ANZIIF names Donna Walker Awards winners

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) has announced three 2022 award winners.

Sydney-based Honan Insurance Head of Global Benefits Alexandra Slimming won this year’s Inspiring Leadership prize under the Donna Walker Awards, while IAG’s Rachel Hardy was the Emerging Talent winner.

Those awards, which celebrate excellence in leadership, were launched to honour Donna Walker, who died in 2019 during a tour of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, shortly after climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

The judges said Ms Slimming had an excellent career synopsis and great understanding of why insurance is “such an incredible career opportunity”, and that she was involved in a broad range of diversity and inclusion initiatives through volunteer work to address issues that include mental health, gender equality, LGBTQ+, and cultural diversity.

Ms Slimming was “actively participating in insurance community groups, to support young professionals and promote people in our industry”.

Ms Hardy was praised by judges for using her skills in the industry “to promote the role of insurers in times of need”.

She also “highlighted how rewarding it was to see how communities who may have been impacted by a major event were appreciative of the industry’s support, once educated about the role of the insurer”.

The awards were announced at ANZIIF’s Diversity & Inclusion Seminar last week.

ANZIIF also says Auckland-based Frank Risk Management Senior Broker Anna Parker has won this year’s Making a Difference Award New Zealand. Ms Parker’s success was announced at the recent New Zealand Liability Conference.

The Making a Difference Recognition Awards highlight individuals across different sectors in insurance who have gone above and beyond in their workplace and with their customers. Aside from the New Zealand honour, the awards each year recognise one individual across broking, claims, general insurance, life insurance, reinsurance and underwriting.

“These awards recognise an individual who has demonstrated outstanding professionalism, commitment, achievement and passion in the insurance industry,” ANZIIF said. Winners receive a profile on the ANZIIF website under the Professional Development section and a prize valued at $500.