Meet our speakers 

Yvonne Adele's energetic personality will be front and centre of our conference, her humour and enthusiasm are contagious and her insights add value and resonance to our theme. Yvonne’s professional journey started with Microsoft in the 90s, travelling the world supporting education teams. She returned to Australia with a mission and a media profile as Ms Megabyte, demystifying tech across our most popular TV shows and magazines.

This profile naturally led to speaking and then MC invitations. Yvonne is now an inspiring, positive and lively presence at many Australian and international events. She engages audiences from the first minute to the closing address, bringing insight and relevance to every session, activity and break.

Global marketing expert Katrina McCarter, a former Fortune 100 corporate leader turned successful entrepreneur, empowers professionals to understand their customers, master marketing, and build strategies for lasting impact and relevance. With over 25 years of experience helping businesses of all sizes cut through the noise, Katrina brings absolute clarity, outrageous confidence and true commercial success. Her work focuses on identifying and amplifying unique advantages, communicating value authentically, and fostering lasting client relationships – the very foundations of differentiating oneself in competitive markets. Katrina's mission is to teach businesses to understand customers, master marketing, and build strategies that create lasting change and relevance. A five-time B&T Women in Media Awards finalist and 2021 Top 50 Small Business Leader, Katrina delivers actionable insights that enable professionals to effectively differentiate themselves and attract loyal clients.

With degrees in anatomy and physiology Rob worked for five years in cardiac rehabilitation where he wrote the successful book “Better Blood Pressure”.

He has been leading for 20 years in the health and well-being industry and his Workplace Health Appraisals project has engaged over 30,000 participants at all levels of business.

Rob received the Order of Australia Medal for his charity that installs solar in remote Pacific Island schools, his plastic free oceans projects and women’s health initiatives.

Rob’s focus is simply to encourage people to take a brief time out to consider their most important asset - themselves. We can’t look after other people unless we look after ourselves first. That’s why the session is called “It’s All About You”

Anja Pannek joined the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) as Chief Executive Officer in September 2022. Anja is an experienced leader in financial services with over 20 years’ experience in the sector, and has a proven track record of leading successful businesses within the third-party channel, including aggregator businesses and mortgage distribution for major financial services firms.

Prior to joining the MFAA Anja was CEO of PLAN Australia and she has a proven track record of leading successful businesses within the third-party channel. She was CFO of NAB’s Personal Banking division for several years and has also held leadership roles at Loan Market Group, Advantedge Financial Services and Challenger Limited.

Anja thrives in complex and uncertain environments and through her vast experience in financial services, she has an exceptionally strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the Australian mortgage and finance broking industry.

Paul Hankin has worked in the IT and financial services industries since 2001. This led to combining his IT skills and finance experience into digital transformation (DX) projects for mortgage brokers. Paul is an award winning Australian cybersecurity expert protecting broker and other financial service businesses since 2015. Focused on stopping bad people damaging your business, your data and your reputation.

Melanie Cunliffe is the founder and driving force behind Indigo Finance, a boutique lending advisory firm established in 2011. With a clear vision to challenge the traditional view of mortgage broking, Melanie set out to deliver strategic, personalised lending advice that empowers clients to achieve long-term financial wellbeing.

Originally from the UK, Melanie moved to Australia in 2005, where she soon found her calling in the mortgage industry. Driven by a passion for creating exceptional client experiences—and a deep appreciation for the role property plays in Australian life—she built Indigo Finance on the values of care, passion, and integrity.

Over the past 14 years, Indigo Finance has grown organically through word of mouth, trusted relationships, and the strength of an exceptional team. The firm is well regarded in residential lending, with commercial mortgages emerging as a natural extension—particularly through a commitment to supporting small business owners on their financial journeys.

Under Melanie’s leadership, Indigo Finance has been recognised as a multi-year Choice Platinum Achiever, a consistent finalist in national awards, and one of LMG’s Top 100 Businesses. In 2024, the firm celebrated a major milestone—surpassing $1 billion in settled loans.

Melanie has been named among the MPA Top 100 Brokers and is deeply committed to professional development across the sector. She has been honoured as a finalist in the Women in Finance Awards for Principal of the Year, and previously recognised as a finalist for Mentor of the Year, reflecting her passion for growing and nurturing talent within the industry.

With a strong focus on lifting professional standards, Melanie continues to advocate for a more strategic, client-centric approach to broking—one where brokers are not just intermediaries, but educators, advisors, and long-term partners in their clients’ success.

Leading Coach at Therese.Co Broker Coach, Therese has over 25 years industry experience and 15 years experience coaching over 200 Mortgage and Finance Brokers, including numerous Industry Award Winners.

