Meet the partnership manager: Andrea Walton

Q. How and why did you start in finance?

I’ve always been passionate about banking – a passion sparked by my parents. Growing up in a family of business owners, I saw firsthand the impact that great bankers can make. After completing my degree, I began my banking career in 2010 with a major institution and have never looked back.

Today, aggregation gives me the platform to empower business owners and brokers – helping them grow, strategise, and plan for what’s to come. The journey hasn’t been easy, especially as an immigrant, but every challenge has shaped me. I’ve worked hard, and now I have the tools to make a real difference.

Q: Why did you join the company?

After having worked in the lending space for 15 years, I realised I was ready for my next challenge. I had never worked in aggregation before. I will forever be grateful to Gerald Foley (managing director of National Mortgage Brokers [nMB]), who gave me the opportunity to join nMB.

nMB is unlike any other corporate business I have ever worked for. Their values are strong and don’t deviate along the way – they genuinely care about their people, brokers, and staff. And what I like the most about being part of nMB is the opportunity they have given me to be myself and grow into the professional I am today.

Q. How do you work with brokers to ensure good customer outcomes?

Every broker that joins or is part of nMB is treated as a partner. I really take the time to understand our brokers, their businesses, their values, their business goals to then understand their clients’ needs. From there, I take a hands-on approach – whether it’s brainstorming strategies, sharing market trends, or helping them streamline processes, which helps them deliver a tailored approach to their clients.

When our brokers succeed, their customers thrive, and that’s what drives me and everyone at nMB every day.

Q. You spearhead the nMB Supporting Women in Business initiative (SWIBN). What does this entail?

Our nMB SWIBN started three years ago with the intention of creating a community within nMB for our female brokers. The initiative looks to promote and create a safe space for our female brokers across the network where they could learn, grow their businesses, but connect with other women.

Our vision statement was born based on: balance, support, skills, and connection. We run online sessions every two months, where we discuss business ideas, processes, new tools, mental health, and challenges.

We also have annual Spring Social Luncheons – which have been a success – and an event our brokers look forward to every year.

Q. What are your top tips to enable brokers looking to work more efficiently with BDMs and partnership managers?

I would say build a relationship with your BDMs – strong relationships lead to faster solutions and better support. Also, share your clients’ story upfront – context matters. The more detail you provide, the easier it is for the BDM to advocate for your deal. Communication is key, and being as clear as possible will lead you to a better outcome.

Invest your time in understanding the lenders’ niches and what they do well – BDMs appreciate it more than you think.