NIBA announces Eric Harris as the recipient of the 2024 Lex McKeown Trophy.
NIBA names Eric Harris as the 2024 Lex McKeown Trophy Recipient
NIBA is thrilled to announce that Eric Harris, Head of Operations, Asia-Pacific, Aon has been presented with the 2024 Lex McKeown Trophy at the 2024 NIBA Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, 22 October at the Adelaide Convention Centre.
The Lex McKeown Trophy is presented by the NIBA President in consultation with the NIBA Board and the CEO to a long-standing NIBA member who has provided outstanding service to NIBA and has made a significant contribution to the broking profession.
"Eric has been an outstanding leader of our broking profession for 35 years and has made an invaluable contribution to NIBA over the years and through his guidance as Past NIBA President and a decade of service on the NIBA Board," said Gary Okely, NIBA President.
Eric took his first steps into insurance broking back in the 1980s and he has been committed to the broking profession for over 35 years. During his insurance broking journey, he developed from a young and ambitious broker to an industry leader, NIBA Board member and eventually the NIBA President.
Eric has family blood lines within the insurance broking industry. His father was also a much-respected insurance broker. Eric’s son Jordan is carrying the family legacy, working at Aon and is actively involved with NIBA as the Young Professionals Representative for the NSW/ACT Divisional Committee.
Eric started his career in the mid-80s with Marsh. He then moved to Sedgwick, where he was for more than a decade. In the late 90s, he moved PNG, which is also the time when he joined Aon. He’s completed the milestone of 25 years with Aon, currently being their Head of Operations, Asia-Pacific.
Eric’s had an instrumental impact on the profession through his involvement and many contributions to NIBA. He was the Chair of the NIBA Victorian Committee. He served for 10 years as a NIBA Board Director between 2012 to 2022 and was NIBA President from 2019 to 2021 before handing over the baton to Di Phelan.
Eric has played a significant role in helping ensure that NIBA remains well-positioned to advocate for brokers as the ‘one voice’ of the profession. Eric’s guidance and leadership were important in shaping the ongoing evolution of the Insurance Brokers Code of Practice, re-affirming the commitment of insurance brokers to the highest standards of professionalism and self-regulation.
Eric’s leadership also played a key role during the transitional period for NIBA, as past NIBA CEO Dallas Booth passed the baton to next CEO Phil Kewin. Eric worked with NIBA President Di Phelan to recruit Phil, NIBA’s recent outgoing CEO.
Eric embodies the true values of the insurance broking community over a long and illustrious career.
"On behalf of the NIBA Board, I extend my warmest congratulations to Eric on being the Lex McKeown Trophy recipient for 2024 and thank him for his leadership, guidance and contributions to NIBA and the broking profession, over what has been a remarkable career," Gary concluded.