Our business was born from a simple purpose – to provide Australians with the enduring security and protection of life insurance. For over 135 years, we've been protecting what our customers have worked for and value most – their futures, and those of their loved ones.

Today, we’re backed by the strength of Nippon Life Group, one of the world's largest life insurers. Together, we’re creating a new era of protection for our customers – one that’s dedicated to offering them the care, confidence, and connections to take life on, whatever it brings.  

2025 - The first Acenda leadership appointments are made

In February 2025, Craig Dunn is appointed as the future Chair of the Board of Acenda.

In June 2025, Catherine Dubé, David Stephen, Melissa Babbage and Rosheen Garnon were appointed as future Independent Non-Executive Directors of the Board of Acenda. That same month, Chris de Bruin was appointed as the future Acenda Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Awards:

• ALUCA Awards winner – Claims Team
• ALUCA Awards winner – Customer Service Team
• ALUCA Awards winner – Leadership
• ALUCA Awards winner – Partnership Impact Team

2024 - MLC Life Insurance becomes Acenda

Almost a decade after becoming an independent life insurer with the support of Nippon Life Group, we announce that we have become Acenda. We’re taking our longstanding heritage of putting customers at the heart of everything we do into a new era of protection – helping everyday Australians feel positively prepared and supported to take life on. To learn more about Acenda, click here.

Awards:

• ALUCA Awards winner – Claims Team
• ALUCA Awards winner – Customer Service Team
• ALUCA Awards winner – Partnership Impact Team

• WeMoney winner – Outstanding claims experience (Life Insurance)
• WeMoney winner – Outstanding claims experience (Income Protection)
• WeMoney winner – Best for quality (Life Insurance)

2023 - Vivo wins Money Magazine 2023 Award

We’re recognised as a leader in health and wellness after taking out the top spot in Money Magazine’s 2023 Consumer Finance Awards for our award-winning Vivo health and wellness program.

Awards:

• ALUCA Awards winner – Claims Team Award (Retail Claims Fast Track Team)

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2022 - Vivo is born

Vivo, our holistic health, wellness, and recovery program, is launched. Designed to provide care and support for our customers through life’s journey, Vivo wins its first industry award less than six months later.

Awards:

• Plan for Life winner – Health & Direct Life Insurance - Debt Insurance
• Plan for Life winner – Health & Wellness - Innovation - Program
• Plan for Life winner – Health & Wellness - Overall Excellence
• Plan for Life winner – Health & Wellness - Physical & Mental Health Support

• Plan for Life winner – Direct Life Insurance - Program Coverage

2021 - We're there for our customers, no matter what

Responding to public concerns about COVID-19 vaccine side effects, we release a statement providing assurance that receiving the vaccine, or refusing it, won’t influence our underwriting decisions or affect a customer’s ability to obtain insurance.

2020

Awards:

• Plan for Life winner – The Income Protection Award
• Plan for Life winner – The Trauma Critical Illness Award
• Money Management / DEXX&R Adviser Choice Awards – Critical Illness Product of the Year
• Money Management / DEXX&R Adviser Choice Awards – Business Overheads Product of the Year
• Money Management / DEXX&R Adviser Choice Awards – Income Protection in Super Product of the Year
• Insurance Asia Awards 2020 winner – Claims initiative for the year

2019

Awards:

• Annual Financial Services Life Insurance Award – Innovation in Group Life Insurance Award for Mental Health Navigator by Best Doctors
• ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Awards – Innovation Team of the Year for Mental Health Navigator by Best Doctors
• ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Awards – Claims Team of the Year for the second time in a row
• AFA Strategic Insight Life Company of the Year 2019 winner – Income Protection 
• Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards 2019 – Major Risk award
• Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Awards 2019 – Life Insurer of the Year
• Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) – Employer of choice for gender equality

2018

Awards:

• Australian Insurance Award – Best White Labelled Product for LifeView
• Strategic Insights Health and Wellness Awards – Overall health and wellness life insurance excellence award
• Strategic Insights Health and Wellness Awards – Physical and mental health support award
• Strategic Insights Health and Wellness Awards – Outcomes experience award
• ALUCA Life Insurance Excellence Awards – Claims Team of the Year award for the Claims Transformation Program
• AFA Strategic Insight Life Company of the Year 2017 – Risk Product Innovation Award for UnderwriteMe
• Financial Services Council (FSC) Life Insurance Awards – Innovation in Group Life Insurance award for LifeView
• Financial Insights Innovation Award – Asia's Leader in Insurance Collaboration for LifeView

2017

Awards:

• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Gold – Risk Company of the year 2017 (for the third year in a row!)
• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Gold – Terms & TPD products 2017 
• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Gold – Trauma products 2017 
• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Gold – Business overheard products 2017 
• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Silver – Disability Income Products 2017 
• Adviser Choice Risk Awards Silver – Inside Super Disability

2016 - Nippon Life Group increases their Australian commitment

One of the world's largest life insurance companies, Nippon Life Group, acquires an 80% stake in MLC Life Insurance.

Awards:

• Money Management Adviser Choice Risk Awards – Risk Company of the Year 2016
• Money Management Adviser Choice Risk Awards – Term & TPD Products 2016
• Money Management Adviser Choice Risk Awards – Business Overhead Products 2016 
• Money Management Adviser Choice Risk Awards – Super Term & TPD Rider 2016 
• Money Management Adviser Choice Risk Awards – Super Disability Income Product 2016 
• Financial Review Smart Investor Blue Ribbon Awards 2016 – Life company of the year
• Financial Review Smart Investor Blue Ribbon Awards 2016 – Best term / TPD policy
• Financial Review Smart Investor Blue Ribbon Awards 2016 – Best term / TPD policy for super
• Money Magazine Best of the Best Awards Cheapest Term and TPD Insurance

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