Blake Oliver Consulting has won an innovation in recruiting accolade from SEEK, marking the first time an insurance specialist has been recognised in two decades of the job search giant’s annual recruitment awards scheme. 

The recruiter hosts lunches that aim to help insurers fight an industry-wide “image problem” and open top graduates’ eyes to the perks of a career in the sector. 

“We won the award for our unique event targeting university students to raise awareness about the career paths in insurance,” Blake Oliver Marketing Manager Beth Kowalewski told insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

Two events have been held in Melbourne over the past two years, and the first Sydney event is slated for May. 

The recruiter teamed with the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance and Insurtech Australia to host a three-course lunch at the RACV City Club, inviting almost 80 university students and figures from four underwriting firms, four brokerages, an insurtech and some service providers. 

Blake Oliver Founder and MD Dan Marsh is a former underwriter at Chubb and worked in broking for many years. He has previously said insurance has an image problem and “if you’re a young student you’d much rather work for Deloitte, or CBA”, even though the skills of engineers, accountants and others are transferrable to insurance.