Ardonagh hosted its annual employee awards programme, Spotlight, at Somerset House in London on 25 June, marking the tenth year celebrating the stellar achievements of its people over the last 12 months.
With almost 1,400 peer nominations submitted by colleagues around the globe, the awards brought together 420 colleagues from across Ardonagh’s global businesses to showcase and recognise the individuals and teams making an exceptional impact. From this year’s nominations, 45 individuals and teams were shortlisted across the award categories for their innovation, outstanding service and commitment to the communities they service.
Meet Ardonagh’s shining stars for 2026…
People’s Champion
Lisa Higginson and Steven Tarvin – Everywhen
As co-chairs of Everywhen’s Family Life colleague community, since launching the initiative in 2024 alongside their HR roles, they have grown it into one of the business’s largest and most trusted support networks, with 93 active members.
Providing a safe and confidential space, the community supports colleagues across a wide range of experiences, including parental mental health, caring responsibilities and returning to work after parental leave.
In 2025 alone, their webinar programme attracted 179 attendees, highlighting both its relevance and impact of making a lasting difference to Everywhen’s culture.
Sustainability and Innovation Award
MDS Brazil 2025 Benefits Survey
This initiative transformed a highly technical study into valuable strategic insight for HR leaders across Brazil.
Surveying 608 organisations and representing 1.35 million employees, the project delivered a comprehensive view of benefits trends, sustainability and people-centred policy design.
A key strength of the initiative was its impactful delivery. Launch events in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro welcomed nearly 500 executives, clients and partners, achieving exceptional engagement and NPS scores of 85 and 100 respectively.
Through a series of expert panels and regional events, the findings were brought to life for audiences across the market, reinforcing MDS’s position as a leading voice in benefits consulting.
Client and Customer Champion
Paul Glasby – North Queensland Insurance Brokers, Envest
Paul was recognised for his exceptional commitment to clients and the community he serves in Far North Queensland.
Known for his technical expertise and direct, dependable approach, Paul consistently delivers trusted advice and support.
His dedication was especially evident during the Ingham floods, where he travelled to the affected area to support clients in person.
Managing complex and often distressing claims, he worked tirelessly to provide clarity, advocate for fair outcomes and ensure timely communication with all stakeholders.
Service Excellence
Karen Taylor – Ardonagh Group
Karen, who works within the People and Culture team for Ardonagh, was recognised for her dedication, professionalism and the vital role she plays in delivering programmes through the Group’s sustainable leadership initiative, Ardonagh Academy.
Often working quietly behind the scenes, Karen consistently delivers high-quality support, invaluable coaching and both personal and professional development to hundreds of colleagues around the globe.
Her technical expertise, reliability and commitment to helping others make a tangible difference to her internal customers every day.
Judges Choice
Paula Jones – Everywhen
The Judge’s Choice Award is awarded to a finalist who stands out to our judging panel and demonstrates facets across all the award categories.
Paula was recognised for her extraordinary 46-year career with Ardonagh and its various guises, during which time her commitment to operational excellence, impact and dedication has remained unwavering.
As Director of IREC Business Operations, Paula plays a pivotal role in supporting insurers, clients and internal teams, leading a function that settled millions to insurers over the past year while managing hundreds of thousands of transactions with accuracy and care.
She has also led major system transformations, including the move to a fully automated IREC platform and the integration of tens of thousands of policies following acquisitions, strengthening efficiency and insurer relationships.
Best Newcomer
Fabian Hürbi – ASSEPRO
Fabian Hürbi quickly established himself as a valuable member of the ASSEPRO team, bringing a calm, solutions-focused mindset and a strong sense of responsibility to his role.
Since joining, Fabian has mastered a complex administration environment in record time, even creating his own guide to improve processes and support colleagues.
Known for his proactive attitude, he is often the first to step forward and take ownership, consistently demonstrating reliability and initiative.
His resilience was particularly evident when stepping up during a team leadership gap, where he showed professionalism, focus and adaptability under pressure.
Rising Star
Tom Bennett – Epsilon Insurance
Tom Bennett was recognised for his exceptional growth and impact, progressing from Junior to Senior Underwriter in just two and a half years.
Working on complex construction risks across Australia, Tom has developed strong technical expertise while playing a key role in expanding insurer capacity, including sourcing opportunities in international markets such as the UK and Singapore.
Emerging Leader
Munal Mehta – HWF
This year’s judging panel decided to introduce an Emerging Leader Award, to recognise an individual who not only excels in their current role but demonstrates exceptional potential, entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to inspire others.
Munal was recognised for her outstanding leadership and impact as Director and Head of Middle East and Africa. Having grown the Dubai operation from a team of one into a high-performing regional business, Munal has consistently delivered strong results while maintaining a clear focus on service excellence.
Known for her client-first approach, Munal delivers tailored, thoughtful solutions and builds trusted relationships through her responsiveness and attention to detail. Her forward-thinking mindset and commitment to continuous improvement have strengthened both performance and reputation across the region.
Leader of the Year
Danny Lillington – Everywhen
Danny was celebrated for his exceptional leadership over 25 years as Managing Director of RiskSTOP Group, building not only a successful business but a culture rooted in trust, openness and empowerment.
Known for his authenticity and people-first approach, Danny creates an environment where individuals feel valued, supported and encouraged to grow.
Over the past year, he has continued to balance strategic growth with a strong focus on engagement and wellbeing.
His leadership has fostered high retention, strong performance and a culture where colleagues are proud to contribute and be part of the journey.
The ACT Award – Individual Achievement
Kelly Webb – Ardonagh Specialty
As leader of the Ardonagh Specialty Charitable Committee, Kelly has played a central role in supporting charities tackling homelessness, food poverty and youth development, while also driving engagement with Specialty’s charity partner, Alzheimer’s Society.
In 2025, her efforts contributed to thousands of pounds in donations, hundreds of volunteering hours and widespread colleague involvement.
Her organisation, energy and leadership have made volunteering more accessible and impactful across the business.
The ACT Award – Team Achievement
Arachas – 26 Mountains to Mayo
The team was recognised for their extraordinary commitment to supporting Cancer Fund for Children through a nationwide fundraising initiative – 26 Mountains to Mayo.
Over more than five years, colleagues played a central role in raising over €5 million, directly supporting the development of Daisy Lodge Cong, set to open in 2027.
Alongside their day roles, teams contributed to fundraising, logistics and communications, driving both awareness and engagement.
The initiative brought colleagues together across the business, building pride and demonstrating the power of collaboration in delivering real-world impact.
Team Spirit
Price Forbes Political Violence and Terrorism
The team at Price Forbes stood out for delivering an exceptional year of innovation and performance in a highly complex market.
The team achieved significant growth while launching market-leading solutions, including the Global Terrorism Facility, and advancing digital capabilities through a successful quote-and-bind platform.
Collaboration has been central to their success. By working closely across teams, they have delivered integrated solutions and unlocked new opportunities, all while maintaining strong morale and a shared commitment to excellence.
Team of the Year
MDS Chile Energy
The Chile Energy Team at MDS was recognised for its rapid rise and impressive impact since forming in early 2025. Entering the renewable energy market with a clear ambition, the team quickly established itself as a credible and influential player.
Through a client-first approach and deep technical expertise, they have achieved strong market share in wind and solar energy and significantly increased premium volumes.
Their success is built on collaboration, strong insurer partnerships and a disciplined focus on delivering high-quality outcomes for clients.
Congratulations to all of winners, finalists, and their supporters who helped make Spotlight 2026 another unforgettable celebration of the people who make their businesses inspiring places to work.