The Australian Insurance Law Association (AILA) has announced Colin Biggers & Paisley (CBP) lawyer Alexander Morell as the inaugural winner of the Victorian Ron Shorter Memorial Award.

The public speaking prize for young professionals is in its fourth year in NSW, but was extended to Victoria for the first time this year.

The runners-up were Danielle Blaschuk, from Catholic Church Insurance, and Laura Gaffey, from Gilchrist Connell.

Mr Morell and the NSW winner Divya Pahwa, from Meridian Lawyers, will repeat their presentations at the AILA National Conference in Melbourne on October 16.

The award is named after former CBP practice manager Ron Shorter, who was devising a public speaking competition for young insurance professionals before he died in 2012.

CBP and Unisearch are sponsors of the award.