With a judging panel including academics, business executives, entrepreneurs and innovators, the Australian Broking Awards is peer-reviewed recognition of your capabilities in the mortgage and finance industry and passion for driving the industry forward.
Adam is an award-winning mortgage broker turned fintech entrepreneur who’s passionate about
making the home loan landscape a more level playing field for brokers and homeowners
After 12 years as a broker, and frustrated with banks offering better interest rates to new
mortgage customers while existing customers were being charged a ‘loyalty tax’ (a higher
interest rate the longer they’re with the bank). In 2021, he launched Sherlok; powered by AI
technology, Sherlok helps brokers retain clients by automating the repricing process and
generating quality refinancing leads from their trail book. The AI technology predicts two things:
when a client will leave a broker, and when a client is paying too much interest. Sherlok then
automatically lowers the client's interest rate, potentially saving them thousands.
Sherlok’s mission is to put brokers and their clients first, and help everyone save money with a
single click. It's a win-win situation: brokers' clients save thousands, the brokers keep the clients
for longer, the aggregators retain larger loan books and have happy brokers, and the lenders
keep their clients.
Andrew Phanartzis is currently the Director of Property Association, a consultancy firm for residential developers in Australia. The company offers a suite of services including, acquisition, planning, creative, sales and property management.
Andrew is extremely motivated, knowledgeable, loyal and reliable. He prides himself in exceeding expectations, adding dollar value to clients and sets the bar high. He believes the property market is dynamic and constantly evolves his strategic approach to enhance its effectiveness.
Andrew’s exposure to large residential developments, master planned communities and house and land subdivisions has provided a wealth of experience with some of the largest developers in Australia.
Andrew is a licenced real estate agent, holds a BA in Human Resource Management & English from the University of NSW and has completed PS146 Financial Planning qualifications.
Has been working in the Mortgage & Finance industry for over 25 years and in 2011 was recognized by the MFAA as a Fellow of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia. In 2001, he pioneered outsourced mortgage processing services by creating the first BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) operation for Mortgage Brokers in Australia, ultimately becoming the world’s first and only rated Loan Processing solutions provider by Standard & Poor's. After taking the reins of the Stargate Group in the early 2000’s, he was instrumental in introducing the first Mortgage Broker CRM Systems into the Australian Mortgage Landscape all while guiding it through the GFC. . In 2014, he led the Stargate business through its acquisition by the ASX listed Rubik Financial Limited (RFL) and worked through a 2 year transition as Group Executive – Mortgages. At Opica Group, they provide Lenders & Brokers with Australia’s only Responsible Lending Engine designed to manage and verify a consumers spending habits that enables participants to satisfy their Responsible Lending regulatory requirements. He also serves as Executive Director of business advisory firm TICH Consulting Group, Chairman of soon to be launched Equity Lending fintech Lendmore Australia & Advisor to Canadian consumer financier Lendful Canada.
Douglas Driscoll is CEO and owner of the Starr Partners real estate group. With more than 30 offices across NSW, the group is one of Australia’s most trusted and recognised brands.
Douglas has officially been recognised for his dynamic and pioneering approach, having been named Industry Thought Leader three times in the past four years at the REB National Real Estate Awards.
Douglas is also a highly-respected media commentator, having featured on several BBC and SKY television programmes, in addition to regular market commentary featured in the Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph and Domain.
Jason is the Director of Broker Essentials and is a well know figure in the finance industry and sort after media commentator. In 2016 Jason foundered Broker Essentials and launched a training course for brokers after years of inquiries into the best practices and habits of a high performance business.
Jason was named the 2020 ABA Mentor of the year and Broker Essentials named 2020 AMA Service Provider of the year. Previously Jason was the Managing Director of The Australian Lending & Investment Centre (ALIC) and was instrumental in taking ALIC to the forefront of the mortgage brokering industry. In 2014,15,16 and 2017 ALIC was voted the top independent brokerage of the year by Mortgage Professional Australia, Australia’s best brokerage in 2014 & 15 at the Australian Mortgage Awards and MFAA in 2016 and 2018.
Jason has created a practical and targeted program for brokers and administration staff that will help them grow their business by focusing on sales through service excellence. Jason’s Broker Essentials Revolution will take you through the behaviours of the nation’s best brokerage focusing on process, business management and the client journey.
Jason has over 30 years’ experience in the finance sector, having worked in senior sales, distribution and management roles for ANZ and having provided financial advice and services on behalf of financial planning, equity trading platforms, private banking, lending and retail distribution brands.
