Insurance Advisernet wrapped up its three-day conference in Sydney by naming the winners of its Australia and New Zealand excellence awards.

Zurich was crowned Australian insurer of the year and Market Lane topped the agency category.

Insurance Advisernet says the event brought the Australian and NZ networks together for their first combined conference, with more than 700 delegates attending.

“A major highlight of the conference was the more than $200,000 raised for the IA Foundation through the gala auction, raffle ticket sales and conference registration proceeds, reflecting the generosity of delegates and industry partners,” the business said.

The Australian award winners were:

• Overall practice of the year – Four Pillars Risk
• Insurer – Zurich
• Specialist insurer – Berkley
• Agency – Market Lane
• Specialist agency – CFC
• Employee – Simon Elliot
• Chairman’s award – Darren Loades
• Insurance person – Tracy Ambrose, Vero
• Funder – Attvest
• Funder BDM – Gareth Phillips, Attvest
• Region – central region

The New Zealand award winners:

• Broker of the year – Navigate Insurance Brokers
• Emerging broker – Bays Insurance Brokers
• Insurer – NZI
• Agency – Ando
• Funder – Elantis
• Insurance person – Radhika Sharma, Dual
• Chairman’s award – Graeme Bodley