Karl Truijens from OAMPS in Sydney has won this year’s National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) Warren Tickle Memorial Award, while Danny Gumm of Parmia Insurance in Queensland was named Broker of the Year.

Mr Truijens paid tribute to his fellow finalists, saying “any one of us could have taken this”, before thanking NIBA for “continuing to invest in young people”.

Born and raised in Sydney, Mr Truijens has previously worked with Tower Insurance in New Zealand and Lloyd’s in the UK.

He returned to Australia with OAMPS in 2010, taking on a senior account manager role last year and a team leader position this year.

The prize, courtesy of sponsor Vero, is a trip to London, including an educational program in the insurance market there plus accommodation and spending money.

The award was introduced in 1990 to recognise insurance commissioner the late Warren Tickle’s lifelong drive for industry education. Candidates must be aged under 35.

Other finalists were Natasha Burr from Parmia Insurance (Queensland), David Clarke from OAMPS Gault Armstrong (WA), Simon Kennedy from Aon (SA) and Greg Tolson from Willis (Victoria/Tasmania).

Broker of the year Mr Gumm has 35 years’ experience at major international companies including Reed Stenhouse, Sedgwick, Willis and Marsh.

In 2007 he founded niche brokerage Parmia, specialising in tailoring risk management and insurance programs for professional industries.

Other finalists were Evan Jackson from Guardian Insurance Brokers (SA/NT), Andrew Robinson from Robinson Insurance Broking Services (WA), Sharon Cannon from OAMPS Insurance Brokers (Victoria/Tasmania) and Darren Milne from Milne Alexander (NSW/ACT).

“Wow, what an honour,” Mr Gumm said, before paying tribute to the “tremendous talent” of his fellow finalists. “This wouldn’t be happening unless I had a wonderful team working with me.”

The prize, sponsored by Zurich, is a trip to the Zurich Classic golf tournament and jazz festival in New Orleans, plus attendance at major business seminars.

As previously revealed, Aon’s Perth-based broker Alexandra Fox-Slater is the inaugural NIBA college student of the year.

The awards were presented at the NIBA Convention in Melbourne today.

Association CEO Dallas Booth says the awards “underline the important role brokers play in the insurance industry”.