Jason Goodacre has spent more than 25 years working in the finance industry, delivering stand-out customer experiences. As Customer Relationship Manager, Jason makes sure Loanworks fulfills service levels and continues to improve products and services to meet, and go beyond, client expectations.
Jason is the key local contact for all of Loanworks’ software, technology and outsourcing services clients, and is responsible for expanding and deepening those customer relationships. He also represents Loanworks at industry events, professional development days and conferences.
Prior to joining Loanworks, Jason was Sales Manager at Thomson Financial (now Reuters) for 11 years, and had previously served in a variety of business development roles for fintech companies, including with IRESS, Powerwrap and City Networks.
Jason holds a Certificate in Financial Markets from the Securities Institute of Australia and an RG 146 – Provision of General Advice from Kaplan Australia.
Professor Kevin Daly joined the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur) as an Associate Lecturer in 1993; prior appointments included Senior Tutor in Economics at the University of Adelaide, Lecturer in Business Studies at the University of Brighton (UK) and Economics and Fiance Tutor at Sussex University. Before joining academia Kevin worked at various positions in Merchant Banking in the City of London. Kevin holds a BA (Hons) Economics, and MA (Economics Analysis and Policy) University of Sussex and a PhD University of Western Sydney (Macarthur). Kevin’s research passion revolves around applied finance and open economy macroeconomics; researching the effects of financial volatility on real economic activity. Kevin’s PhD thesis was published as a book by Ashgate in 1997. His international PhD examiner was Professor Philip ARESTIS, Director of Research, Cambridge Centre for Economic & Public Policy (CCEPP). Examples of his research focus includes an examination of the extent to which exchange rate volatility affects trade (Japan and the World Economy), an investigation of the extent to which financial instability affects the poor in developing countries (Asia Pacific Journal of Economics and Business. 2008), an empirical study of the extent to which volatility in interest rates affect the availability and affordability of credit (International Review of Financial Analysis. 2010), analysing how oil price volatility impacts on stock prices (Emerging Markets Review 2010), estimating the determinants of foreign direct investment and portfolio investment (Australian Economic Review 2006),analysing the determinants of house prices and the affordability of housing (Journal of International Business Research 2010). Current research interests focuses on banking in China and Vietnam, foreign direct investment in China and Vietnam and financial volatility of stock markets in South East Asia.
As Director of Encore Advisory Group, Mark is well known in the Advice industry and is a highly sort after trainer, educator and coach. Mark has worked with numerous mortgage broking and financial planning businesses enabling them to undertake the key important action of building a successful client advice practice, for the long term.
In 2017, after decades leading Wealth, Broking and Advice businesses, Encore was reimagined to better serve and prepare brokers and planners for the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead. Encore believes a better advice business means a better industry and therefore a better community.
Mark delivers practical, real-world solutions helping businesses navigate today’s complex environment whilst providing essential advice, helping to improve the quality and value of their business. This is achieved through partnerships with the right people and solutions thus enabling practices to deliver increasingly valuable advice to more clients.
Believing every Australian deserves advice on “both sides of the balance sheet”, Mark successfully built a mortgage broking business that partnered with over 200 financial planning practices and accounting firms, delivering advice services to over 5,500 Australian families a year.
Mark is known as a leading authority in bringing together Broking and Planning groups to deliver integrated “debt advice” and “broker planner” solutions. He is dedicated to this community as an SME owner himself. Mark is himself a consumer and advocate of Advice services and has led and steered advice businesses successfully through market, regulatory and consumer change and disruption for over 20 years.
Meighan began her career in recruitment then moved into corporate consulting with
PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Brisbane and Melbourne but her passion for property called her
to the real estate industry in 2002. After working as a selling agent, Meighan founded Property
Pursuit in 2003 to service the needs of property buyers and investors. Now in its 21st year of
operation, the Property Pursuit team has been involved in over 1000 property transactions in
Queensland providing invaluable experience and expertise to our clients.
In partnership with Veronica Morgan, Meighan is co-founder of Home Buyer Academy, an
online course for first home buyers providing them with a step-by-step guide to becoming an
educated home buyer, as well as co-host of the podcast Your First Home Buyer Guide.
Growing these businesses relies heavily on building long term mutually rewarding
relationships with mortgage brokers, financial advisors, accountants and real estate agents.
