Finalists for this year’s NZ General Insurance Industry Awards have been selected by a new system that ensures “complete transparency” in the selection process.

Insurance Brokers Association of NZ (IBANZ) CEO Gary Young says the shortlist for the awards has been handled by independent professional evaluators whose sole job was to examine all the entries and select the best on a range of criteria set by the association.

“Judges drawn from the industry will then make their decision on winners purely using the evaluations,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au. “It ensures the best people or organisations really do win.”

The only exception to the rule is the prestigious Insurer of the Year award, which is decided by IBANZ brokers through the annual IBANZ insurer survey to be carried out in the next two months.

The finalists for the awards, which will be announced at a gala dinner in Auckland on November 3, are:

• Broker of the year: Alastair Bridge, Crombie Lockwood; Nigel Grantham, Willis; John Olsen, Crombie Lockwood; Peter Scholes, Aon; Conrad Shanly, Wilkinson.
• Insurer professional: Allan Beverwijk, QBE; Peter Rice, Vero.
• Insurance investigator/claims specialist: Russell Joseph, Corporate Risks; Bernard McMahon, Vero.
• Loss adjuster/assessor: Mark Crosby, Cunningham Lindsey; Dean Garrod, McLarens Young; Murray Whitmore, Vero.
• Emerging professional broker: Conal Beban, FMR Risk; Alana Howard, Crombie Lockwood; Diana Kasad, Marsh; Ryan McBrearty, Hurford Parker; Kyle Steven, Aon.
• Emerging professional insurer: Michael Carswell, NZI; Liz Peterson, Lumley NZ; Stewart Rankin, QBE.
• Broking office: Aon, Hamilton; Crombie Lockwood, Napier; FMR Risk, Dunedin.
• Innovation: Crombie Lockwood’s People Portal; Lumley NZ’s Torque Data; QBE’s Broker Xchange website.
• Support services to the industry: First Assistance, iNavigator/QR Consulting; Smith & Smith Glass; Peoplepower Training Academy.