Liberty Specialty Markets has been crowned General Insurer of the Year by the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA), while transport and logistics specialist NTI won the Underwriting Agency of the Year award.

Liberty Asia Pacific President and MD Michael Abdallah says it is a tremendous honour for the team.

“We always strive to be a dependable and consistent insurer, and in these challenging market conditions I believe that this award is recognition that we’re on the right path,” Mr Abdallah said. “As a very large and longstanding mutual, Liberty prides itself on being there for our partners throughout all cycles, particularly during tougher and more unpredictable times.”

The Underwriting Agency of the Year award was introduced last year to acknowledge that brokers deal with underwriting agencies, or managing general agents, as well as companies operating in the local market that are authorised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

NTI CEO Tony Clark says he is proud of what has been achieved in a very difficult year.

“The industries that we are involved in have been extraordinarily busy - transport, logistics, plant machinery industries,” he said as the winners were announced at a virtual ceremony on Thursday evening. “We have been able to connect and keep servicing the industry. Thank you very much to all of our people.”

Queensland’s Crucial Insurance & Risk Advisors MD Tony Venning won this year’s QBE-sponsored Stephen Ball Memorial Award for Insurance Broker of the Year. QBE Australia Pacific Chief Customer Officer Commercial Lines Jason Clarke said he stood out in an impressive pool of finalists for his “skilled customer service, client advocacy and extraordinary commitment to professional excellence”.

Victoria’s Integral Insurance Services Senior Broking Executive Mitchell Wight was awarded the Vero-sponsored Warren Tickle Memorial Award for Young Professional Broker of the Year.

“He is a true advocate for his clients, has built a solid reputation for high standards and has a genuine passion for giving back to the community. Mitchell’s personal integrity and genuine approach shone through,” Vero Head of Commercial Intermediaries Anthony Pagano said.

The Lex McKeown Trophy was awarded to Timothy Wedlock, a long-standing NIBA member with a 30-year career in insurance broking after starting at Australian European Insurance Brokers in 1989. In 2006, he founded Austbrokers AEI Transport and is now AEI Insurance Brokers MD, overseeing seven branches across four states with 100 employees.

"On behalf of the NIBA Board, I would like to congratulate Tim … and thank him for his ongoing commitment to the industry,” said NIBA CEO Dallas Booth, who retires today after more than 10 years in the role, handing the mantle to Philip Kewin.

NIBA’s annual convention has been postponed to February 7-21. Delegates can attend virtually and, if they choose, a day face-to-face in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane or Sydney.