GSK Insurance Brokers Senior Account Manager Jeff Booth and Albany District Insurance Brokers Account Executive Luke Cameron have won this year’s National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) awards for WA.

NIBA also announced it will host a five-day hybrid convention over the course of five weeks this year, visiting Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney from September 28 to October 28.

Mr Booth was named WA Broker of the Year. He competed against finalists Marsh Managing Principal Sarsha Neal and Imperium Insurance & Financial Solutions MD Sumit Sopori.

Mr Cameron was named WA Young Professional Broker of the Year. He competed against Knightcorp Insurance Brokers Account Executive Joel Middleton and Risk Guidance Insurance MD and Founder Robbie Gibbs.

“It’s a real honour to be recognised in this way,” Mr Booth said. “I appreciate the guidance many people have given me.”

The winners were crowned today at a virtual celebration after NIBA was forced to take the awards online due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions on gatherings and travel.

Under the revised convention model, delegates will have the opportunity to interact face-to-face and attend a marketplace in their home state, while also accessing the entire national program virtually.

"We welcome the return of afternoon networking to provide brokers with a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new connections to benefit their business,” NIBA CEO Dallas Booth said.

A WA gala lunch, which had been slated for today, has been rescheduled to August 6 at the Crown Perth Grand Ballroom while the NSW gala lunch at Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf has been moved from Friday next week to August 20.

The NIBA/UAC Queensland Underwriting Expo and gala lunch originally planned for next week has been rescheduled to Wednesday September 22.

GSK’s Mr Booth and Mr Cameron join Capital Innovation’s Ian Goninon and Integral Insurance Services’ Mitchell Wight – the 2021 winners in Victoria/Tasmania – and yet-to-be-named regional winners in Queensland, NSW/ACT and SA/NT in competing for national honours.

The national Broker of the Year receives the Stephen Ball Memorial Award, which is sponsored by QBE, while the national Young Professional Broker of the Year is awarded the Warren Tickle Memorial Award and joins sponsor Vero's prestigious Young Brokers Alumni Program.

Below is the schedule for the upcoming virtual award festivities:

Queensland, Wednesday July 14

Broker of the Year finalists: Austbrokers Comsure Senior Insurance Advisor David Kimber; Aon Client Manager Tamara Trotman; and Crucial Insurance and Risk Advisors MD Tony Venning.

Young Finalists: Austbrokers Coast to Coast Sales Manager Taela Bloemers; Aon Client Executive Lachlan Hastings; Cornerstone Risk Group MD Business Development Scott Mitchell; and Crucial Insurance & Risk Advisors Broker Alishia Oliver.

NSW/ACT, Friday July 16

Broker of the Year finalists: Marsh Head of FINPRO Craig Claughton; Driessen Insurance Brokers MD Leo Driessen; and Arma Insurance Brokers Hunter Valley MD Amanda Morris.

Young Finalists: Markey Insurance & Risk Senior Account Executive Megan Farmer; Ian Jones Insurance Brokers Newcastle Account Broker Kayla Smith; and Warren Saunders Insurance Brokers Broking Operations Manager Lindsay Turner.

SA/NT, Friday July 23

A gala lunch will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Broker of the Year finalists: CBD Insurance Services MD Kate Edgar; and Skinner & Irvine Insurance’s Karen Skinner.

Young finalists: Webber Insurance Services Account Broker Nikia Goers; Aon Client Executive Patrick McCole; and PSC Insurance Brokers Account Manager Jasmine Miller.