Claim Solutions director Joe Willis has been awarded the 2009 Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) TurksLegal Claims Scholarship for his paper on early resolution and payment of claims in adverse situations.

His paper, which won him a trip to the US for next year’s Claims Conference and Insurance Services Expo in San Antonio, Texas, included research from the February bushfires in Victoria and floods in NSW and Queensland.

The runner-up was CGU Insurance claims consultant José Flores, who received a $500 educational voucher from ANZIIF.

The winners were announced at the ANZIIF NSW General Insurance Breakfast in Sydney on Friday.

In his paper, Mr Willis points out that early resolution and payment of claims is not the only relevant factor.

“It is critically important to have a solid team of claims professionals supporting both the insurer and the insured with the appropriate analytical, verification, communication and social skills,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“The claim needs to be supported by an insurance policy that is written with absolute clarity where no word is wasted and it leaves little room for misunderstandings.”

The scholarship, now in its second year, is designed to provide career development opportunities for general insurance professionals and encourage thought leadership and insight into issues affecting the industry.