Paul Davenport says he is proud – but also shocked and “a little outside my comfort zone” – to be recognised with this year’s NIBA community excellence member award.

The prize, announced at the National Insurance Brokers Association Convention earlier this month, commends his community work using horse rides to build confidence and encourage school attendance in children.

“It was quite an honour and I was very excited by it, very appreciative of the recognition. I really do value it,” Mr Davenport tells insuranceNEWS.com.au.

“I enjoy going to work each day ... making a difference to thousands of people who are passionately committed to ensuring Australians can get outdoors and experience all that this incredible country has to offer.”

Mr Davenport, a former professional horse trainer, lives in Victoria’s Gippsland and works in Melbourne as client director at Aon-owned Affinity Insurance Brokers.

He manages a team of about 26 specialising in the tourism/adventure and equine sectors.

“I am very proud to be in the insurance industry and of what our business does for the community, because without insurance these things can’t continue. It’s more than a job for me.

“I’ve got 55 to 60 years of networks. People reach out to me and I love being able to connect people, and sometimes I’m privileged enough to be the person who can be the most help.”

After running horse riding activities at Christian youth camp Mill Valley Ranch, Mr Davenport started his own business in the horse industry with wife Joanne.

When capacity shrank after HIH collapsed more than two decades ago, he was approached by Affinity to create an equine program.

“That’s how I came from the horse industry into the insurance industry. It was about 24 years ago and here I am.

“I’ve hired younger people out of the [horse] industry and we’ve taught them insurance. A balance between that and experienced insurance people seems to have worked very, very well for our clients and the industries we look after.”

Mr Davenport spends several weeks each year on the road with a caravan visiting clients, and he says wife Joanne “is very much a part of what we do – we’ve always worked together, so when I’m out in the field she’s very much a part of it. And if she gets sick of me, she sits and reads her book while I talk to people.”

This year marked his first NIBA award and first convention attendance.

“It was just amazing – tremendous to see the competition being put aside and brokers supporting and helping each other and learning from their own experiences. It was outstanding.”