Since 2007 the Insurance Brokers Association of Nova Scotia (IBANS) has honored those working in the insurance industry of Nova Scotia through its awards program.
The awards were designed to celebrate those outstanding individuals who exemplify the characteristics that have helped to build a strong and resilient insurance community. The program has undergone many evolutions and a rebranding in 2016 when it officially became the Aspire Awards.
Although paused since 2020, this time has been used to review and update the entire program. Some of the changes include a longer nomination period; a new award category; an expanded independent panel of judges comprised of industry professionals; and a new simplified online nomination process. In addition, the criteria and awards themselves have been updated to more adequately reflect the changing roles of the profession.
We are excited to launch this year’s newly updated Aspire Awards and look forward to recognizing those in the insurance community for their leadership and achievements. The award winners will be revealed during our annual Awards and Graduation dinner held during Insurance Broker Month, in April.
This year submissions will also be extended to include the 2020 and 2021 years. To nominate a deserving individual, we invite you to review the new categories and accompanying criteria.
There are five categories all with their own specific criteria. We recommend that those considering a candidate for any of the categories review the requirements carefully and remember that the submission will be the only factor determining the selection of a candidate, so please provide as much detail and facts as possible.
Lifetime Achievement Award posted on November 5, 2021
Nominees can be IBANS member brokers or insurance company employees Nominators can be IBANS member brokers or insurance company employees
Possess a minimum of 20 years employment within the industry;
Demonstrated perseverance and hard work throughout their insurance career;
Made a significant impact or contribution to the industry that redefined or improved overall operations;
Have demonstrated their willingness to adapt to the many changes to the industry over the years;
Set quality standards in the provision of information, reliability and speed of service to build the broker/insurer relationship;
Demonstrate an understanding of their role as corporate citizens through social responsibility. Encompassing behaviours such as but not limited to charitable initiatives, mentoring, and sustainable development.
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Emerging Professional of the Year Award posted on November 5, 2021
Nominees must be IBANS member brokers Nominators can be IBANS member brokers or insurance company employees
Have a good knowledge and understanding of the industry and an enthusiasm for innovation to address the developing needs of a 21st century marketplace;
Possess leadership skills and the ability to be a team player;
Exhibit a commitment to promoting the broker channel and career opportunities within the industry;
Demonstrate a positive attitude, use of strong judgement and utilize strong communication skills.
Must be new to the industry/broker channel in the last 5 years
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Insurance Company Representative of the Year Award posted on November 5, 2021
Nominees must be an employee of an insurance company Nominators can be IBANS member brokers or insurance company employee
Be employed by an insurance company within the province of Nova Scotia (Underwriter; Claims Department; Account Manager; Business Development)
Be accessible and responsive to broker needs; and approachable for discussion to enhance overall consumer satisfaction;
Possess superior product knowledge and the ability to communicate subject matter accurately and clearly;
Demonstrate innovation through problem solving as it supports client/broker interactions.
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Broker Leadership Award – NEW posted on November 5, 2021
Nominees must be IBANS member brokers Nominators must be an IBANS member broker or insurance company employee
Demonstrate a passion for career development and ongoing learning;
Generate a desire for continuous improvement and motivates others within their brokerage;
Have completed or be enrolled in any accredited insurance designation program;
Positively influence co-workers and other industry professionals to go beyond expectations;
Support knowledge sharing and efforts towards building relationships within the industry.
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Above & Beyond Award posted on November 5, 2021
Nominees must be IBANS member brokers Nominators must be IBANS member principals/brokers
We all know people in the industry that would be worthy of this award but IBANS wants to hear about that exceptional individual…the one that impacted a client’s life so profoundly that they should be celebrated.
Therefore, we have adjusted the traditional criteria and format for this award category and are relying on the person nominating to identify how the individual they are acknowledging has exceeded their basic job description; how they have elevated the profession through their work or by example; and to be that individual who has gone above and beyond!
Please tell us about your consumer champion and how they raised the bar on their level of service, so we can share their story with others. We want to highlight those individuals and all that they bring to their communities and profession.
Nominations are open from November 15 to January 25.
The nomination period for consideration is calendar year, however we have extended it this year to include accomplishments achieved in 2020 as well as 2021.
Anyone eligible to submit a nomination must do so utilizing the official online form found on this site. No other formats will be accepted.
Self nomination is accepted by IBANS members only.
Nominations can include previous category winners.
All submissions are reviewed by a panel of independent judges. Those submissions not meeting the specified criteria, including who can nominate or receive a nomination will be eliminated from their categories. If a submission is eliminated the nominator will be contacted advising them of the panel’s decision to exclude the submission.
Those nominations remaining are announced as finalists and the recipient will be presented with the award during a dinner in April.
Tips on How to Make a Winning Submission
To ensure your candidate has the best chance for success we recommend following the tips outlined in the accompanying video.
Judges
Submissions will be judged by an independent panel of five industry professionals.
The panel will consist of a combination of representatives from one or more of the following organizations: the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC), Insurance Institute, other provincial Insurance Associations and retired industry peers from the broker channel as well as insurance company executives.
Judges will review all submissions utilizing online software.
Judges will work independently and not have access to view rankings made by any other judges.
Lifetime Achievement Award posted on November 5, 2021