The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) has announced the recipients of its 2025 awards, acknowledging individuals whose involvement spans local, national and international efforts in insurance and broking.
Christian Poulsen ACII received the Francis Perkins Award for his years of work with BIBA and its member community.
The award, created in 1982 by BIBA’s founding chair, Francis Perkins, is presented each year to a member who has consistently dedicated time and effort in support of the insurance broking sector.
Poulsen served for over 12 years on BIBA’s SME Brokers’ Advisory Board, where he engaged in discussions and policy input focused on the needs of smaller broking firms. He also served as president of the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) in Folkestone and South Kent, becoming the youngest to take on that role at the time.
BIBA chief executive Graeme Trudgill said Poulsen provided consistent input to BIBA over many years and was a reliable contact point for the association when addressing issues raised by smaller brokers.
"He has given up a significant amount of his time to represent the needs of BIBA members and has been a worthy sounding board for the BIBA team throughout the time he dedicated to BIBA," said Trudgill.
In a separate award, Olola Frederick Olabode Ogunlana was named recipient of BIBA’s 2025 International Lifetime Achievement Award.
The recognition was based on his seven-decade career in the insurance industry, which includes founding roles in multiple professional organisations such as the CII of Nigeria, the West African Insurance Companies Association, the African Insurance Organisation and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
Ogunlana has also had a ten-year tenure as an underwriting member at Lloyd’s of London. His involvement extends beyond the sector through participation in charitable and educational groups, with a specific focus on youth-related programmes.
Trudgill said Ogunlana remains active in the field at 92 years old and has maintained involvement in both insurance practice and professional development initiatives.
"[Ogunlana's] exceptional career and lifelong commitment to personal and professional development make him a true pioneer in the insurance industry and an inspiration to many," Trudgill added.
BIBA currently represents around 1,800 regulated insurance intermediary firms in the UK, accounting for more than 100,000 jobs. These firms arrange 74% of all general insurance in the UK and 93% of commercial insurance, generating a combined premium of £85.8bn and contributing 1% to national GDP.
The association provides services to the public through its Find Insurance platform and works with regulators, consumer bodies and government offices on policy matters affecting the insurance sector.
How do long-serving individuals like Poulsen and Ogunlana contribute to the continuity of expertise in the insurance profession? Share your thoughts below.
