Record entries received for prestigious event on July 25
After five award ceremonies, covering all the states and territories of Australia, the MFAA Excellence Awards will reach its pinnacle on Thursday night, when the national awards reveal the very best in mortgage and finance broking.
The MFAA National Excellence Awards 2024 will be held at the Crown Melbourne on the evening of July 24, following the MFAA’s Hello Future National Conference at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The nation’s best residential, commercial and equipment finance brokers and brokerages, aggregators, lenders, mortgage managers, and business development managers will be recognised across 26 categories.
Among the award categories are diversity and inclusion, community champion, mentor of the year and mentor program, professional development, and loan administrator.
In the lead-up to the national awards, the MFAA held state excellence awards in May and June, covering South Australia and the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW and the ACT, Western Australia and Victoria and Tasmania. State winners are automatically listed as national finalists.
The MFAA National Excellence Awards are backed by 24 partners, including Mortgage Professional Australia, which is sponsoring the Specialty Lender Award, and sister publication Australian Broker, which is the sponsor of the Fintech Lender Award.
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek (pictured above left) said there was a record number of submissions for the excellence awards this year and more than 550 people were expected to attend the black tie dinner and awards ceremony on Thursday night.
“Travelling around the country to our state excellence awards was a highlight in my calendar this year, and as we approach our upcoming national awards, I remain inspired by the exceptional talent and commitment demonstrated by our members,” Pannek said.
“The MFAA Excellence Awards not only recognise the hard work and dedication of our members but also highlight the innovative practices that are driving the mortgage and finance broking industry forward. I’m really looking forward to celebrating with our members.”
Specialty Lender Award
Pepper Money is one of five finalists in the Specialty Lender Award, alongside Liberty, Resimac, La Trobe Financial and Bluestone Home Loans
“We are honoured to be a finalist for the prestigious MFAA National Speciality Lender award, and grateful for the brokers and wider industry supporters who nominated us,” said Pepper Money head of mortgages Siobhan Williams (pictured above second from right).
“Pepper Money has a long history and a strong reputation in specialist lending, offering flexible options that suit the unique and evolving needs of our customers.”
Williams said specialist loans provide options for borrowers who face challenges in the traditional banking system and Pepper Money’s mission was “to help people succeed and support brokers who help customers achieve their goals, even when they may seem out of reach”.
Mutual/Credit Union Lender Award
The finalists for this award include Heritage Bank, Beyond Bank, Heritage Bank, P&N Bank and Teachers Mutual Bank Limited.
Nicholas Savage (pictured above second from left), group head of lending at People First Bank, said Heritage Bank was proud to be named winner for Mutual/Credit Union Lender at the MFAA State Excellence Awards across Queensland, NSW and Victoria/Tasmania and a finalist at the national excellence awards.
Heritage Bank merged with People’s Choice Credit Union last year and is in the process of unifying their branding under the name People First Bank
“Our broker experience team works closely with our broker partners and aggregators to create positive experiences and great outcomes for our members,” says Savage. “We look forward to building on this in the year ahead as we bring our People First Bank brand proposition to life.”
Savage said the bank was delighted that the MFAA recognised the contribution and value of the customer-owned sector through this separate category.
“What makes this recognition even more special is that it’s voted by brokers and industry experts. It’s a privilege to be named as a finalist in a very competitive field and we look forward to the national excellence awards on 25 July.”
Aggregator Award
Lendi Group is among nine finalists vying for the Aggregator Award, alongside AFG, Astute, Connective, LMG, Mortgage Choice, Nectar Mortgages Group, Purple Circle Financial Services and SFG.
“We are proud to be a finalist in the Aggregator of the Year category at the upcoming MFAA Excellence Awards,” said Lendi Group co-founder and CEO David Hyman (picture above, far right).
Hyman said the past 12 months at Lendi Group have been nothing short of transformative, particularly in the Aussie business, with brokers embracing a new technology platform and leveraging the Platform Plus support model to drive improved business efficiencies and create exceptional experiences for their customers.
“Being nominated for this award highlights our steadfast commitment to creating an environment where our brokers and franchisees can build thriving businesses, while revolutionising the property purchasing experience for their customers.”
The sponsors of the MFAA National Excellence Awards 2024 include AAMC Training Group,
ALI Group, ANZ, Australian Broker, Bankwest, Bendigo Bank Broker, BOQ Group, Commonwealth Bank, Connective, CoreLogic, Helia, Herron Todd White, Kaplan Professional, La Trobe Financial,
Macquarie Bank, Mortgage Choice, MPA, National Australia Bank, Pepper Money, Prospa, QBE, Resimac, and Teachers Mutual Bank Limited.
