2021 NIBA Awards go digital amid new COVID-19 outbreaks

The National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) has announced that its 2021 NIBA Awards celebrating talented insurance professionals in Western Australia (WA), Queensland (Qld), and New South Wales (NSW) will go digital amid new COVID-19 outbreaks across the country.

Early this month, NIBA temporarily paused registrations for the 2021 NIBA Awards in response to the COVID-19 situation across the country. Now, it has decided to adapt to the situation by holding the state awards online.

NIBA released the schedule of the virtual award festivities across Australia:

• WA Award Ceremony: 1:30pm AWST on July 09, 2021;
• Qld Award Ceremony: 1:30pm AEST on July 14, 2021; and
• NSW Award Ceremony: 1:30pm AEST on July 16, 2021.

NIBA confirmed that the gala lunches for announcing the state winners will still push through at a later date:

• NIBA WA Gala Lunch: August 06;
• NIBA NSW Gala Lunch: August 20; and
• NIBA/UAC Qld Underwriting Expo and Lunch: to be announced.

Read more: NIBA issues COVID-19 update for July events

NSW is the worst-hit state in the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Australia. Other major cities have also implemented lockdowns to control the spread of the infectious disease. Early this month, NIBA chief executive officer Dallas Booth said the association is constantly assessing the COVID-19 situation on a case-by-case basis for all events.

Booth recently commented: “It is once again time to celebrate the outstanding work that insurance brokers across the country do to support their clients; acknowledging the dedicated people in the intermediary profession is the need of the hour. We invite everyone in the insurance community to be a part of the online festivities to celebrate excellence.

“We are very thankful to our award sponsors, QBE and Vero, who have supported us every step of the way. We also look forward to celebrating in person as soon as it is safe to do so. All the best to our state award finalists.”