Vero Insurance and GIO Workers Compensation have announced the winners of the 17th RM Advancer Awards, an annual event recognising notable risk management practices in Australian industries. The ceremony, at Melbourne’s Immigration Museum, was attended by representatives from sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, mining, and recreation.
The RM Advancer Awards are structured to highlight achievements in four main categories:
The Commercial category is for large organisations – those with annual turnover above $100 million or more than 100 employees – that are clients of Vero and hold products such as property insurance, equipment breakdown insurance, products liability, commercial motor, or motor fleet insurance. The award recognises risk management programs or initiatives by these clients.
The Small and Medium Enterprises category is for organisations with fewer than 100 employees or annual turnover below $100 million. It recognises Vero or GIO clients who have implemented risk management programs or initiatives involving any commercial or personal injury insurance product.
The workers' compensation and public liability category is for large organisations – those with more than 100 employees or annual revenue above $100 million – that are clients of GIO workers' compensation insurance or Vero public liability insurance. The award recognises risk management initiatives or programs by these clients.
The Best Continuous Improvement category acknowledges organisations that have made changes to risk management controls over time. All commercial clients of Vero and GIO are eligible for this category.
Weathertex, a New South Wales manufacturer of timber cladding and wall panels, was named in the Commercial category for actions taken to address warehouse and supply chain risks. The company upgraded fire safety systems, broadened its supplier network, and adopted energy-saving measures. As a result, fuel consumption was reduced by 25%, and warehouse storage capacity increased.
Victoria’s New Plumbing Solutions (NPS) was recognised in the Small and Medium Enterprises category for changes to its fleet management and driver safety protocols. The company implemented GPS tracking, standardised vehicle models, and introduced a new fleet management system. These measures resulted in a claim frequency of 10.6% and a reduction in average claim costs.
KCA Site Services, based in Western Australia, received the Workers Compensation and Public Liability award for developing a work health and safety (WHS) framework for its labour hire operations in high-risk sectors including mining. The company reported a decrease in workers’ compensation claims from seven to three and a 79% reduction in incident reporting times.
Buller Ski Lifts, operator of Victoria’s largest ski lift network, received the Best Continuous Improvement award for measures taken to manage risks such as bushfires and skier safety. The company reported a 10% reduction in injuries per skier day and no on-snow fatalities in the past decade.
David Hoffmann, executive general manager commercial at Vero, commented on the breadth and quality of this year’s submissions. “We saw record numbers of nominations this year, showing overwhelming enthusiasm from brokers to highlight how their clients have excelled in risk management across every aspect of their organisation,” Hoffmann said. “Among the entries, we saw significant advancements in how businesses use technology for risk management, including the use of AI-powered bushfire camera networks, and drone-based inspections of infrastructure and assets.”
Hoffmann also addressed the introduction of a new award category focused on continuous improvement. “The variety of entries we saw reinforced the importance of long-term risk management, with businesses proactively addressing risks through consistent, informed, decision-making,” he said.
The RM Advancer Awards are open to clients of Vero and GIO Workers Compensation and their brokers. Eligible entrants include not-for-profits, private companies, and government agencies, with the ability to enter multiple categories depending on organisational size and insurance product. Award recipients receive a trophy and up to $2,000 for risk management training or development. The program, now in its 17th year, is designed to acknowledge risk management initiatives among clients and brokers.
