2011 ALUCA & TurksLegal Scholarship now open The 2011 ALUCA TurksLegal Scholarship is now open, and ALUCA members Australia wide are invited to lodge their entries for a chance to win a fabulous overseas conference package to the value of $8,000. Now in its fifth year, the ALUCA TurksLegal Scholarship provides a forum for ALUCA members to contribute their ideas on cutting edge issues affecting the industry’s future and recognises excellence and professional growth as well as providing a great career development opportunity for all those who participate. ALUCA and TurksLegal have been consistent advocates for excellence in the Australian life insurance industry. Head of Tower Australia, Jim Minto, one of a number of leading industry figures on the judging panel, is a strong advocate of widespread involvement by ALUCA members in the scholarship program: “Life insurance is very much modern financial services and a very attractive place to work. The industry is growing strongly and needs more skilled and expert people. I really support this scholarship offered by ALUCA in conjunction with Turks Legal because it encourages learning and personal development. This year we have developed a good selection of stimulating questions designed to attract interest from a broad range of people. I encourage people to invest some time and enter. You will gain from doing so and I look forward to reading your entries”. Entrants are asked to submit a paper, up to 2,500 words, addressing one of six questions drawn from topic areas as diverse as the claims process, re-insurance relationships, group disability income claims, changeover pains, generational change and the underinsurance gap. Entrants can choose from a number of questions that are relevant their industry background. ALUCA members can view questions and download an entry form here. Last year’s winner, Vanessa Back of CommInsure, attended the Eastern Claims Conference in New York. Vanessa said; “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to compare and contrast claims management internationally. The experience overall and the benefit to my career has been extremely rewarding and positive” You can view an extended interview with Vanessa where she talks about her ALUCA TurksLegal Scholarship experience
here.
Submissions will be assessed by the judging panel on a number of criteria including, understanding of the topic, commercial insight research, clarity and presentation. The panel comprises some of Australia’s industry leaders including Jim Minto (MD of TOWER Australia), Simon Swanson (MD of ClearView), Phil Hay (Head of Life Insurance, BT Financial group), Tracey Peters, ALUCA National President, Joan Fitzpatrick, CEO of ANZIIF, ALUCA committee members Linda Winterbottom and Mick Jones, and TurksLegal partners John Myatt, Lisa Norris and Alph Edwards. The prize valued up to $8,000 includes return travel, accommodation, $1,000 cash and registration to an international conference, providing the recipient the opportunity to network with professionals on a global scale. Entries close on 26 August 2011 and winners will be announced at Sydney Miniluca on 15 September 2011. Further information and application forms are available at http://www.turkslegal.com.au.
About TurksLegal TurksLegal is a specialist law firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. The firm has 24 partners and over 100 staff. Established in 1981, the firm acts for a number of financial institutions, insurance companies, government departments, corporates and small to medium companies. It provides a comprehensive range of legal services in practice areas that include: Insurance and Financial Services Commercial Disputes & Insolvency Workers Compensation Business & Property Workplace Relations TurksLegal was a 2011 ALB Australasian Law Awards Finalist in the ‘Insurance firm of the year’ category. For more information please visit: www.turkslegal.com.au Media enquiries to: Meredith Casbier Marketing & Business Development Manager TurksLegal T: 02 8257 5750 E: meredith.casbier@turkslegal.com.au
About the Australian Life Underwriting and Claims Association Incorporated (ALUCA) ALUCA was founded in 1986 to advance the knowledge and professionalism of its members in underwriting and claims issues relating to life and disability insurance products in Australia and New Zealand. ALUCA’s principal activities are to promote learning through: • Formal education for underwriters and claims professionals • Peer group interaction • Seminars and conferences • Underwriting and claims research, and • Industry newsletter. For more information please visit: www.aluca.com Media enquiries to: Alison Dews Secretariat ALUCA T: 03 9836 5177