The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has awarded Aon’s Vanessa Hilton with its 2022 Community Excellence Award.

The award, which was sponsored by Liberty Specialty Markets, aims to highlight stories from brokers who made a “significant impact in helping their clients and community”.

Ms Hilton was credited for aiding residents of NSW town Cobargo which was inundated with insurance claims after bushfires hit the region in 2019.

“While Vanessa had moved to Brisbane earlier in the year, she didn’t hesitate to assist with a client call for her to help members of the Cobargo community who were struggling to push their claims there,” NIBA said.

She told insuranceNEWS.com.au that she was drawn to the small town after tragedy struck a close friend of hers.

“My friend’s dad and brother were killed in the fire and I contributed financially to a GoFundMe for them, but this was a way to use my knowledge and experience to help other people affected by the fires too,” Ms Hilton said.

Ms Hilton remotely provided advice to Cobargo residents who had been struggling with claims, some of whom she says had “lost everything”.

“I took the time to listen to them about what they were experiencing and spoke to them with compassion and understanding,”

“I sent emails with clear advice or suggestions on how best to manage their claim or the avenue to take when disputing them.”

She says the tragedy highlighted the strength of rural communities to remain stoic despite the significant losses they suffered.

“Community is everything. Farmers, people living in small towns really band together to help one another when the chips are down,” she said.

The other two finalists for the award were Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Rebecca Gilbert and InsureSmart Consultancy’s Jolene Son.

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