Our voice in the world
5 June 2008
Aiming at tomorrow today
1 April 2008
Change in Canberra indicates opportunity
1 February 2008
Celebrating 25 years of NIBA
1 October 2007
Fighting the good fight for brokers and clients
1 August 2007
Noel Pettersen, Chief Executive of NIBA,
Insurance & Risk Professional, October 2007
Back in 1982, the year that Australia II snatched the America’s Cup, the newly formed National Insurance Brokers Association of Australia was the most important leap forward for broker intermediaries in Australian insurance history. And we’ve come a long way since then.
Evolving from the merger of the Insurance Brokers Association of Australia and the Confederation of Insurance Brokers of Australia, the strength of NIBA has always been in enhancing the value of brokers in business and the community generally.
Strategic lobbying is fundamental to NIBA’s role, requiring close liaison with members, the Government, regulators and other stakeholders. From the concept and stewardship of NIBA’s inaugural President, the late Stuart Leslie, through to its present leader, Paul Goddard, the association has become recognised as a major contributor in reviews and interpretation of all legislation affecting broker interests.
Over the years we’ve seen many legislative changes, in 1984 with the introduction of the Insurance (Agents & Brokers) Act, and again in 2001 with the new Financial Services Reform Act. This most recent legislation brought in many far-reaching changes, and fine-tuning of the Act has been ongoing.
This year NIBA has made ground on issues such as the cross-endorsement arrangements for authorised representatives, and has supported the Government’s aim for simplification of regulation.
But further work is required to ensure the Government’s objective for Australian financial services licensees to obtain professional indemnity insurance for dealing with retail clients is workable and that cover is attainable.
NIBA was the first industry body to be addressed by the late Warren Tickle as the new Australian General Insurance Commissioner.
In 1990 NIBA established an award in memory of Warren Tickle to nationally recognise a young insurance broker exhibiting an outstanding level of professionalism and integrity.
This year, with the ongoing support of Vero, the award has been extended to include nominees from each state. A Young Professional Broker of the Year is now selected in five regions, with the winners coming together at the NIBA Convention for the announcement of the prestigious Warren Tickle Memorial Award.
We are delighted with the high level of candidates in each state, and after a rigorous nomination and judging process we look forward to hearing the name of the winner announced.
Congratulations to all the state winners – Aon’s Kevin Baker, from Victoria; Dean Brumby from Austcover in Queensland; Angela San Diego from Marsh in New South Wales; EBM Insurance Brokers’ Ward Dedman from Western Australia; and Aon’s Ian Furby from South Australia.
NIBA has a great history of achievement and to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of NIBA at our 25th Annual Convention we have managed to track down most of the past presidents for a videoed trip down memory lane.
Featuring iconic broker leaders from the past such as Terry Paradine, Bob Elder and Robert Harrison, the video is compelling viewing and will be shown for the first time during the opening ceremony at the Convention.
Lex McKeown, whose name has been invoked at the opening ceremony of each convention, will also be at the convention this year to make the presentation to the Lex McKeown Trophy winner. And Ian Abell, another of the industry’s founding fathers, will be there as well to announce the NIBA General Insurer of the Year for 2007.
From its inception NIBA has been committed to inspiring greater standards of competence and quality service from its members. We look forward to seeing brokers old and new at the 25th NIBA Convention to celebrate our vibrant past and, importantly, focus on the industry’s future.