MGA Group Chairman John George has won the National Insurance Brokers Association’s (NIBA) Lex McKeown Trophy for services to broking and to the association.

The award was presented at the NIBA Convention on the Gold Coast yesterday.

The Adelaide-based broker, who led the building of a company that now has branches in all state and territory capitals except Hobart, was praised by NIBA President David Duffield for his “visionary skills”, his support of the association and his charity work.

Mr George stepped aside as CEO of the group earlier this year to become chairman, handing over day-to-day running of the group to his son Paul.

He told the convention opening-session audience the award “leaves me feeling proud, humbled and greatly honoured”.

Paying tribute to his business partners of 30 years, Allan Amber and Brian McInerney, and to his wife Margaret, he said their support and the group’s partnership with Austbrokers “have been the critical aspect behind the success of MGA”.

He also urged brokers to continue to support NIBA, saying the growing influence of the broker groups will not counter the need to have a strong representative voice. “We need our association as never before.”