MFAA National Excellence Awards Finalists 2024
Aggregator Award
Finalists
AFG
Astute
Connective
Lendi Group
LMG
Mortgage Choice
Nectar Mortgages Group
Purple Circle Financial Services
SFG
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Finalists
AFG
Brighten Home Loans
Mortgage Choice
MTA Mortgage Broker
Premium Select Finance
Sharia Finance
Mentor of the Year
Finalists
Debbie Hutchings, REFS Australia Group
Samantha Jones, Resolve Finance
Peter Mastroianni, Loans Only Pty Ltd
Andrew Tan, Masters Broker Group
Fabien Tribe, The Lending Lab
Mentor Program Award
Finalists
Liberty Network Services
Loans Only Pty Ltd
Masters Broker Group
Mr Mentor
Purple Circle Financial Services
REFS Australia Group
Resolve Finance
Mortgage Manager Award
Finalists
Better Mortgage Management
FINSTREET
Mortgage Ezy
Rate Mone
Professional Development Award
Finalists
AFG
Broker Ideas Group
Connective
LMG
Purple Circle Financial Services
Smartmove Professional Mortgage Advisors
Success & Broker
Support Service Provider Award - Large Company
Finalists
ALI Group
Allianz Australia
Helia
Support Service Provider Award - Small Company
Finalists
99content
Broker Ideas Group
Credit Fix Solutions
Platinum People Group
Success & Broker
VA Platinum
Business Development Manager Award - Aggregator
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Haley Bellamy, AFG
SA/NT - Peter Colman, Aussie
WA - Renee Dewar, Loan Market
QLD - Danni Porter, AFG
VIC/TAS - Daisy Yu, Finsure
Business Development Manager Award – Lender & Support Service Provider
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Rob Brownlow, Suncorp
QLD - Sally Hillman, St.George Bank
SA/NT - Elizabeth James, HomeStart
VIC/TAS - Julie Nguyen, Macquarie Bank
WA - Petra Rebeira, Suncorp Bank
Community Champion Award
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Peita Davies, MoneyQuest Penrith & Blue Mountains
QLD - Loan Market Greater Springfield
VIC/TAS - MTA Mortgage Brokers
WA - TAG Finance Australia
SA/NT - Aaron Vogt, Preferred Finance
Commercial & Equipment Finance Broker Award
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Isabella Constantinou, Simplicity Loans & Advisory
QLD - James Kelder, Green Finance Group
VIC/TAS - Katie Liu, JKK Solutions
WA - Steven McCaughey, Financewest Solutions
SA/NT - Greg Samuel, Samuel Finance
Customer Service Award - Individual
Finalists
VIC/TAS - Spiro Kolokithas, What If We Finance
QLD - Colin O'Loughlin, Arch Brokerage
NSW/ACT - Louisa Sanghera, Zippy Financial
SA/NT - Vipan Preet Singh, Mortgage Choice St Peters
WA - Nicole Williams, For Finance Sake
Loan Administrator Award
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Myra Acorita, Aussie Ashfield
SA/NT - Jacqui Dickin, Keystart Finance SA
VIC/TAS - Rohan James, Trusted Financial Choice
QLD - Aaron Minarelli, Green Finance Group
WA - Gracen Woodcock, Loan Market Geraldton
Newcomer Award
Finalists
SA/NT - Mathew Denton, Rise High Financial Solutions
WA - Kurtis Grace, Whiteroom Finance Goldfields
NSW/ACT - Peter Ha, Mortgage Pros
QLD - Nicole Reid, Zest Mortgage Solutions
VIC/TAS - Benjamin Simmons, Bayland Finance
Regional Finance Broker Award
Finalists
WA - Jasmine Bunter, Loan Market Geraldton
VIC/TAS - David Fraser, Bayland Finance
NSW/ACT - Ashleigh Pakis, Panache Financial
SA/NT - Steven Toome, Port Lincoln Home Loans
QLD - Jacqui Webb, Ignite Financial NQ
Residential Finance Broker Award
Finalists
WA - Helen Avis, Specialist Mortgage
VIC/TAS - Bernard Desmond, Blank Financial
NSW/ACT - Louisa Sanghera, Zippy Financial
SA/NT - Smita Vira, Mortgage Choice In St Peters
QLD - Chris Wilson, Sunshine Coast Financial Solutions
Young Professional Award
Finalists
VIC/TAS - Evelyn Clark, Everlend
NSW/ACT - Isabella Constantinou, Simplicity Loans & Advisory
WA - Robert Flynn, Vorteil Financial Group
QLD - Tara Rockett, Rockett Finance Solutions
SA/NT - Stephen Warner, Finance Partners
Customer Service Award – Business
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Azura Financial
WA - Loan Market Ellenbrook
SA/NT - Rise High Financial Solutions
VIC/TAS - Smart Lending
QLD - The Happy Finance Company
Diversified Business Award
Finalists
NSW/ACT - Loan Market Specialist
VIC/TAS - MTA Mortgage Brokers
QLD - Ramsey Property Wealth
SA/NT - Samuel Finance
WA - TAG Finance Australia
Finance Broker Business Award
Finalists
VIC/TAS - Cinch Loans
SA/NT - Easy Loans
NSW/ACT - Flint
QLD - Green Finance Group
WA - Loan Market Bal & Associates
To see the full list of finalists and for more information on the awards, go to: https://mfaa.eventsair.com/2024-mfaa-excellence-awards/
