Capital Innovation Chairman Ian Goninon has been named this year’s Victorian/Tasmanian Broker of the Year by the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA).

NIBA’s Young Professional Broker award for the region was won by Integral Insurance Services Senior Broking Executive Mitchell Wight.

The pair were revealed as the winners at a sold out NIBA Victorian Gala Lunch at Crown Aviary in Melbourne today and now go on to compete nationally.

“We had a significant number of applications this year and the finalists represent the cream of the crop,” NIBA CEO Dallas Booth said.

Launceston-based Mr Goninon competed against three Melbourne-based finalists - Arcuri & Associates MD Andrew Arcuri, Austbrokers Countrywide Director Mark O’Reilly and Network Insurance Group GM Robert Villano.

Five regional winners will go on to compete for the Stephen Ball Memorial Award for Insurance Broker of the Year, sponsored by QBE, to be awarded at the 2021 NIBA Convention at The Star Gold Coast October 11-12.

“Our talented broker partners are key to our success at QBE, which is why we’re so proud to partner with NIBA in recognising the best in the business at a regional and national level,” QBE GM Sales & Relationship Management Elliot Hill said.

"With so many exceptional brokers across the region, earning a place as a finalist is a remarkable achievement, particularly in our current environment.”

Geelong-based Mr Wight competed against two Melbourne-based state finalists: Aon Risk Solutions Account Executive Maxine Neville and Lockton Companies Australia Senior Associate Ashleigh Woodman.

He will join the prestigious Young Brokers Alumni Program of sponsor Vero and go on to compete for the national Warren Tickle Memorial Award for Young Professional Insurance Broker of the Year.

“The quality of these three finalists is the reason Vero has been a proud supporter of NIBA’s Young Professionals and the Warren Tickle Memorial Award for 32 consecutive years,” Vero’s State Manager for Victoria/Tasmania Megan Lewis said.

NIBA received a significant number of nominations this year, Mr Booth said, all of which were of “an extremely high calibre”.

“We’re thrilled to acknowledge Andrew, Ian, Mark and Robert as well as Maxine, Mitchell and Ashleigh for their outstanding contribution to the broking profession,” he said.