The 2025 Australian Mortgage Awards (AMAs) concluded in grand fashion, thanks in no small part to the outstanding contributions of an exceptional panel of judges.
Earlier this month, more than 850 mortgage broking professionals flocked to the Fullerton Sydney to celebrate the industry's biggest night of the year.
Attendees – which included brokers, aggregators, lenders and BDMs – competed for some of the industry's most coveted awards across 28 categories, amid Champagne toasts, photos opps and a performance by Aussie rocker Darly Braithwaite.
The night wouldn't have been possible without the help of the 25-person panel of judges, which included a number of mortgage broking professionals, such as brokers, lenders, aggregators, researchers and a few past winners.
"Participating in the judging panel for the AMAs is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of evaluating the very top performers in our industry," Cory Bannister, senior vice president and chief lending officer at La Trobe Financial, told Australian Broker. "It’s a very insightful experience that reveals the significant impact our sector has on the broader economy, which brings a great sense of pride noting the important work we collectively undertake.
"The AMAs play an important role in the industry by recognising and celebrating the great and important work that brokers do to positively impact consumers," he said. "The awards shine a light on brokers who operate at the highest standards, helping to set benchmarks for professionalism and integrity, and we shouldn’t overlook the fantastic opportunity the event offers for industry colleagues to connect."
Tim Brown, chief executive officer at Australian private equity firm Recludo Group, congratulated all the winners and said that "as a judge, I get excited to see the mortgage broking industry continue to attract such a high calibre of people and businesses. I feel honoured to be able to participate as a judge and recognise the pinnacle of the industry through the AMAs."
Jean-Pierre "JP" Gortan, managing director at Simplicity Loans & Advisory, said he was honoured to be selected to be a judge again.
To the finalists, he added: "It's no small feat to be recognised as a leader in your field, and your hard work and innovation have clearly shone through. I was incredibly impressed by the high calibre of nominees across all categories."
Anja Pannek, chief executive officer at the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), also said it was "inspiring to see mortgage and finance brokers continuing to raise the bar on service and expertise. The exceptional quality of the Australian Mortgage Awards entries and the dedication shown by brokers to their clients, signalling a bright future for the industry."
Australian Broker would like to thank all the judges for their contributions.
The list includes:
Helen Avis
Cory Bannister
Renee Blethyn
Adam Brown
Tim Brown
Blake Buchanan
Kristy Clucas
Graham Cooke
Jean-Pierre "JP" Gortan
Travis Hall
Caroline Jean-Baptiste
Frank Knez
Anja Pannek
Ian Rakhit
Scott Rollason
Lee Rudwick
Louisa Sanghera
Barry Saoud
David Smith
George Thompson
Joseph Trimarchi
Peter White
Sarah Willsallen
Baber Zaker
Angel Zhong
