2023 Conference Speakers

Darrell Weekes
Darrell Weekes
Founder,
Purple Thread Marketing

Darrell is a Marketing Strategist, who works with micro, small, and medium sized financial service businesses, with little to no marketing budget.
That’s because he teaches businesses how to generate leads without spending money on marketing or advertising.
By implementing super effective, low-cost, no-cost marketing strategies, Mortgage Brokers, with little to no marketing budget, can usually generate all leads they can handle.
In the early 90’s Darrell was commissioned by John Symond to established and build Aussie Home Loans in both the ACT and Victoria. In three years Darrell cemented Aussie Home Loans as a major player in both markets guiding the offices to record production.
Darrell subsequently held senior positions at both AMP Bank and Liberty Financial before starting his own successful award winning mortgage broking business, ProMortgage, in Canberra in 1999.
ProMortgage was ranked as the number one Broker in the Professional Lenders Association Network, from the time it joined in 1999 until Darrell sold the business in 2004.
In four years, Darrell personally settled over $400 Million dollars in Home Loans, with an average loan size of only $250,000.
Darrell has been engaged to consult and present by some of Australia’s most recognisable businesses, including: The Commonwealth Bank, Macquarie Bank, NAB, AMEX, Mortgage Choice, PLAN, the Real Estate Institutes in QLD, NSW, SA and WA, CPA and CA, the Accountants and Tax Agents Institute of New Zealand, the Australian Institute of Business Brokers, the New Zealand Mortgage Brokers Association, the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, and the Australian Bookkeeping Network, to name just a few.

Meighan Wells
Meighan Wells
Founder Property Pursuit Advisors, Co-Founder Home Buyer Academy ,
Co-host Your First Home Buyer Guide

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.

Renee Blethyn
Renee Blethyn
Head of Broker Partnerships,
NextGen

Having started her career as a broker working with her father, Renee has incredibly valuable insights of being both a mortgage broker and a business owner.

She is extremely passionate about the finance industry and the role we play as a community, working together in helping consumers make informed choices about their finances, and hopefully improving their financial wellbeing.

Having joined NextGen in early 2021 as Head of Broker Partnerships, Renee has a wealth of experience in the industry, a deep understanding of the needs of the broker channel, and a strong focus on optimising innovation and opportunity.

Ross Le Quesne
Ross Le Quesne
Founder,
Billion Dollar Broker

The Billion Dollar Broker was born out of a desire to give back to the industry that has given me so much. After 25 years in the broking industry, often ranked among the top 20 brokers in the country, it was time to change the game. To share the secrets behind my success with those looking to scale their business and create a future and life they are proud of. Today, as Founder and Director of The Billion Dollar Broker, I coach and mentor many of the country’s leading brokers.

Event organisers