Insurance Business Australia Awards 2025 Celebrates Industry Excellence
The Insurance Business Australia Awards 2025 took place on May 2 at the Hilton Sydney, honoring the industry’s top achievers across 21 categories. Over 420 professionals gathered to celebrate the winners and enjoy a three-course dinner, live music, and entertainment.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Robert Kelly, CEO of Steadfast Group, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the Australian insurance industry. Kelly expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’ve worked very hard in this industry, and when people congratulate you for something, you should say, ‘thank you’.”
Brokerage Awards
Brokerage Awards Paw Brooks Admin | Broking Industry
The Insurance Business Australia Awards celebrated the best in the insurance industry on May 2, 2025, at the Hilton Sydney. Over 420 professionals attended, honoring top performers across various categories.
Robert Kelly, Steadfast Group CEO, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades-long influence on Australia’s insurance industry. “It’s fabulous,” Kelly said, appreciating the “great vibe” of the event.
Shane Brady, Director of Stone Lane Broking & Risk Advisory, won the Australia Underwriting Broker of the Year award. “It’s incredibly humbling,” Brady said, crediting his team for the success.
George Vincent, Director of Australia Underwriting (AU), praised Brady’s achievement, stating, “We are immensely grateful for your continued partnership and the exceptional work brokers do each day.”
Other notable broker-related awards included:
- Large Brokerage of the Year: Guardian Insurance Brokers (sponsored by Arch Insurance)
- Medium Brokerage of the Year: Trade Risk (sponsored by AXA XL)
Underwriting Agencies Recognized
The event also celebrated underwriting agencies. CHU Underwriting Agencies won the Underwriting Agency of the Year award. Jenny Bax, UAC CEO, congratulated the winner, highlighting their professionalism in client service and underwriting.
Young Achievers and Claims Teams
Tate Harris from allinsure won the Young Achiever of the Year award, sponsored by Elantis Premium Funding. Rachael Lavars, Elantis CEO, emphasized the importance of supporting young brokers who bring fresh perspectives and digital expertise.
NTI won the Claims Team of the Year award. Daniel Lukich from AAMC praised the hard work of claims teams, stating, “I’ve always felt that working in claims is thankless and tough, especially now, as the bulk of complaints insurance companies receive are primarily about claims execution.”
Sponsors and Partners
AAMC was the Event Partner for the 2025 Insurance Business Awards. Other sponsors included Land + Road by AAMC, HDI Global SE (champagne sponsor), Crawford & Company (photobooth sponsor), and Raindrop (social media sponsor).
Methodology and Judging Panel
The awards followed a rigorous methodology involving nominations, research, and judging by an independent panel of industry experts. The judging panel included notable figures such as Leo Abbruzzo (DUAL ANZ), Jenny Bax (UAC), and Kirsty Owens (Berkley Insurance Australia).
The 2025 Insurance Business Australia Awards demonstrated the insurance industry’s commitment to excellence and innovation. The event provided a platform for recognizing outstanding achievements and fostering industry growth and collaboration.
Full List of Winners
- Authorised Representative Network of the Year: Insurance Advisernet
- Excellence Awardee: McLardy McShane Partners
- Authorised Representative of the Year: Peter Chamberlain (allinsure)
- BDM of the Year: Con Stoitsis (Steadfast Underwriting Agencies)
- Best Service Provider of the Year – Claims: EML
- Best Service Provider of the Year – Insurtech: Xceedance
- Australia Underwriting Broker of the Year: Shane Brady (Stone Lane Broking & Risk Advisory)
- CEO of the Year: Michael Gottlieb (BizCover)
- AAMC Claims Team of the Year: NTI
- Employer of Choice: Helia Insurance
- Excellence in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: QBE Insurance Australia (Respect@QBE)
- Insurer of the Year: Vero
- Arch Insurance Large Brokerage of the Year: Guardian Insurance Brokers
- AXA XL Medium Brokerage of the Year: Trade Risk
- Outstanding Customer Experience: PassportCard
- Land + Road by AAMC Philanthropy & Community Service – CSR: allinsure
- Small Brokerage of the Year: GT Insurance Brokers
- Underwriting Agencies Council Underwriting Agency of the Year: CHU Underwriting Agencies
- Elantis Premium Funding Young Achiever of the Year: Tate Harris (allinsure)
- Lifetime Achievement: Robert Kelly (Steadfast Group)
- Australian Brokerage of the Year: GT Insurance Brokers
The Insurance Business Australia Awards 2025 showcased the industry’s dedication to excellence, innovation, and community service.
