The race for the 2026 Australian Mortgage Awards is on

Nominate the industry's top performers before entries close on 3 July

The race for the 2026 Australian Mortgage Awards is on

News

By Kellie Ell

There's still time to cast your vote for the 2026 Australian Mortgage Awards (AMAs). Nominations remain open. But the clock is ticking: entries close on 3 July.

Often described as the Oscars of Australia's mortgage and finance industries, the AMAs shine a light on the people, businesses and achievements driving the industry forward. Each year, the event welcomes the sector’s leading players — from brokers, aggregators and lenders to brokerages, BDMs and service providers — for an evening dedicated to recognising excellence and celebrating success.

"The Australian Mortgage Awards recognise the people and organisations helping shape the future of broking, including those delivering genuinely helpful loan options that make a real difference for customers," Barry Saoud, chief executive, mortgage and commercial lending at non-bank lender Pepper Money, told Australian Broker. 

Produced by Key Media and presented in partnership with both Australian Broker and Mortgage Professional Australia (MPA), the awards honour the individuals and organisations whose efforts over the past year have made a meaningful impact on the direction and growth of Australia’s mortgage and finance landscape.

But before the winners can step onto the stage, the nominees must first be selected. Securing an AMA nomination is more than just an achievement. For many professionals, it’s a standout career moment that can elevate their reputation, reinforce their expertise and create valuable new opportunities.

"Voting gives brokers a chance to highlight those who’ve made a meaningful impact on their business and their clients over the past year," Saoud said. "It’s a straightforward way to show support and recognise the work driving our industry forward." Pepper Money was a sponsor for the 2025 AMA celebration. 

Baber Zaka, general manager, third party banking at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and past judge, added: "I encourage the industry to vote and celebrate the outstanding talent across the broker community.

"We are committed to the broker channel as we understand the essential role mortgage brokers play in helping Australians achieve their homeownership goals," Zaka continued. "With our brokers and customers at the heart of everything we do, the third-party channel continues to play a vital role in delivering our home lending strategy."

Ballots close on 3 July. 

Categories

Broker awards:

  • La Trobe Financial Broker of the Year – Commercial
  • FBAA Broker of the Year – Residential
  • Pepper Money Broker of the Year – Specialist Lending
  • Equity-One Broker of the Year – Productivity
  • Brighten Broker of the Year – Regional
  • Bendigo Bank Broker Young Gun of the Year

Brokerage awards: 

  • Liberty Brokerage of the Year – Diversification
  • MFAA Brokerage of the Year (1 to 5 staff)
  • Resimac Brokerage of the Year (6 to 20 staff)
  • Commonwealth Bank Brokerage of the Year (more than 20 staff)
  • AMP Bank Brokerage of the Year – Regional
  • Bankwest New Brokerage of the Year
  • Bluestone Home Loans Best Customer Service from an Individual Office

Industry awards: 

  • Titan Capital Best Industry Marketing Campaign
  • NAB Best Industry Service
  • ANZ Woman of Distinction

Aggregator awards: 

BDM awards: 

  • Firstmac Best Aggregator BDM
  • Finsure Best Major Bank BDM
  • So Money Best Non-Major Bank BDM
  • Mortgage Choice Best Non-Bank BDM

Lender awards:

  • Infinity Capital Financial Group Bank of the Year
  • Rate Money Non-Bank of the Year
  • Brighten Fintech Lender of the Year
  • Keystone Capital Mortgage Manager of the Year

National awards:

  • Westpac Australian Broker of the Year
  • Liberty Australian Brokerage of the Year

The national awards are not open for nominations. Finalists are drawn from the winners of the individual broker and brokerage categories, with the national winners revealed on the night.

More details and dates to remember

Excellence Awardees (finalists) will be announced on 10 August. Winners will be revealed on the night of the event, Friday, 16 October, at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney's Grand Ballroom, 1 Martin Place, Sydney. Networking and drinks begin at 7 p.m. The awards program and three-course meal begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to dress to impress in their sharpest black tie attire.

The 2026 event includes Australian singer and actress Kate Ceberano as the feature act, with Emalia Jane, aka DJ Em, supplying the tunes, and Australian TV presenter and author Andrew Daddo as MC. 

The official event partner is Westpac. Premium award partners include Brighten and Liberty Financial.

"Westpac is proud to partner with the 2026 Australian Mortgage Awards, marking our 18th year celebrating the incredible work of brokers across Australia," said Sarah Willsallen, head of broker distribution at Westpac Group. "We know how important brokers are to helping Australians navigate their homeownership journey, which is why Westpac continues to invest in making that experience simpler and more supportive for both our customers and our broker partners.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing this year’s finalists and celebrating the achievements of the industry at the awards in October," she added. "So make sure you get your submissions in."

Judges past and present have included Saoud, Zaka and Willsallen, as well as Helen Avis, director of finance at Perth-based Specialist Mortgage; Cory Bannister, senior vice president and chief lending officer at La Trobe Financial; Tim Brown, chief executive officer of Australian private equity firm Recludo; Anja Pannek, chief executive officer of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA); Adam Brown, executive, broker distribution at National Australia Bank (NAB); David Smith, chief distribution officer at Liberty Financial; Peter White, outgoing managing director and interim chief executive officer of the Finance Broker Association of Australia's (FBAA); Frank Knez, chief marketing officer at non-bank lender Rate Money; and more. 

Follow hashtags #AusMortgageAwards on social media, or reach out to [email protected], for more information. 

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