The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has opened nominations for its 2026 Broker of the Year and Young Broker of the Year awards, beginning this year’s national program recognising both senior and early-career brokers.
The awards will be run across five regions – New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia/Northern Territory, Victoria/Tasmania, and Western Australia. Regional winners will advance to national judging, with overall winners to be announced at the NIBA Convention on the Gold Coast from Oct. 18 to 20. Nominations opened on Feb. 9, with further stages, including submissions review and panel interviews, scheduled through to October.
The 2026 Broker of the Year Award, sponsored by CGU, is open to senior brokers who meet defined experience and qualification requirements. The award is named after Stephen Ball, former JLT Australia chairman and NIBA president. Each of the five regional winners becomes a finalist for the national Broker of the Year title and receives the Stephen Ball Memorial Trophy when the national winner is announced at the convention. Eligibility criteria for the Broker of the Year include:
Past entrants may apply again, but previous state or national winners of the award are not eligible. NIBA CEO Richard Klipin said the association welcomed CGU’s continued partnership. “It’s fantastic to have CGU back as the award partner for the 2026 Broker of the Year Award. Together, we’re proud to recognise senior brokers who consistently raise the standard of service, integrity, and professionalism,” Klipin said.
The Broker of the Year process follows defined stages:
At state level, written submissions contribute 25% of the assessment, with a three-person panel interview accounting for 75%. State panel interviews are scheduled in capital cities around May 14, with winners to be announced at the Gala Lunch Series between July 8 and 24. National interviews and the CGU On-Country Experience are planned for September, subject to final confirmation of dates, ahead of the convention in October.
NIBA assesses candidates against three broad themes:
State winners will attend the CGU On-Country Immersive Experience and Capability Building Workshop. The three-day, two-night program is for the five NIBA state winners and senior CGU leaders and involves travel to regional locations and meetings with Indigenous partner organisations. CGU executive general manager Damien Gallagher said the arrangement is part of the insurer’s work with brokers. “We’re proud to be back supporting the 2026 Broker of the Year Award. This ongoing partnership with NIBA reinforces CGU’s commitment to recognise broker ambition, celebrating leaders who are raising the bar and ensuring that our profession is future ready,” Gallagher said. The national Broker of the Year will undertake a short-course executive education program at NYU Stern School of Business in the April to June 2027 intake, or a comparable course at a London business school selected by CGU. The program is intended to expand participants’ business and leadership capabilities in an international setting.
Nominations are also open for the 2026 Young Broker of the Year Award, supported by Vero and open to brokers aged 35 and under. The award was established in 1990 in honour of Warren Tickle, former Insurance Commissioner associated with the Insurance (Agents & Brokers) Act 1984, who began his career at Sun Alliance, now Vero. The award targets brokers in earlier stages of their careers. Klipin said the partnership with Vero continues to focus on this cohort. “NIBA is proud to celebrate the emerging leaders who represent the future of insurance broking. I would like to thank Vero for a long and successful partnership with NIBA spanning 37 years, unearthing the leaders of tomorrow,” Klipin said.
To be eligible for Young Broker of the Year, nominees must:
Past entrants can apply again, but previous state or national winners are not eligible.
Regional Young Broker winners, selected through written submissions and state panel interviews, then move into a series of development and assessment activities. State winners will join the Vero professional development series, delivered virtually and featuring industry practitioners. They will work together to design and present a $25,000 Vero-funded community grant project in a community affected by a weather-related event. They will also take part in the Vero Young Broker Alumni Experience, a three-day program held at the previous year’s grant recipient location, with sessions on leadership, resilience, and community engagement. Alumni later return with Vero to visit the funded community and observe how the project has been implemented.
At national level, assessment weights participation in the professional development program (25%), contribution to the Vero Young Brokers Alumni Experience (25%), and a panel interview (50%). The national Young Broker of the Year receives a learning and development package valued at $10,000, funded by Vero, which can be used for further education or training. Anthony Pagano, head of distribution at Vero, said the insurer continues to support the award series. “For 37 years running, Vero has been proud to support the Young Broker of the Year Award, recognising and celebrating exceptional emerging talent and the impact these brokers are already making across our profession,” Pagano said. In the 2025 awards, NIBA named Caleb Richards of Gallagher as Broker of the Year and James Still of Still Insured as Young Broker of the Year.
