionals need more than general awareness, they need the practical skills to assess data, apply governance standards and manage risk with confidence,” Shanks says.

“This trilogy gives insurance professionals a clear, structured pathway to build that capability, whether they’re just starting to engage with AI governance or looking to deepen existing expertise. Paired with our new cyber risk course, it means the industry now has practical tools across two of its fastest-moving risk areas.”

The AI trilogy

• Understanding data-centric AI examines how data quality, bias, privacy and security shape AI performance, risk and accountability.
• Understanding the Artificial Intelligence management system standard explores the principles behind responsible AI governance, including impact assessments, risk management and practical application of the Standard.
• Developing responsible AI systems looks at how to support safe, fair and inclusive AI systems across the AI lifecycle, helping learners identify technical and ethical risks.

Cyber Risk

• Cyber risk: What insurance professionals need to know covers the drivers behind rising cyber attacks, common threats and warning signs, and practical strategies to help clients prevent, respond to and recover from cyber incidents.

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Reflecting the continued growth of the Australian Insurance Industry Awards, this year’s Gala Dinner will be held at the iconic International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) for the first time. The move to a larger venue is expected to attract the biggest audience in the event’s history, setting the stage for a record celebration of excellence across the insurance industry.

Celebrated broadcaster, presenter and writer Myf Warhurst will guide guests through the evening as MC, bringing her trademark warmth, wit and extensive experience in live entertainment to the industry’s premier awards celebration.

ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks said the Awards continue to showcase the people and organisations raising standards across the insurance sector.

“Each year these Awards recognise the individuals and organisations who are raising the bar for our profession through leadership, innovation and an unwavering commitment to better outcomes for customers and communities.

“This year’s submissions demonstrate the extraordinary depth of talent, innovation and professionalism across our industry, and our independent judges faced an exceptionally difficult task assessing such a strong field. We can’t wait to bring the industry together to acknowledge their achievements.”

ANZIIF extends its sincere thanks to the judging panel and Awards auditor, whose expertise, professionalism and commitment underpin the integrity of the Awards each year. Their generous contribution of time and knowledge ensures every submission is assessed through a rigorous, independent and fair process.

ANZIIF looks forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements of the insurance industry at the Australian Insurance Industry Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday 13 August 2026.

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