There was strong reader interest this week in news that a former CEO of a major insurer has been awarded the prestigious Chair’s Award for Service to the Industry…
The former CEO at Chubb Life Insurance NZ Gail Costa was named the winner of the prestigious Chair’s Award for Service to the Industry at the FSC Awards 2025 last week.
The Financial Services Council says the award recognises Costa’s significant contribution to the “advancement, promotion and improvement of the financial services industry in New Zealand across the course of her career.”
Costa says in an FSC statement that she has built her career “…on my genuine belief of the important role that life insurance plays in making a meaningful difference in people’s lives, and so it’s a real honour to be recognised by my peers in an industry I care so deeply about.”
FSC Awards Judge and CEO Kirk Hope, says the awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the financial services industry, with this year’s submissions highlighting the sector’s breadth and impact, from innovative products and ESG initiatives to community programmes and workplace wellbeing.
The FSC notes that Good Shepherd New Zealand was awarded the Contribution to Community Award for its Family Violence Economic Harm Service “…helping victims of economic abuse recover from financial hardship and supporting $1.1 million in unjust debt being wiped in 2024.”
ANZ received the Excellence in ESG Award for its leadership in embedding modern slavery prevention into governance, training, and operations.
Simfuni was recognised with the Innovation Award for transforming outdated insurance systems with a modern, cloud-based platform.
Partners Life won the Excellence in Wellbeing & Inclusion Award for embedding diversity, equity, and care into its culture through initiatives like advanced parental leave and gender equity accreditation.
Fidelity Life’s Anita Los’e won the Emerging Trailblazer Award for her leadership in growing group insurance and championing inclusion for Māori and Pasifika communities.
Alan Langford and John Crossman were awarded the Workplace Savings Award and the Team of the Year Award went to the Adviser Learning Transformation Team at Southern Cross Health Insurance.