The Council of Queensland Insurance Brokers gave out 12 excellence awards at its annual lunch last week before an audience of 320 members and business partners.

President Danny Brandon says this year’s awards categories were expanded to better recognise all businesses that support the group’s broker members.

The major awards – the Peter McCarthy Young Professional and the all-rounder insurer of the year – went to North Queensland Insurance Brokers’ Erin Bellert and Vero Insurance respectively.

Other winners included:

• All-rounder insurer runner-up – NTI Insurance
• Claims service – Vero 
• Insurance industry service provider – IQumulate Premium Funding
• Specialty lines provider – NTI Marine
• Commercial/ residential strata provider – CHU Underwriting Agencies
• Property/construction/engineering – Mecon Insurance
• Professional lines provider – Dual Australia 
• Liability insurance provider – Berkley Insurance Australia
• Motor/heavy motor/plant and equipment provider – NTI

The council’s Mick Lambert Barker Award went to underwriting agency Emergence Insurance’s head of distribution Katrina Hickson, in recognition of her outstanding service to broker members.