Suncorp-backed AA Insurance is the New Zealand general insurance company of the year and Insurance Advisernet New Zealand the large broking company of the year.

Suncorp also picked up wins in other categories at the annual New Zealand Insurance Awards organised by the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).

It triumphed in the excellence in workplace diversity and inclusion segment and its Asteron Life business is life insurance company of the year.

Suncorp New Zealand CEO Jimmy Higgins and his colleague, EGM Claims and Operations Campbell Mitchell, shared honours as insurance leader of the year with IAG New Zealand General Counsel and EGM External Relations Blair Williams and Earthquake Commission CEO Sid Miller

ANZIIF says the quartet demonstrated leadership in driving the Natural Disaster Response Model, a collaboration between the EQC, eight private insurers and the Insurance Council of New Zealand to improve claims handling. The scheme commenced in July this year.

Mr Higgins says Suncorp’s Vero was proud to have led the way on the new model, which would create more speed and certainty for New Zealanders affected by a natural disaster.

“The agreement was the result of many years work that Vero has done with EQC to trial new approaches to natural disaster claims following learnings from the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes,” he said.

“Vero has continued to advocate for a new approach and I am very humbled to receive this award, which is really a recognition of the enormous amount of effort from many employees here at Suncorp New Zealand.”

AA Insurance, a joint venture between Suncorp’s Vero Insurance and the New Zealand Automobile Association, also went home with the insurance learning program of the year award.

Click here for the prize ceremony.

Here are the winners:

Large Broking Company of the Year - Insurance Advisernet New Zealand

Underwriting Agency of the Year - Delta Insurance

General Insurance Company of the Year - AA Insurance

Life Insurance Company of the Year - Asteron Life

Innovation of the Year - Gallagher Bassett

Professional Services Firm of the Year - McLarens

Service Provider to the Insurance Industry - CoreLogic NZ

Excellence in Workplace Diversity and Inclusion - Suncorp New Zealand

Insurance Learning Program of the Year - AA Insurance

Young Insurance Professional of the Year - Stephen Cantwell of FMG

Broking Professional of the Year - Faith Owens of Bridges Insurance

Insurance Leader of the Year - Jimmy Higgins, Sid Miller, Campbell Mitchell and Blair Williams (joint winners)

ANZIIF Lifetime Achievement Award - Doune Connett of AIA New Zealand