Community Broker Network (CBN) says more than 300 delegates and business partners attended its SHIFT conference earlier this week in the Gold Coast, where they heard first-hand from insurance figures on key trends shaping the industry post-pandemic.

The Steadfast-owned authorised broker network also announced its award winners and raised more than $56,000 for the Gold Coast Project for Homeless during the gala dinner on Tuesday at Sea World.

Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) CEO Prue Willsford spoke at one of the sessions, focusing on the value of using an insurance broker, CBN says on its LinkedIn page.

CBN says the session was a “timely reminder” highlighting why small businesses can benefit from having a broker, including securing the right cover and having support at claims time.

Other key speakers were CBN CEO Richard Crawford, Steadfast Group EGM Nick Cook, Hollard CIO Jamie Smith and National Insurance Brokers Association CEO Phil Kewin.

At the gala dinner the CBN award recipients across seven categories were:

Non-Authorised Staff Member of the Year – William Murdoch, ARMA Insurance Brokers Hunter Valley

Network Rising Star – Petara Tanuvasa, Silverback Insurance Pty Ltd

Innovation Product/Service – Amanda Morris, ARMA Insurance Brokers Hunter Valley

Individual Authorised Representative – Aimee Henderson, Grace Insurance

Corporate Authorised Brokerage of the Year – John James, Kerrie Woodards Insurance

Industry Partner Professional of the Year – Matt Ennis, Hollard Insurance

Industry Partner – QBE Insurance