The Australasian Life Underwriting and Claims Association (ALUCA) has announced the finalists for its annual excellence awards across 10 categories.

ALUCA says the winners will be unveiled on June 10 in Sydney at an evening function.

Nominations were received across the industry for outstanding work delivered through the challenging 2020 calendar year, with all submissions judged by industry leaders from various disciplines, ALUCA said.

Here are the finalists in the individual categories:

• Leadership Award - Sheridan Barrett (AIA Australia), Rob Daking (TAL), Arleen Hatton (MetLife) and Mitch Lasorsa (TAL)
• Underwriting Award - Mervyn Lam (AIA Australia), Clare McLean (AIA Australia), Leigh O’Malley (Zurich) and Sonya Strachan (MetLife)
• Claims Award - Zoe Butcher (QInsure), Balram Dabhade (QInsure), Paula Ramsay (MLC Life Insurance) and Victor Tran (MetLife)
• Rehabilitation Award - Melissa Colonna (MetLife) and Hussein El-Khansa (TAL)
• Rising Star Award - Senthil Baladhandayutham (TAL), Adam Foster (AIA Australia), Nicholas Laurie (MetLife) and Phoebe Macleay (TAL)
• David Mico Education Award - Brad Barker (MetLife) and Matthew Parsons (MLC Life Insurance).

Here are the finalists in the team category:

• Underwriting Team Award - Group Underwriting (AIA Australia), MetLife Australia Underwriting Team (MetLife) and Technical Underwriting and Governance Team (MetLife)
• Claims Team Award - Swiss Re L&H Claims Team ANZ (Swiss Re), TAL Rest Claims Team (TAL), MetLife Claims Leadership Team (MetLife) and OnePath Mental Health Team (Zurich OnePath)
• Customer Service Team Award - Customer Service Team (EM Life), Strategy and Recovery Team (MetLife) and Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation (AIA Australia)
• Innovation Team Award - Claims Rules Engine (OnePath & SCOR Global Life), TAL Financial Health Team (TAL), TAL Member Engagement and Innovation Team (TAL), Cancer Support Program with Valion Health (Zurich OnePath) and MetLife 360 Health Team (MetLife).