Bridges Insurance Compliance and Office Manager Alana Garnett has won the QBE-sponsored Broking Sector category Making a Difference recognition award, the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has announced.

Runacres Insurance Claims Manager Ryan Jones won in the New Zealand category, sponsored by Sedgwick.

“Both winners were highlighted for their professionalism, passion for the industry, and dedication to serving their local community,” ANZIIF CEO Prue Willsford said.

The awards are part of ANZIIF’s Year of the Insurance Professional initiative, highlighting individuals who have gone “above and beyond”. In December, Canopius Underwriter Joshua Nguyen won the General Insurance category prize, while Honan National Head of Corporate Insurance & Risk Solutions Poppy Foxton won in the Claims category and Sedgwick Business Development & Client Relationship Manager Hamish Blair was recognised in the Claims category in New Zealand.

Ms Garnett said the award was the “cherry on top of a pretty phenomenal year” and it was her first industry accolade.

"I always tell my colleagues I am in my dream job, and this really cemented that for me,” she said.

Mr Jones said insurance "couldn’t be more relevant” in New Zealand.

“With the heightened risk of natural disasters our beautiful landscape possesses, insurance provides a vital partnership to the community and to greater commerce to protect them from this risk,” he said.

In June, the ProRisk Claims Team, Professional Risk Underwriting, took out ANZIIF’s Most Valuable Team Award, while Flex Insurance Senior Underwriter Lillian Zhou won for Underwriting and Vocational Services and IPAR Team Leader Rachael Crick took the Life award.