Mortgage Choice broker Caroline Jean-Baptiste has received life membership to the MFAA, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the association and the mortgage and finance broking industry as a whole.
The Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) awarded Caroline Jean-Baptiste, broker principal at Mortgage Choice Fortitude Valley & Surrounds, MFAA life membership at its national awards on Wednesday (22 July), bestowing on her one of the association’s highest honours.
MFAA life membership is bestowed at the absolute discretion of the MFAA board to recognise individuals who have made exceptional, long-term contributions to the association and the broader mortgage and finance broking industry.
Life members retain full voting rights, active participation in governance, and ongoing membership entitlements in recognition of their sustained impact on the profession.
Jean-Baptiste has worked in the broking industry for over 21 years, operating the Mortgage Choice Fortitude Valley & Surrounds brokerage and serving as a mentor, advocate, and author (having penned Buy That House: How Kickass Women Make it Happen and The Leverage Effect: The Secret Women use to Scale their Business and Build Wealth).
Her roles within the MFAA include serving on the finance, audit, and risk committee, as well as holding positions as deputy chair and chair of the nominations, remuneration, and governance committee.
She currently serves as chair of the Queensland Mortgage Choice Charity Foundation.
MFAA chair Kerri Buurman commented on Jean-Baptiste’s appointment to life membership: “Caroline has given generously of her time, expertise and leadership over many years. Through her governance roles, advocacy for professional standards, mentoring of brokers and unwavering commitment to the industry, she has helped shape a stronger profession for the benefit of members and consumers alike.
“On behalf of the MFAA board, I am delighted to congratulate Caroline on this well-deserved recognition and thank her for her outstanding service to our Association and the broader industry.”
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek also noted Jean-Baptiste’s contributions and said: “Caroline exemplifies the very best of our industry. Throughout her career she has combined commercial success with a genuine commitment to supporting others, whether through mentoring, leadership, governance or championing greater opportunities for women in business.
“She has never lost sight of why mortgage and finance broking matters. Her passion for helping Australians achieve home ownership, coupled with her willingness to share her knowledge and lift others, has earned the respect of colleagues right across the industry.
“It has been a privilege to work alongside Caroline during her time on the board. She has made a lasting contribution to the MFAA and to the continued professionalism and success of the mortgage and finance broking industry.”
Acknowledging the life membership, Jean-Baptiste said the recognition also belonged to those who had supported her throughout her career.
“I feel very privileged to have had their support because doing this without them would have been impossible,” Jean-Baptiste said.
Speaking of her career as a broker, she said: “The mortgage and finance broking industry genuinely wants to lift people up. Brokers want to support each other, support their clients and share what they’ve learnt. That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about this industry.”
MFAA 2026 National Conference and Awards
The life membership was revealed at the MFAA National Excellence Awards, which received a record 854 submissions across 27 categories.
The winners of the awards for 2026 were as follows:
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Aggregator Award – Boutique Aggregator: Purple Circle Financial Services
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Aggregator Award – Large Aggregator: Lendi Group
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Business Development Manager Award – Aggregator: Holly Hammond, Loan Market (SA/NT)
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Business Development Manager Award – Lender & Support Service Provider: Kelly Tietjen, NAB (Qld)
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Commercial & Equipment Finance Broker Award: Jarrod Smith, Transact Finance (WA)
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Community Champion Award: Donna Campbell, Mortgage Choice South Morang (Vic/Tas) and Louisa Sanghera, Zippy Financial (NSW/ACT)
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Customer Service Award – Business: Azura Financial (NSW/ACT)
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Customer Service Award – Individual: Amol Agrawal, Juice Finance (WA)
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Diversified Business Award: HT Capital (SA/NT)
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Diversity and Inclusion Award: Brighten
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Finance Broker Business Award: Azura Financial (NSW/ACT)
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Fintech Lender Award: Bridgit
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Loan Administrator Award: Sally Fox, Thompson Finance & Leasing (SA/NT)
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Major Lender Award: Macquarie Bank
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Mentor of the Year Award: Joseph Daoud, It’s Simple
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Mentor Program Award: Purple Circle Financial Services
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Mortgage Manager Award: Mortgage Ezy
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Mutual/Credit Union Lender Award: Beyond Bank Australia
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Newcomer Award: Danny Trajcevski, Traj Finance (Vic/Tas)
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Non-Major Lender Award: Bankwest
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Professional Development Award: Smartmove
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Regional Finance Broker Award: Kirsty McKinnon, Flair Finance (NSW/ACT)
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Residential Finance Broker Award: Katie Thomas, Focus Finance (NSW/ACT)
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Specialty Lender Award: Pepper Money
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Support Service Provider Award – Large Company: NextGen
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Support Service Provider Award – Small Company: Accurateli
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Young Professional Award: Tara Rockett, Rockett Finance Solutions (Qld).
The awards presentation followed the MFAA’s 2026 National Conference, which has the theme, Built on Trust. Ready for Tomorrow.
The event was attended by nearly 1,000 delegates, including mortgage and finance brokers, lenders, policymakers, and industry leaders.
The conference included addresses from Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services Daniel Mulino and ASIC commissioner Alan Kirkland, as well as leaders and experts discussing the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of mortgage and finance broking.
Commenting on the conference and awards, Pannek said: “This year’s conference theme, Built on Trust. Ready for Tomorrow, couldn’t be more fitting when we reflect on our industry and these awards.
“Trust is the foundation of our industry. It is earned every day through expertise, integrity and by consistently putting clients first.
“Our National Excellence Awards recognise the people, businesses and organisations who exemplify those qualities. They celebrate not only outstanding mortgage and finance brokers, but also the aggregators, lenders, mentors and service providers who work together to deliver exceptional outcomes for clients.
“With a record 854 submissions received this year, the quality of our finalists and winners demonstrates the extraordinary depth of talent, innovation and professionalism that exists across mortgage and finance broking.
“Congratulations to every finalist and winner. Being recognised at this level is an incredible achievement and reflects the positive impact you are making for your clients, your businesses and our industry.”
[Related: Standing still is the biggest threat to broker market share, panel warns]
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