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Though there remains some way to go in boosting the participation of women in the mortgage industry, as only around 25% of its workforce is comprised of females according to MFAA figures, the finalist list for this year’s Australian Mortgage Awards prove a growing number of high-profile women in finance are blazing their own paths forward.
Dozens of women have been nominated across categories such as Young Gun of the Year, Broker of the Year and Brokerage of the Year, to name just a few.
One such woman taking great strides in the industry is Melissa Ashcroft, general manager of the ‘AAA’ Financial Group which has been in business for 35 years and offers both residential and commercial lending; as a mortgage manager it has over 1,100 accredited brokers.
“I love my job because it’s intellectually challenging while being fulfilling. I get to work with so many different people, from small business owners to big developers – and ultimately my job is to help make their dreams come true,” said Ashcroft, who is a finalist for AMA Broker of the Year – Commercial.
“I see my role as a broker as one that financially empowers people and gives them the tools to change their circumstances in any way they want.”
While Ashcroft feels there are “some great initiatives to support and encourage women in our industry”, she also believes there is “always room for improvement”.
“It’s important to acknowledge how far we've come in the last few years, with undoubtedly more women in mortgage broking than ever before, but there still remain broader societal obstacles that dissuade some women from entering the finance industry,” she explained.
“As a woman in the industry today, I feel incredibly supported and that I have the tools to succeed, but I am very privileged to feel this way. Improvement will come from making sure every woman, no matter her cultural or social background, feels the same way.
"I hope we can further diversify the broking industry, which will serve only to strengthen the ideas, voices and industry standards we have today.”
More on this story in Issue 17.16 of Australian Broker available today, 24 August
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News analysis: Are Australians better off financially now?
When the federal government began delivering hundreds of billions of dollars worth of stimulus packages and grants in March, some Australians wound up better off financially than they were before the pandemic hit. But where are we headed from here?
Big Deal: Alex Sperling
When a couple approached Sterling, an MFAA-accredited finance broker at Our Mortgage Options, to refinance a loan he’d arranged for them many years prior so they could rebuild their home, it seemed like a straightforward deal – but the devil is always in the details
Broker on broker: Otto Dargan
Most brokers are their business, so even if they’re successful, they may feel trapped in it. Here, the managing director of Home Loan Experts shares his strategies for making sure you don’t become a slave to your enterprise
