Nomination

Asset Finance Broker of the Year

This award recognises the broker that specialises in asset finance and is best servicing the asset finance needs of their clients. Asset finance includes but is not limited to business and consumer car finance as well as equipment and leasing finance.

Submission quality and customer service as well as business processes, systems, stakeholder engagement and customer relationship abilities will also be assessed in this category.

Commercial Broker of the Year

This award recognises the broker who specialises in commercial mortgages and is best servicing the commercial property financing needs of their business clients.

This award is only open to brokers writing commercial property mortgages and/or commercial construction and development finance.

Customer Service of the Year - Individual

This award recognises the broker who has delivered the best customer service.

This category assesses the business benefits associated with effective customer service/satisfaction, considering the uplift in new, repeat and referred businesses.

Finance Broker of the Year

This award recognises the broker best servicing the non-mortgage needs of clients (business finance/cash flow funding, personal loans, etc., excluding residential mortgages, commercial mortgages and asset finance – please see separate categories).

Industry Thought Leader of the Year

This award recognises the individual within the Australian broking market who has shown long-term passion and aptitude for improving and leading the industry.

This professional can clearly demonstrate how they have championed the growth and development of the sector.

Loan Administrator of the Year

This award recognises the loan administrator who has most effectively supported the broker or business for which they work.

The category will assess the volume of submissions supported, attention to detail, knowledge of products, bank systems, and loan processes as well as customer service capabilities.

Mentor of the Year

This award recognises the professional playing an integral role in guiding, supporting and promoting the training and career development of their mentees.

The Mentor of the Year is committed to mentees' professional development and cultural integration, demonstrating leadership and advocating for future leaders in the broking industry. They show success in their current business/role and demonstrate the influence they have had on the broking profession.

New Broker of the Year

This award acknowledges the most successful new brokers who have entered the industry in the past two years.

The award criteria are based on the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025. Success is based not only on loan volumes and business performance metrics but also on client feedback and a holistic approach to building a sustainable business for future expansion.

Regional Broker of the Year

This award recognises the broker operating in a regional location who best represents the industry across key factors.

As per the Regional Australia Institute definition, regional Australia is considered the towns, small cities and areas that lie beyond the major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra). Only brokers servicing clients in areas outside of these major capital cities will be considered for this category.

Residential Broker of the Year

This award recognises the residential broker who best supports Australian borrowers in realising the great Australian dream of home ownership.

Rising Star

The Rising Star award recognises tomorrow's leader – the professional who will play an integral role in the development of broking in the years ahead.

The Rising Star will be entrepreneurial, highlight unique thought leadership, show success in their current business/role, and reveal how they have already made a difference to the broking profession within their past five years of full-time operation.

Wellness Advocate of the Year

This award recognises broking industry professionals who have actively advocated for health and wellness initiatives, events and/or activities in the industry among their peers and/or the community at large.

Boutique Aggregator of the Year

Boutique aggregation groups play a key role in today's market.

This award recognises the boutique aggregation group that has the most effective member offering and best supports their business growth.

Broker Marketing Platform of the Year

This award recognises the company that provides the best marketing platform for brokers to drive business development and retain existing clients most effectively.

Community Engagement Program of the Year

This award recognises the brokerage that has gained the most traction within their community through a specific engagement program (for example, through local sponsorships, charity drives, school talks, creating networking groups etc).

Applicants must be able to highlight how that program has improved the position of the people or cause in which it is focused.

CRM Platform of the Year

This award recognises the aggregation group/brokerage that has developed the most effective customer relationship management (CRM) technology platform for brokers.

These platforms not only integrate core functionality but are also user-friendly, easy to maintain, and add to a broker's service proposition.

Customer Service of the Year - Office

This award recognises the office that has delivered the best customer service.

This category assesses the business benefits associated with effective customer service, considering the uplift in new, repeat and referred business.

Diversified Brokerage of the Year

This award acknowledges the broking office that has offered a broad range of finance solutions and most effectively developed its business through diversification.

Franchise Office of the Year

This award recognises the individual franchise office that has most effectively driven business growth.

Independent Office of the Year

This award recognises the independent (non-franchise) office that has most effectively driven business growth.

Innovator of the Year (Company)

This award highlights the brokerage or aggregator that has developed and capitalised on innovation, whether it's related to product, service, business development processes, technology, staff/client management, or any other relevant area.

Major Aggregator of the Year

This award recognises the aggregator (over 500 members) that has been most effective in member servicing and development, and how that has impacted/supported member recruitment and retention.

Major Franchise Brokerage of the Year

This award highlights the major brokerage group that offers a franchise/branded model and has more than 11 brokers operating under its brand. The award will consider the activities, strategies, and actions of the company in terms of broker recruitment, empowerment, and retention as well as the success of individual brokers in supporting the corporate's overall growth and development.

Major Independent Brokerage of the Year

This award recognises the independent brokerage group with over 11 brokers/loan writers. This does not include franchise brokerages (see separate category: Major Franchise Brokerage of the Year).

Marketing Campaign of the Year

This award recognises the brokerage or aggregator that undertook the best marketing campaign in Australia.

This award considers the marketing process undertaken by a brokerage or aggregator to generate leads and convert business for brokers. Consideration will be given to the company's ability to leverage a range of marketing media, from traditional print advertising to social media, and how an integrated approach helped deliver a more effective campaign.

New Office of the Year

This award recognises the most successful new office and is open to all brokerages/offices that meet the category requirements.

Regional Office of the Year

This award recognises the individual office in a regional location that has most effectively driven business growth over the previous 12 months across all product sectors, utilising a range of business development principles and tactics.

As per the Regional Australia Institute definition, regional Australia is considered the towns, small cities and areas that lie beyond the major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra). Only brokers servicing clients in areas outside of these major capital cities will be considered for this category.

Technology Service Provider of the Year

This award recognises the company that has developed the most effective technology solution or service for brokers outside of their core lodgement/CRM system.

Whether it's tech that improves the customer experience, hastens serviceability, provides diversification or anything else that provides efficiency for brokers, this award celebrates the tech companies building solutions for the third-party channel.

Training and Education Program of the Year

This award acknowledges the company providing brokers with the most effective and diverse training programs relevant to the role of a professional broker.