Excellence Awards Winners

Celebrating the past winners of ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Awards

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.

2024 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners

AWARDWINNER
Leadership AwardDarren Leonard, MLC Life Insurance
Professional AwardJune Khaw, Hannover Re
Rising Star AwardSean Marais, Hannover Re
David Mico Industry AwardPaul Bennell, TAL
Claims Team AwardMLC Life Claims Management, MLC Life Insurance
Underwriting Team AwardUnderwriting Centre of Excellence – Digital Solutions, Zurich
Customer Service Team AwardMLC Life Mental Health Claims, MLC Life Insurance
Innovation Team AwardSCOR and Adviser Connect
Partnership Impact Team AwardRecovery and Wellness, MLC Life Insurance/Swiss Re/Wysa
Best Technology Team AwardAIA Australia and Hannover Re

2023 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners

AWARDWINNER
Leadership AwardMitali Waghmare – AIA Australia
Professional AwardAlex Kelly – MLC Life Insurance
Rehabilitation AwardJune Khaw – Hannover Life Re
Rising Star AwardKeiran Seenan – MLC Life Insurance
David Mico Education AwardRebekah Raftopoulos – Workcom
Underwriting Team AwardTAL Underwriting Risk & Strategy Team – TAL
Claims Team AwardRetail Claims Fast Track (RCFT) Team – MLC Life Insurance
Customer Service Team AwardQInsure Claims Team – Australian Retirement Trust
Innovation Team AwardTAL Retirement – Group Longevity Insurance – TAL
Volunteer Hero AwardShane Burdack – Swiss Re

2022 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award Winners

AWARDWINNER
Leadership AwardChantelle Everett – TAL
Professional AwardVictor Tran – MetLife Australia
Rehabilitation AwardJune Khaw – Hannover Re
Rising Star AwardAdrian Argall – MetLife Australia
David Mico Education AwardMervyn Lam – AIA Australia
Underwriting Team AwardTAL Underwriting Quality & Training Team – TAL
Claims Team AwardClaims Continuous Improvement Team – MetLife Australia
Customer Service Team AwardBT Life Insurance and Guardian Exercise Rehabilitation Team
Innovation AwardMetLife 360Health – MetLife Australia
Sustainability AwardIDII Sustainability Team – TAL, SCOR, Swiss Re, Zurich, RGA, Cogent, ML Forensics, Cigna
Volunteer Hero AwardLucy Hartley – Swiss Re

2021 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners

Leadership AwardArleen Hatton – MetLife Australia
Claims AwardPaula Ramsay – MLC Life Insurance
Underwriter AwardSonya Strachan – MetLife Australia
Rehabilitation AwardMelissa Colonna – MetLife Australia
Rising Star AwardSenthil Baladhandayutham – TAL
David Mico Education AwardMatthew Parsons – MLC Life Insurance
Claims Team AwardOnePath Mental Health Claims Team – Zurich OnePath
Underwriting Team AwardMetLife Australia Underwriting Team – MetLife Australia
Customer Service AwardStrategy and Recovery Team – MetLife Australia
Innovation AwardCancer Support Program and Valion Health – Zurich OnePath
Volunteer Hero AwardJosh Agar – MLC Life Insurance

2020 ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Award winners

AwardWinner
Leadership AwardJoanne 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

AwardWinner
ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Leadership AwardPeter 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

AwardWinner
ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Leadership AwardTina 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