Entries have opened for the Next Gen Insurance Leader 2021 Awards, which are an initiative of law firm Barry.Nilsson and Young Insurance Professionals (YIPs).

The awards aim to support the career development of young professionals in Australia and New Zealand. Entrants must be younger than 35 or have less than five years’ industry experience and be a member of YIPs. The winner will receive $5000.

Applicants must submit a 2000-word essay, choosing from the topics: disruptors, globalisation, legal litigation, proactivity versus reactivity, talent development in the insurance industry, and work environment.

“With much of Australia working from home or in lockdown, a number of the topics are very timely so I expect entrants will easily be able to relate to the topics, and we will get to see some very creative approaches to conventional ideologies and issues,” YIPS spokesman Jackson McDonald said.

The winners, to be decided by an independent panel of six judges, will be announced at the annual awards ceremony on August 26. Submissions close on August 8.