Inspirational Leader of the Year

Open to women at a provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultancy level whose achievements in protection and health-related areas of UK financial services are raising the profile of our sector to whole new levels. Role-agnostic, this award is geared towards our industry’s leading role models and mentors – those who have bent over backwards during their career to raise the standards of excellence across the industry and improve access to protection and health insurance products across wider society.

Adviser of the Year

Open to women at any level in financial advice who have gone above and beyond to spread the value of protection and health and grow the industry during the year. What have you done differently to stand out from the crowd? What techniques and have you employed to expand your client base and best demonstrate customer value? Also open to employee benefits consultants and mortgage advisers, or any women in financial advice passionate about distributing financial and health protection products to their clients.

Woman of the Year - Propositions

Open to women at any level involved with the development of protection and health-related protection products. What have you done to climb the industry ladder into a role that finds you building the future of life, protection and health insurance? Tell us why you are so passionate about this industry.

Woman of the Year - Underwriting

Open to female underwriters and actuaries of any level increasing access to insurance through their approach to policy wording. How have you helped to shape and define underwriting philosophies throughout your career? We want to know what you have done to set an example for others to follow and why the industry needs more underwriters like you.

Woman of the Year - Marketing

Open to women at any level in marketing roles who are working their socks off to close the protection gap. What campaigns have you worked on that have made a demonstrable difference? Which of these have been dedicated to communicating the value of protection and health protection products to women in particular? What role are you playing in helping address education gaps on protection or health insurance? How are you setting an example in the industry?

Woman of the Year - Claims

Open to women at any level in claims departments working within financial and health protection insurance. Tell us what you have brought to a role that relies so much on customer trust, timely assistance and sensitive support at a time of need. What do you do to go over and above to ensure that claims are handled impeccably and how does this make you a role model in your area?

Woman of the Year - Intermediary Support

Open to women at any level within an insurer offering high-level support to advisers. How do you give personal, hands-on support to intermediaries – and therefore customers as a result? Real-life testimonies and evidence of practical examples are very welcome.

Woman of the Year - Customer Support

Open to women at any level within financial health and protection insurance who provides consistent, excellent customer care that makes a marked difference to advisers or consumers. How are you providing brilliant levels of customer service and support, and what challenges have you overcome to get to where you are today?

Woman of the Year – Technology

Open to women at any level leading the charge within life, protection and health insurance-related technology. We want to know how you have managed to succeed within this field, what you have done as a role model in tech and why having people like you, who specialise in technology, is so important to the future of financial and health protection.

Business Development Manager of the Year

Open to women at any level who are constantly developing and improving products, services and partnerships within the protection industry. What challenges have you overcome to become a successful member of this industry and what projects are you particularly proud of?

Outstanding Culture of Inclusivity

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at provider, intermediary or service/technology provider level. Which firm is creating a new level of company culture with diversity and inclusivity as a key pillar, incorporating considerations such as training and development opportunities; effective return-to-work/industry programmes; impactful health and wellbeing support; and empowering all staff with greater opportunities for career progression.

Rising Star - Provider

Open to women at any level on the provider side of the protection and health sector who have made a strong impact in a short space of time and are seen as most likely to progress further. Entries will be from those that have been in the industry less than three years (as of 31 December 2024) and candidates can be graduates, non-graduates, trainees or up-and-coming female members of the industry.

Rising Star - Intermediary

Open to women at any level on the intermediary side of the protection and health insurance sector who have made a strong impact in a short space of time and are seen as most likely to progress further. Entries will be from those that have been in the industry less than three years (as of 31 December 2024) and candidates can be graduates, non-graduates, trainees or up-and-coming female members of the industry.

Unsung Hero - Provider

Open to women at any level on the provider side of the protection and health insurance industry who are hugely valued members of their team and well worthy of recognition. Not specific to a particular role, this award recognises where credit is due for working tirelessly to succeed in her field, while serving as a role model.

Unsung Hero - Intermediary

Open to women at any level on the intermediary side of the protection and health insurance industry who are hugely valued members of their team and well worthy of recognition. Not specific to a particular role, this award recognises where credit is due for working tirelessly to succeed in her field, while serving as a role model.

Educator of the Year

Open to women at any level across the protection and health industry that are raising standards of education and knowledge across the sector. Who is taking it upon herself to create, provide and promote teaching materials that improve accessibility of knowledge for market participants – this could include videos, podcasts, social media campaigns, thought leadership articles, market commentary or mentorship work.

Mentor of the Year

Open to men and women working within or for the protection and health insurance industry that are taking responsibility for developing and advancing the next generation of talent. How have you addressed your role as a mentor and developed an environment that is professional and inclusive? How has this manifested for your mentee(s)? What successes has your mentorship brought about?

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion of the Year

Open to men and women working within or for the financial and health protection sector who not only mentor women but who champion diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the industry. The recipient of this award will be a role model and leader, someone who has used their position to help set up initiatives and spread positive messages aimed at achieving equality in the workplace and across the market.  

Outstanding Contribution to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultant level. Which firm has gone above and beyond to champion diversity, equity and inclusion from within its organisation? This might include the company’s approach to recruitment and processes in place to increase diversity within senior management positions; staff academies and training for new staff with diversity in mind; support groups, awareness campaigns and mentor training schemes; and the introduction of more flexible working practices and schemes that cater for different types of people and their personal situations.

Outstanding Initiative of Support

Open to all firms operating within or for the protection and health insurance sectors, whether at a provider, intermediary, network, service/technology provider or consultant level. Which firm has implemented a new initiative (between 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2024) to best support the health, wellbeing and welfare of female employees and colleagues? This might include initiatives to raise awareness of, train for and support women’s health; increase support for childcare and flexible working arrangements; promote diversity, equity and and inclusion; or increase education on access to financial wellbeing tools and support.

Outstanding Contribution to the Industry

Recognising the woman within the protection and health insurance sectors that has raised the bar through their efforts to close the protection and health gap whilst expanding the industry’s reach. What project, initiative or wider change have you implemented over the past year that has created a demonstrable difference within the protection and health sector? This is an editor's choice award.