Meighan is regularly asked to provide expert commentary about the Queensland property
market including on Sky News Channel “Your Money Your Call”, Channel 7 and Channel 9
news, the Real Estate Talk show on 4BC radio, ABC Brisbane and 2UE. She has also been a
guest speaker at seminars for mortgage brokers, financial planners and accountants including
Snelleman Tom, Mercer Wealth Solutions, AG Private Advisory and Wealthy Frog as well as
teaching Property Investment at TAFE QLD. Her commentary has been reported in The
Financial Review, The Courier Mail, Sunday Mail, Eureka Report, Australian Property Investor
Magazine, Your Mortgage Magazine, Smart Property Investor and various local Brisbane
magazines, newspapers and online property sites.
Qualifications:
• Advisory Board Centre Certified Chair
• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Commissioner for Declarations (c.dec)
• Licensed Real Estate Agent Queensland
• Bachelor of Arts (psychology & sociology double major),
• Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management
• Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training
Memberships:
• Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ)
• Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia (REBAA)
• Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA)
Awards:
• REIQ Buyers’ Agency of the Year 2017
• REIQ Buyers’ Agent of the Year 2008, 2009, 2010
• Brisbane Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist 2015
Neville Hurst is a senior lecturer in property studies at RMIT University, Victoria, Australia. Originally trained as an electrical engineer he has worked extensively in industry and for the last 33 years in the property sector as a practitioner and academic. Prior to joining education Neville owned and operated his own real estate agency for many years selling and managing properties on behalf of clients. A significant part of this business was a business brokerage run in partnership with his business partner. Academically Neville’s research interest focuses on real estate industry practices, valuation practices, housing markets and in particular energy efficient housing. Currently undertaking his Phd, Neville is investigating real estate agent attitudes and engagement with sustainable housing and is working with peak industry bodies to create greater awareness of the importance of energy efficient housing for a sustainable future.
Peter Lynch is a leader in Professional Indemnity Insurance in the real estate, valuation and management right industry sectors.
He boasts over 30 years experience with Aon Risk Solutions and as the Client Manager is responsible for developing new business within the real estate sector including the identification of business opportunities with franchise groups and other stakeholders.
He took a significant role in providing advice and support to introduce a Real Estate specific indemnity insurance scheme and is responsible for the highly successful REIQ/REINT schemes which he coordinated with the assistance of industry, lawyers, underwriters and claims staff.
Peter has a strong interest in promoting safe and quality business practices in real estate and has been a regular contributor to course materials, presentations and editorial submissions. He has been called upon to be a guest speaker at training forums for the REIQ, REIA, REINT, REIWA and various franchise groups.
Peter also provides individual Risk Management training to a number of his Franchise Group clients.
Dr Rahat Munir is a Professor, Head of Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance, Macquarie University. With extensive experience in all forms of academic endeavours - research, teaching and engagement, Professor Munir offer an unbeatable track-record of excellence in curriculum development, research leadership, change management, building teams, effective human resource and financial management. He has published in leading international journals as well as presented at international conferences and seminars in many parts of the world. He is affiliated with several professional bodies. Professor Rahat Munir is actively involved in learning & teaching and research activities and brings a host of administrative and service experience across a wide range of contexts. Professor Munir has earned numerous national and international level research and teaching awards during his career.
Sascha Moore is a marketing specialist, who focuses on providing highly strategic, creative solutions – predominantly to the financial services and legal industries. Sascha has extensive experience in Australia and the United States with developing effective integrated marketing programs, and directing their implementation. She is now the Director of Create Design & Marketing, a boutique marketing communications agency that fuses solid strategy and powerful designs that directly resonates with a clients’ end markets. This approach creates a true connection: and connection drives results, deepens brand equity and furthers relationships. In addition to her professional obligations, Sascha is actively committed to educating brokers on how to enhance their business through incorporating smart marketing practices.
Tyrone Hodge - Global Head of Risk advisory, JLL Value and Risk Advisory
With a passion for Property and Technology that spans over 30 years, Tyrone embraces change and disruption to create better solutions for clients. Tyrone has led the charge in the property sector for many years having driven the disruption of real estate advertising and adoption of the Internet in Australia in the mid 90’s; leading a team focused on consumer and data analytics; founding a technology incubator and most recently taking on global role that leverages technology and data to identify risk and opportunity for JLL clients.
As the Global Head of Risk Advisory, he is responsible for developing and maintaining traditional valuation products as well as driving change through the adoption of new technology within the firm and for clients that impact asset values now and into the future.
Academic achievements include Diploma in Valuation, MBA, Master of Property Development and Diploma in Interactive and Data Driven Marketing.
