MEDIA RELEASE 18 August 2011
2011 ANZIIF-TurksLegal Scholarship worth $8,000 opens for general insurance claims professionals Specialist insurance law firm, TurksLegal and the Australian Institute of Insurance & Finance (ANZIIF) are pleased to invite ANZIIF members Australia-wide to enter the 2011 ANZIIF TurksLegal Claims Scholarship, a prestigious essay competition which awards the winner with an expenses-paid trip valued at $8,000, to attend a major industry conference in the United States. “For a dynamic industry like the insurance sector, quality professional development and top-notch skills are crucial if claims professionals are to stay on top of their game”, said Paul Angus, TurksLegal’s partner in charge of General Insurance. Now in its fourth year, the Scholarship provides a forum for general insurance claims professionals who are also ANZIIF members, to contribute their ideas on cutting edge issues affecting the industry’s future. “ANZIIF and TurksLegal have been delighted to support this scholarship because it promotes excellence on so many levels – from the sharing of best practices and great ideas across the claims industry, to encouraging high achievers to broaden their professional horizons,” said Joan Fitzpatrick, CEO of ANZIIF. Winner of the 2010 ANZIIF TurksLegal Claims Scholarship, Sean Morrison from QBE Insurance said the Scholarship gave him a valuable opportunity to network with some of the best practitioners in the world at a unique industry event. “I got so much out of attending the Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo in Nashville, Tennessee this year and would encourage all claims professionals to enter this year”, Mr Morrison said. “The annual Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo is one of the premier events for claims professionals and is attended by over 2,000 delegates and 400 exhibitors. At this year’s event held in Nashville, Tennessee, I went to ten thoughtprovoking seminars and spent half a day in the exhibition hall immersing myself in the staggering array of products and services available in the US market. “Also memorable was the fact that the Opryville Hotel - where the conference was held - has a place in US insurance ‘history’. The 2,800-room hotel was inundated in a one in 400 year flood event as recently as in May 2010. The hotel has been able to bounce back from disaster to host this world-class conference less than 12 months later, thanks largely to the early intervention of its insurers. It’s an inspiring testament to our industry’s valuable role and the great work we do to get businesses in crisis back on their feet”. TurksLegal Level 29, Angel Place, 123 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000; T: +61 2 8257 5700 Level 10, 459 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000; T: +61 3 8600 5000 www.turkslegal.com.au
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Entrants in the ANZIIF-TurksLegal Scholarship must submit a 2,500 word paper addressing one of four questions drawn from topic areas as diverse as the merits of a legislated definition of ‘flood’, the responsibility of insurers and governments in relation to underinsurance and the impact of technology on the claims industry. Essays will be assessed on a number of criteria including, understanding of the topic, commercial insight, research, clarity and presentation and will be evaluated by a judging panel comprising leading industry figures including Joan Fitzpatrick, chief executive of ANZIIF; Nick Kirk, chief executive of Calliden Insurance; Andrew Farlow, Head of Claims at Lumley Insurance; Chris Rodd, Technical Counsel at CGU Insurance and TurksLegal general insurance partners, Paul Angus and Peter Riddell. The winner of the 2011 Scholarship will receive an overseas conference package valued up to $8,000 including return travel, accommodation, $500 spending money and registration to the 2012 Claims Conference & Insurance Services Expo in Orlando, Florida on 15-18 April 2012. Runner up will be awarded an ANZIIF education voucher to the value of $500. Entries close on 28 October 2011 and winners will be announced at the ANZIIF General Insurance Breakfast in Sydney on 2 December 2011. Further information including the essay topics and application forms are available at www.turkslegal.com.au and www.theinstitute.com.au
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About TurksLegal TurksLegal is a specialist law firm with offices in Sydney and Melbourne. The firm has 23 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; and Workplace Relations. TurksLegal was a 2011 ALB Australasian Law Awards Finalist in the ‘Insurance Firm of the Year’ category. About the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF) ANZIIF is the leading provider of education, training and professional development services to the insurance and financial services industry in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific region. The Institute's commitment to providing relevant, high quality qualifications and education programs is underpinned by its role in partnering with the industry and its members in the pursuit of professional excellence and business success.
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