The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has today announced 2023 award winners. 

Auckland-based Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Underwriter Kate Murray won this year’s Emerging Talent prize under the Donna Walker Awards, while Melbourne-based IAG Group Technology Audit Manager Natalie Perez was the Inspiring Leadership winner. 

"Congratulations to our winners. It's fantastic to see the range of people who are taking on leadership roles in our industry at all stages of their career,” ANZIIF CEO Prue Wilsford said.  

The awards were announced at ANZIIF's Diversity & Inclusion Seminar today by Allianz Australia MD Richard Feledy. They celebrate excellence in leadership and were launched to honour Donna Walker, who died in 2019 after climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. 

“It's my absolute privilege to be able to present these awards to two very worthy recipients,” Mr Feledy said.  

Ms Murray had shown dedication to the industry through involvement on the Young Insurance Professionals committee and writing white papers on medical malpractice to clients and brokers in both New Zealand and Australia.  

"ANZIIF looks forward to seeing this year's winner take on leadership roles in the future and continue to develop her impressive skill set and passion,” Mr Feledy said. 

Ms Perez was praised for her dedication to promoting women in insurance and women in technology and as a champion for gender equality and her work on highlighting the bias that AI can bring and the gender gap in cybersecurity.