Astute Insurance Services from SA and James Wilson Risk Solutions from Victoria are dual winners of this year’s Insurance Advisernet authorised representative practice of the year award.

Chubb won the network’s inaugural insurer of the year prize.

The awards were announced at the annual Insurance Advisernet conference on the Gold Coast, which was attended by about 500 delegates.

Highlights included presentations by Olympian Anna Meares and former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett.

The Insurance Advisernet Foundation raised more than $160,000 for charities including Act for Kids, Beyondblue, Love Your Sister and the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Next year’s conference will be in Canberra in late October, when a service will be held at the war memorial to acknowledge the work of Insurance Advisernet ambassador Brian Freeman.

Mr Freeman will have completed a four-year journey around the world, placing 41 poppies at significant sites to celebrate the Anzac centenary. Each poppy represents an Australian solider who lost their life in Afghanistan.