Three young professionals will compete in the first Victorian final of the Australian Insurance Law Association’s (AILA) public speaking award.

The Ron Shorter Memorial Award is in its fourth year in NSW, and AILA has now extended it to Victoria.

The state’s finalists all work in Melbourne. They are Danielle Blaschuk, a Commercial Lines Underwriter at Catholic Church Insurance, and lawyers Laura Gaffey from Gilchrist Connell and Alexander Morell from Colin Biggers & Paisley.

The three will speak for 15 minutes in front of a judging panel and about 100 guests from the insurance industry.

AILA says a large number of applications were received and 22 people took part in an intensive training session with Polaris Coaching, after which the finalists were chosen.

The Victorian winner will receive the Ron Shorter Trophy, a $500 Westfield voucher and the chance to speak at the AILA conference against NSW winner Divya Pahwa from Meridian Lawyers.

Judges for the state final are Supreme Court of Victoria judge Emilios Kyrou, CGU EGM Broker Business Donna Walker and AIG Australia CEO Noel Condon.

The final is on July 30 at the Melbourne office of Colin Biggers & Paisley. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Visit here to register.