The annual ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Awards are an extremely competitive and sought-after accolade, receiving a high number of entries of exceptional calibre judged by cross-industry leaders and senior life insurance professionals.
ALUCA is immensely proud of the following ALUCA members who have demonstrated excellence in life insurance, going over and above to achieve outstanding outcomes for customers and the wider industry.
Awards Night Social Sponsor
We’re delighted to share a video message from Sam Liebert, Head of Konnect NET, who speaks about the importance of celebrating excellence in our industry.
2025 Sponsors in the Spotlight
One of the world’s largest reinsurers, SCOR provides its clients with a diversified and innovative range of solutions to control and manage risk. Using its experience and expertise, “The Art & Science of Risk”, SCOR provides cutting-edge financial solutions, analytics tools and services in all areas related to risk – in Life & Health as well as in P&C.
Eimear Smith, Head of Underwriting and Sarah El-Khansa, Technical Claims Specialist at SCOR, share how the ALUCA Excellence Awards align with SCOR’s purpose and how excited they are for this year’s event to salute the industry’s collective success.
FINEOS is a leading provider of core systems for life, accident and health insurers globally with 7 of the 10 largest employee benefits insurers in the U.S. as well as a 70% market share of group insurance in Australia. With employees and offices throughout the world, FINEOS continues to work with innovative, progressive insurers in North America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.
Samantha Lim, APAC In-market Product Manager at FINEOS, shares how delighted they are to be involved with ALUCA’s Excellence Awards and how important it is to take time to recognise and celebrate the amazing work insurance professionals do every day.
2025 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners
| AWARD | WINNER |
|---|---|
| Leadership Award | Mary Magallanes, Acenda |
| Professional Award | Melissa Chapman, ART Life |
| Rising Star Award | Holly Lewis, Allianz |
| David Mico Industry Award | Alicia Gibbs, SwissRe |
| Claims Team Award | Acenda TPD Claims Team |
| Underwriting Team Award | Zurich Aggregator Underwriting Team |
| Customer Service Team Award | Early Intervention Team KickStart, Acenda |
| Innovation Team Award | Electronic Health Records Team, Hannover Re |
| Partnership Impact Team Award | Project Phoenix, Acenda & EQ Pathology |
| Best Technology Team Award | CMS Feature Delivery Squad, Resolution Life Australasia |
2024 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners
| AWARD | WINNER |
|---|---|
| Leadership Award | Darren Leonard, MLC Life Insurance |
| Professional Award | June Khaw, Hannover Re |
| Rising Star Award | Sean Marais, Hannover Re |
| David Mico Industry Award | Paul Bennell, TAL |
| Claims Team Award | MLC Life Claims Management, MLC Life Insurance |
| Underwriting Team Award | Underwriting Centre of Excellence – Digital Solutions, Zurich |
| Customer Service Team Award | MLC Life Mental Health Claims, MLC Life Insurance |
| Innovation Team Award | SCOR and Adviser Connect |
| Partnership Impact Team Award | Recovery and Wellness, MLC Life Insurance/Swiss Re/Wysa |
| Best Technology Team Award | AIA Australia and Hannover Re |
2023 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners
| AWARD | WINNER |
|---|---|
| Leadership Award | Mitali Waghmare – AIA Australia |
| Professional Award | Alex Kelly – MLC Life Insurance |
| Rehabilitation Award | June Khaw – Hannover Life Re |
| Rising Star Award | Keiran Seenan – MLC Life Insurance |
| David Mico Education Award | Rebekah Raftopoulos – Workcom |
| Underwriting Team Award | TAL Underwriting Risk & Strategy Team – TAL |
| Claims Team Award | Retail Claims Fast Track (RCFT) Team – MLC Life Insurance |
| Customer Service Team Award | QInsure Claims Team – Australian Retirement Trust |
| Innovation Team Award | TAL Retirement – Group Longevity Insurance – TAL |
| Volunteer Hero Award | Shane Burdack – Swiss Re |
2022 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners
2021 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners
2020 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Leadership Award | Joanne Faglioni – OnePath/Zurich Australia Limited |
| Claims Award | Janine Lippi – TAL |
| Underwriting Award | Matthew Apps – Zurich Australia Limited |
| Rehabilitation Award | Rachael Rubic – OnePath/Zurich Australia Limited |
| Rising Star Award | Mitu Ray – BT Life Insurance |
| David Mico Education Award | Joanne Hetherington – TAL |
| Underwriting Team Award | Zurich Technical Underwriting Team – Zurich Australia Limited |
| Claims Team Award | CBUS Claims Team – TAL |
| Customer Service Award | Lodgement Team – AMP Life |
| Innovation Team Award | TAL Risk Academy Team – TAL |
| Volunteer Hero Award | Michael Reid – AIA Australia |
2019 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Leadership Award | Peter Tilocca – One Path WATCH INTERVIEW |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Claims Award | Michelle Byne – CommInsure |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Underwriting Award | Scott Power – Zurich Australia Limited |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Rehabilitation Award | Melissa Colonna – MetLife |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Rising Star of the Year Award | Emily Plahuta – AMP Limited |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence David Mico Education Award | Tony Baker – Zurich Australia Limited WATCH INTERVIEW |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Underwriting Team of the Year Award | MetLife |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Claims Team of the Year Award | BT Financial Group (joint winner) MLC Life Insurance (joint winner) |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Customer Service Team of the Year Award | AMP Limited – Motivational Interactions Team |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Innovation Team of the Year Award | MLC Life Insurance Team – Mental Health Navigator |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Volunteer Hero of the Year Award | Jennifer Jackson – CommInsure |
What does winning an ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award mean?
2018 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Leadership Award | Tina Beilby – Zurich Financial Services |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Claims Award | Matthew Austin – CommInsure |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Underwriting Award | Stephen Connolly – Zurich Financial Services |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Rehabilitation Award | Rebecca McMurray – Work Rehab |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Rising Star of the Year Award | Katie Hartley – Comminsure |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence David Mico Education Award | Carola Moore – AMP Limited |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Underwriting Team of the Year Award | Asteron Life |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Claims Team of the Year Award | MLC Life Insurance |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Customer Service Team of the Year Award | Direct Claims Team – TAL |
| ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Innovation Team of the Year Award | Life Insurance Claims Team – BT Financial Group |