At this year’s Dare to Discover x Amplify event, we took a break from the 90s nostalgia and dance-offs to recognise some of the colleagues who make Aventum Group a brilliant place to work.
Across the Group, our Applaud platform gives colleagues the chance to recognise the people who have made a difference to them throughout the year.
If this year’s nominations told us anything, it’s that the things people remember most are often the things that make a real difference day to day: stepping up when the pressure is on, making someone’s job easier, sorting out problems nobody else has managed to crack or having the confidence to tackle something new.
Our Group values provide the inspiration behind the awards, but it’s the people and their stories that bring them to life. So let’s meet this year’s winners.
Prioritising Customers | Lee Rogalski
Some people just have a knack for making customers feel looked after. Whether supporting successful tenders or stepping in to deliver for one of our largest clients on top of his own workload, Lee was commended for consistently going the extra mile, whatever the size of the account.
Nominators said of Lee that ‘clients love you’ - it’s hard to argue with that.
Maximising Collaboration | Graham Millichap
When something needs sorting, some people wait for it to land on their desks, while others are already rolling up their sleeves to get stuck in. Over the last year, Graham has helped troubleshoot systems for teams beyond his own, revamped a clearance process used across the business and stepped up during the pressure of financial year-end.
Every person that nominated Graham recognised the same thing - if something needs fixing, he’s there.
Demonstrating Courage | Jasmine Stafford
Being the youngest and least experienced person in a team could be a reason to keep your head down, but Jasmine had other ideas. She took ownership of reporting, confidently presenting monthly performance insights and strategic advice to her team.
She also took the lead on short-form social content across some of our biggest events. It’s a brilliant example of what happens when you put yourself forward, embrace responsibility and keep pushing past your comfort zone.
Owning Commitment | Kristin DeSouza
Some jobs are straightforward. Some involve lengthy reviews of historic claims on a legacy system. You can probably guess which kind of job this winner took on. She worked through a painstaking review of an old claims file, even giving up part of her weekend to get it done.
It’s not the most glamorous work, but it takes persistence, patience and a determination to see things through and Kristin brought all three.
Improving Continuously | Lex Beesley
Joining a new industry is one thing, but joining it and building tools that colleagues describe as ‘game changing’ and ‘best in class’ is quite another. Lex entered the insurance world this year as a newcomer but his work to bring more structured data into Rokstone’s underwriting processes, gives the team valuable insight to work with.
A fresh pair of eyes can be a powerful thing, especially when they start to find better ways to do the job.
Delivering the Unexpected | Shanthi Pederedla
Every so often, a project comes along that tests just about everyone involved and Shanthi was part of one of this year’s most complex releases. According to a nominator, it simply wouldn’t have happened without her.
Described as the ‘mastermind’ behind the project, she guided the development team through challenge after challenge, bringing sharp problem solving and decisive technical leadership, turning a difficult release into a milestone worth celebrating.
Creating Meaningful Impact | Lizzie Jones
There is a certain kind of colleague who makes everyone around them better at their job. They share their knowledge, step in when things get busy and somehow find a way through problems that have been slowing everyone down.
Every nomination Lizzie received highlighted the difference she makes to the people around her.
CEO Award
And finally, our CEO Award for 2026 went to Lex Beesley. This award gives us another opportunity to recognise an individual whose contribution to Aventum deserves a special mention.
Lex joined Rokstone with no prior industry experience and quickly became indispensable to the North American Casualty team. Through curiosity and initiative, they built their market knowledge and transformed the team’s pricing and underwriting workflow, improving everyday processes and setting a new standard.
Their positive attitude, willingness to support colleagues and talent for turning ideas into practical improvements have made a difference across the business.
Huge congratulations for our winners and their stories - there is a lot to celebrate. Thank you to everyone that took the time to nominate a colleague.
