IAG operational risk analyst Anna Graham has won this year’s Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) and Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) scholarship and the $NZ10,000 ($9,530) prize.

Ms Graham submitted a winning entry on this year’s topic asking whether systemic global risks such as pandemics can be diversified and if the insurance sector should make changes in response to future systemic risks.

ICNZ CEO Tim Grafton says the submission displayed a clear understanding of the fundamentals and the essay was logical and well structured.

“ANZIIF and ICNZ will continue to promote this scholarship and provide career development opportunities to the New Zealand insurance industry,” he said.

ANZIIF CEO and panel judge Prue Willsford commended Ms Graham’s “eloquently written essay supported by credible research and relevant sources”.