Don’t miss your chance to be recognised - submit your entries for the FSC Awards 2025 today and showcase efforts that have made a meaningful impact on your community and the industry.
Winner of Emerging Trailblazer Award: Leigh Bennett, Head of Underwriting & New Business at Fidelity Life
Leigh Bennett was the winner of the FSC's Emerging Trailblazer award in 2024. Currently one of the youngest to hold such a senior role, she was appointed Head of Underwriting (Chief Underwriter) at Fidelity Life in August 2023. She leads the underwriting function across both the Adviser and Bancassurance channels.
Leigh was instrumental in driving initiatives that are transforming the distribution and customer experience of life insurance in New Zealand with a strong focus on enhancing accessibility for New Zealanders. Her innovative thinking, commitment to challenging the status quo, and focus on customer-centric solutions positioned her as a rising leader in the industry.
AIA Insurance was the winner of FSC's Excellence in Sustainability Practices award in 2024.Their ESG strategy was anchored by five core pillars, with two dedicated to environmental sustainability:
Sustainable Operations: With over a decade of progress in carbon and waste reduction, AIA is steadfast in its commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Sustainable Investment: Aimed at delivering long-term value, this pillar prioritises allocating capital to companies dedicated to sustainable outcomes.
The remaining pillars address Social and Governance priorities, emphasising health and wellbeing, fostering a strong people and culture framework, and maintaining effective governance practices across the organisation.
Together, these pillars exemplified AIA’s holistic approach to sustainability and its commitment to creating meaningful, lasting impact.
Southern Cross was the winner of FSC's Excellence in Wellbeing & Inclusion award in 2024. At Southern Cross they deeply believed in the health and wellbeing of their people. Their culture of care, inclusivity and knowledge of wellbeing enable their employees to bring their whole selves to work.
The Operations team at Sharesies was the winner of FSC's Team of the Year award in 2024. The team at Sharesies supports over 680,000 customers globally, ensuring excellence across their wealth app, invest, save, KiwiSaver, insurance and B2B.
Their unwavering commitment and exceptional performance drive their mission to create financial empowerment for everyone.
Financial resilience and confidence in New Zealand remain critical challenges, with only 44% of Kiwis feeling prepared for retirement and half the population regularly worried about money. Addressing these concerns requires a commitment to empowering individuals with tools and resources that build confidence, motivation, and optimism about their financial futures.
To support this vision, the team at Sharesies developed faster, more efficient tools to deliver tailored, secure content that met customer needs.
In addition, the Operations team proactively took steps to inspire the next generation by facilitating career pathway sessions across schools, universities, and community groups.
These initiatives aimed to engage young people exploring potential career paths and foster their interest in the financial services sector, highlighting the industry's potential for meaningful impact.