Australia’s insurance community came together to celebrate outstanding achievement, innovation and leadership at the 2026 ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry Awards, recognising the people and organisations shaping the profession’s future.

The 22nd ANZIIF Australian Insurance Industry Awards brought the industry’s night of nights to Sydney on 13 August, with an evening of celebration, recognition, joy and networking.

Held for the first time at the International Convention Centre Sydney, the Awards honoured excellence across broking, underwriting, claims, insurance, insurtech and professional services, as well as exceptional individual leadership and contribution.

The evening began with a moving Welcome to Country from Michael West, before broadcaster and television presenter Myf Warhurst took the stage as MC. Warhurst brought warmth, humour and energy to proceedings, keeping the celebrations moving while ensuring the achievements — and people — at the centre of the night had their moment.

Welcoming guests, ANZIIF CEO Katrina Shanks reflected on the role insurance plays in supporting individuals, businesses and communities.

“At its heart, insurance is about people. It is about trust, resilience and being there when it matters most,” she said. “The work you do every day helps protect livelihoods, support businesses and communities, and provides confidence through times of uncertainty and change.”

Following the Awards, Shanks congratulated the winners on the contribution they are making across the profession.

“This year’s winners demonstrate the exceptional calibre of people and organisations shaping the future of our profession,” she said. “Whether supporting customers through increasingly complex risks, developing innovative solutions or investing in the next generation of insurance professionals, each recipient has made a meaningful contribution to strengthening our industry.”

Celebrating the 2026 winners

Authorised Representative Network of the Year — Community Broker Network
CBN secured the award for the second consecutive year, recognised for exceptional growth, broker development and measurable customer outcomes. Judges highlighted its investment in professional development, technology and community initiatives as it continued to expand its network.

Claims Team of the Year — CHU Underwriting Agencies
CHU impressed with its combination of customer care, catastrophe readiness and operational excellence. Its response to Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the complex Penny Place loss demonstrated how preparation, communication and empathy could translate into strong outcomes for customers.

Insurtech Start-up of the Year — Curium
Curium stood out for turning compliance from a reactive obligation into a proactive, technology-enabled capability. Judges highlighted its innovative use of AI, strong growth and focus on making sophisticated compliance tools accessible to smaller insurance businesses.

Small-Medium Broking Company of the Year — Guardian Insurance Brokers
Guardian was recognised for outstanding client advocacy, strong organic growth and community contribution. Its hands-on approach to claims, specialist advice and investment in its people helped distinguish the brokerage.

Large Broking Company of the Year — Marsh
Marsh took the award for combining specialist expertise and innovative risk solutions with measurable client outcomes. Judges highlighted initiatives supporting vulnerable communities and organisations, alongside its use of technology to help clients better understand emerging and complex risks.

Small-Medium General Insurance Company of the Year — Adica Insurance
Three-time consecutive winner Adica again set a high benchmark, with judges praising its customer outcomes, fraud prevention and support for vulnerable customers. Its catastrophe response and investment in people and technology were also standouts.

Large General Insurance Company of the Year — Allianz
Allianz claimed the award for the ninth time after supporting customers through 20 declared catastrophe events and more than 47,000 catastrophe claims. Judges also recognised its innovation, including an agentic AI claims solution, and strong support for customers experiencing vulnerability.

Small-Medium Underwriting Agency of the Year — Coalition
Coalition won the inaugural category for its innovative approach to cyber insurance and focus on helping businesses reduce risk before a loss occurs. Its Active Insurance model combines underwriting with cyber security expertise, education and incident response.

Large Underwriting Agency of the Year — CHU Underwriting Agencies
CHU’s second award of the night recognised its customer focus, market leadership and product innovation. Judges praised its ability to combine scale with service excellence while developing solutions to affordability and complex strata risks.

Life Insurance Company of the Year — NobleOak
NobleOak retained the title for a second year, recognised for customer focus, product innovation and exceptional claims performance. Judges highlighted acceptance rates above 98 per cent for Life and Income Protection claims, alongside fast decision times and strong customer support.

Professional Services Firm of the Year — SHARPS Australia
First-time winner SHARPS stood out for its contribution to public safety, risk management and claims outcomes. Its work identifying contamination and biohazards in recovered vehicles demonstrated how specialist expertise can protect customers and communities.

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry — BizCover
BizCover’s customer-first approach, service excellence and practical innovation won over judges. Its use of AI to proactively identify vulnerability, service issues and policy errors demonstrated how technology can support better customer outcomes at scale.

Young Insurance Professional of the Year — Alan Xian, Taylor Fry / University of NSW
Judges unanimously praised Xian as a standout young professional whose influence spans consulting, academia, climate risk and actuarial research. His generosity, humility and commitment to connecting research with real-world insurance challenges marked him as a leader of the next generation.

Insurance Leader of the Year — Kimberley Jonsson, CHU Underwriting Agencies
Jonsson was recognised for combining strategic vision and innovation with a deep commitment to people and customers. Her leadership has helped transform CHU while advancing sustainability, inclusion, professional development and resilience across the wider strata sector.

ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award — Chris Mackinnon, Munich Re
Across more than 35 years, Mackinnon has made an enduring contribution to insurance in Australia and internationally. His leadership, mentoring, industry service and advocacy for inclusion have helped build a stronger and more connected profession.

Posthumous ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award — Tim Wedlock, AEI Insurance Broking Group
One of the night’s most poignant moments honoured the late Tim Wedlock, whose nearly four decades of leadership and service had an enormous impact on insurance broking. Remembered for his generosity, mentorship and commitment to developing the next generation, Wedlock leaves a legacy that extends far beyond his many professional achievements.

Together, the 2026 winners reflect the breadth of excellence across Australian insurance — from innovation and customer care to leadership, community contribution and professional service.

As Shanks told guests, the achievements celebrated on the night are ultimately built on “collaboration, expertise, innovation and a shared commitment to making a difference for the people and communities who rely on us.”