A Legacy of 30 Years Carrying the Torch of Excellence

The Asia Insurance Industry Awards (AIIA) has reached its 30 year milestone! It has been such a journey – 30 years carrying and celebrating excellence through the AIIA brand, a trophy that has remained as significant today as it was three decades ago. We at Asia Insurance Review (AIR) couldn’t be prouder of how the industry has awarded this trophy its reputation as the accolade of choice, THE award to win still amongst your peers.

This year marks a double celebration, as not only is this the 30th year in the Awards’ history, but it is also the 35th Anniversary since AIR was launched. We therefore hope that despite the challenges of the current war, that the torch is carried with more pride than ever in the final recognition celebratory gala night in November.

The 2026 Awards are officially launched. At this time, we would like to thank all our partners over these 3 decades who have joined us in pushing through such an important benchmark of excellence. AIR is truly humbled to have been able to continue this tradition.

The launch of the AIIA nominations represents the starting mark for the exciting race towards the final claim of the trophy on the Awards night. It marks another year in the history of the evolution of the Asian insurance industry – its achievements, innovation and new heights of the industry climb.

And to celebrate this milestone year, we are pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new category, the Regional Reinsurance Broker of the Year. We wanted to acknowledge Asian grown talent who have served Asia within a very competitive global landscape and give them the recognition they deserve.

The AIIA trophy not only symbolises our industry’s evolution, but it is also a symbol of appreciation for what the industry stands for. Especially this year, where we have seen the devastating impact of the war and disruption and destruction to human lives, to social order, supply chains, energy shortages, etc, we want to salute the insurance industry, which has remained steadfast and continues to serve the market without fail. Insurance remains a constant and this is a testament of the fact that no matter what happens, insurance is forever an industry of endurance, commitment, grit and spirit.

We truly are grateful. At this juncture, on behalf of AIR, please allow me to thank all of you, as well as our partners.

Our panel of distinguished Judges - who represent the integrity, professionalism and independence of these awards. Without their undying support, these awards would not have stood the test of time. It is a massive undertaking, and they work tirelessly behind the scenes to plough through the hundreds of entries to finally derive and reward the winner. Until one becomes a judge, only then does one comprehend the strict criteria and rules surrounding the whole process – judges must declare a conflict of interest and are not allowed to score nor read entries in categories where their companies or subsidiary companies are competing, thus maintaining the sanctity of the trophy.

Our sponsors – without you, these awards would not have endured. You are the main pillar of support for these awards, and I sincerely thank you for your support over so many decades.

Under the watchful eyes of the independent scrutineer, KPMG, the utmost integrity is always maintained during the entire judging process, which includes a point scoring system and audit. In addition, nobody is privy to the result until the envelope is opened on the night of the gala dinner.

At this time when these awards are launched, there is utter chaos in the world with global uncertainty and challenges brought about by war. I join our team at AIR in saluting the industry and express our sincere gratitude for maintaining the calm within the storm. It is in moments like these that the true value of insurance is most evident and it is precisely these moments that humble us as well. We hope that in some way, our awards have helped recognise your true dedication and integrity in the face of adversity and in always keeping us protected.

We look forward to walking with you in solidarity and welcome nominations in the competition this year. Never forget that your achievements always inspire and lay the road for future generations. We look forward to seeing a huge influx this year from strong contenders. You may either self-nominate, or nominate via a third party, both carry equal weight. Do pay close attention to the criteria to avoid disqualification and follow the instructions closely. All the best to the candidates of 2026. We look forward to seeing you at the awards’ gala dinner where the deserving winners will be revealed in conjunction with the SIRC.

All the best and may the rest of 2026 bring calm.