Four Australian insurance brokers and underwriters now vie for a career-enhancing opportunity to see how the London market operates.

The 2019 finalists for the prestigious Valerie Baker Memorial Award are Beau Munn of Origin Insurance, Belinda Smith of Western Insurance Brokers, Kim Gilbert of Zenith Insurance Services, and Lisa Carter of Clear Insurance.

Read more: Brokers urged to apply for prestigious industry award

The award, sponsored jointly by Gold Seal, AIMS and the Steadfast Group with notable support from Lloyd’s Australia and Lloyd’s of London, recognises excellence in professional practice in the general insurance intermediary sector, including both broking and underwriting agencies.

The winner will receive an expenses-paid trip to London, including business class air fares and accommodation, an education experience tailored to the winner’s special interests, career-enhancing meetings and networking with key underwriters and brokers, thorough familiarisation of Lloyd’s of London and meetings with senior managers, and $1,000 spending money.

The winner will be selected based on their interviews with the judging panel, references, and application, and will be announced at a function to be held at Lloyd’s Australia’s premises on August 28.

Judges include Chris Mackinnon, general representative of Lloyd’s Australia, Jim Rudkin, of the Steadfast Group, Martin McAvenna, of the AIMS Group, Sheila Baker, managing director of Gold Seal (chair), and Rocco Pirrello, 2018 finalist from GSA Insurance Brokers.