The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has started up a new national competition to find the “broker of the year”.

Zurich Australia is sponsoring the NIBA award. Nominations are currently open and close on May 4.

To be eligible for nomination, a broker must be a qualified practising insurance broker (QPIB) and have spent a minimum of three of the past five years working in Australia.

NIBA Professional Development Executive Linda Evans told insuranceNEWS.com.au the NIBA board called for the national award to mark the 20th anniversary of the introduction of the QPIB membership designation.

“The QPIB has become recognised throughout the industry as the gold standard for professional brokers,” she said.

The award will honour a broker who is an “inspirational role model for the broking community; has demonstrated excellence in broking practice; and has made a significant contribution to the broking community”.

Zurich’s Head of Customer and Product Proposition Nick Cook told insuranceNEWS.com.au the award will help to “lift the bar on what a professional broker is today”.

“It is a way to differentiate the professional brokers that NIBA represents. It is about being an excellent role model.”