Spirits were high up on the Gold Coast Friday night as more than 400 mortgage broking industry professionals traded in their business attire for Halloween costumes, and faced off for the latest industry accolades.
Peter White, center, on stage during the FBAA's Monsters & Mayhem gala.
Peter White, manager director at the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia (FBAA), came dressed as Freddy Krueger. There were also appearances by Cruella de Vil, Wonder Woman, the Pirates of the Caribbean, female Ronald McDonald, the devil, prison inmates, witches, goblins and more. Julian Fayad, founder and chief executive officer of fintech firm LoanOptions.ai, brought his whole team, all dressed up as characters from the movie "The Purge."
"Tonight it's all about the costumes and the entertainment," White told Australian Broker.
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
The gala dinner and awards ceremony – themed Monsters & Mayhem – marked the end of the broking association's 2025 "Broker X" national industry conference. But before the group handed out its 18 industry awards, guests were treated to a haunted house, bumper cars, tag-team games, live musical performances, a fireworks show and lots of strobe lighting. There was also White himself dancing on stage, a soundtrack of classics, like Michael Jackson's Thriller and Rocky Horror Picture Show, a charity auction and caricature artists capturing the fun as guests munched on a three-course meal and plenty of cocktails.
Spooky vibes at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
"We're having a really fun time," said Peter Mastroianni, founder and broker of Brisbane-based Loans Only, who came with his wife, dressed up from the theme of the Alfred Hitchcock movie "The Birds."
Mastroianni, who took home the "Mentor of the Year" award, added: "The haunted house was a great addition to the theme. It's amazing."
Peter Mastroianni at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Emmanuel Marios, chief executive officer and principal of Derwent Finance Company, who snagged the "Tasmania – Finance Broker of the Year" award, said he enjoyed White's choreographed entrance at the start of the awards ceremony.
"The dance was great," he said.
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Victoria Coster, founder, chief executive officer and credit repair specialist at Sydney-based Credit Fix Solutions, said attending in-person celebrations like the FBAA awards is important because, "it's human connection.
"By coming along to these events, you feel like you're part of a family," she said.
Coster was one of two recipients who took home the "Industry Champion of the Year" award.
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Sydney-based Redom Syed, cofounder and managing director of Flint Group, who took home two awards, called it "a fantastic night."
"It's Halloween night and they've put on an amazing show," he said. "It's one to remember for sure."
Mentee of the Year
Mentor of the Year
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
New Finance Broker of the Year
A guest at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Aggregation BDM of the Year
Lender BDM of the Year
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Asset & Equipment BDM of the Year
Finance Broker of the Year — Commercial Asset & Equipment
Finance Broker of the Year — Commercial Property
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Industry Supplier of the Year
Quickli
Industry Champion of the Year
(Two winners)
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory — Finance Broker of the Year
Queensland/ Northern Territory — Finance Broker of the Year
South Australia — Finance Broker of the Year
Guests at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Victoria — Finance Broker of the Year
Tasmania — Finance Broker of the Year
A guest gets a caricature drawing at the FBAA Monsters & Mayhem Gala.
Western Australia — Finance Broker of the Year
Finance Broker of the Year
