Sydney-based Eamonn Cunningham has won this year’s RIMS Harry & Dorothy Goodell Award, the first time it has been given to a non-American.

The award, the Risk and Insurance Management Society’s highest honour, celebrates a lifetime of achievement and influence in risk management.

Mr Cunningham, who will be formally crowned at RISKWORLD 2024 in San Diego on May 6, says it has been a privilege to work alongside exceptional professionals and learn from their experiences.

“The camaraderie within the risk management profession is unlike any other and I am sincerely honoured to be the recipient of the RIMS lifetime achievement award,” he said.

“I intend to continue my involvement and contribution to this wonderful industry – my journey in risk management is not over yet.”

Mr Cunningham was an executive at Scentre Group (formerly Westfield) for three decades until he retired as CRO in 2016. He is RIMS Australasia Chapter President and was integral to the branch’s formation in 2012. He is also a past Property Council of Australia risk management committee chairman.

He has lobbied the Federal Government on risk management and worked with MPs to establish the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation.

RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche says that throughout a remarkable career, Mr Cunningham has unselfishly dedicated his time and expertise to advancing the profession and creating opportunities for other risk leaders to succeed.

“RIMS is sincerely grateful to Eamonn for his extraordinary contributions and his unwavering commitment to sharing his experiences,” Mr LaBranche said.

The Harry & Dorothy Goodell Award, named after RIMS’ first executive director and his wife, was launched in 1979.