Therese is a self-taught branding, marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility Expert who holds an MBA from Adelaide University, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and her Diploma in Mortgage and Finance Broking.

Therese is also an accomplished Keynote Speaker: Imposter Syndrome, Personal Branding, Social Gratitude, Mental Health and Local Community Marketing are just a few of her favourite topics.

Today, she focuses on coaching high-performing mortgage brokers to increase sales, grow their business, and scale their operations. Her wealth of knowledge makes her an invaluable asset to our team.

Therese is also Co-Founder of the 1,000 strong Women Supporting Women Network. She and Tripti Goyal are the OG Founders of MANtalk Wellness Australia & New Zealand and she is an Executive Committee Member of the MANtalk Board

Rod Peirce offers a comprehensive range of property wealth counselling services to support first-time buyers and seasoned investors alike. His services include Mortgage and Finance Strategy, Portfolio Planning, Portfolio Funding, Property Acquisition, Renovation, and Property Development.

Rod’s professional credentials back over three decades of practical experience. He is a Qualified Property Investment Adviser, Certified Estate Agent, Certified and Accredited Finance Broker, and Accredited Credit Adviser. He is also a member of the REIV, MFAA and PIPA.

A highly sought-after and proven strategic finance planner, Rod delivers tailored finance strategies, structures, and advice to help clients build wealth through residential and commercial property. His qualifications and extensive experience allow him to deliver exceptional, value-added outcomes for his clients.

Elijah Barrett is the younger half of the Barrett Brokering duo and, at just 23, is the youngest Mortgage Choice franchise owner in Australia. Having started the business at 19, Elijah now engages with his community through social media, helping connect with a new generation of buyers – many of whom are only just discovering what a mortgage broker actually does.

Lucas Barrett is the older half of the Barrett Brokering duo, running a Mortgage Choice franchise in the bayside suburb of Sandringham, Melbourne. At 25, he’s finding that helping close friends into their first homes is becoming a regular - and deeply rewarding - part of his role. True to his older brother status, Lucas brings an analytical, process-driven approach to the business.

Haydn leads the business strategy and vision for Lend Perspective. With over 10 years’ experience within the banking and financial services industry, Haydn works to ensure your financial strategy and structuring is aligned with your holistic financial goals and ambitions.

Haydn holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance & Commercial Law, from the University of Sydney.

Having started her career as a broker working with her father, Renee has incredibly valuable insights of being both a mortgage broker and a business owner.

She is extremely passionate about the finance industry and the role we play as a community, working together in helping consumers make informed choices about their finances, and hopefully improving their financial wellbeing.

Having joined NextGen in early 2021 as Head of Broker Partnerships, Renee has a wealth of experience in the industry, a deep understanding of the needs of the broker channel, and a strong focus on optimising innovation and opportunity.

Senior broker, Sadish Visvalingam is the founder of Premier Financial Advocates, an award-winning boutique finance firm specialising in professional finance solutions and strategies. Sadish is using cutting-edge tools and technology to power his business and improve processes.

Elouise Dooley, founder & director of Two Birds One Loan a Sydney based boutique brokerage focused on creating genuine connections with Clients and helping them dream, build, pursue and achieve their financial goals.

Nick Reilly is the CEO and founder of Inovayt Group, a financial services provider with a holistic offering, specialising in finance and financial planning. Founded in 2007, Inovayt has grown to become one of Australia's most recognised independent financial advice and product providers. Under Nick's leadership, the company is driven by a highly experienced and professional team whose mission is to equip clients and partners with the tools and advice necessary for financial success. Since founding Inovayt in 2007, Nick has cultivated a deep understanding of how to scale a financial services business, diversify into complementary markets, build successful referral partnerships, and create a platform that empowers employees to achieve their personal goals.

Dave Picca is an award-winning mortgage broker with over 10 years of experience and now has access to over 50 lenders. He strives for excellence in managing the refinancing, home buying and selling process. He is focused on making the process as simple as possible; and most importantly helping his clients achieve their financial goals and discovering their full potential.

Combining expert market knowledge, the latest software, over a decade of experience finding loans for his clients, you can trust that you will be getting the best service and advice with David Picca and his team at Alexander Financial Group. Dave Picca is accredited with the Mortgage and Financial Association is Australia (MFAA), licensed to give mortgage advice, and ready to help.

Dave likes to maintain a healthy work life balance and spends his free time with friends and family, he also has a strong commitment to the martial art sport Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Mel Wright is the founder and principal broker of Zest Mortgage Solutions. Leading a team of 13 people across two offices, Mel has grown Zest Mortgage Solutions from a one-woman band to a recognised brand across Queensland. With over a decade of experience in the finance industry, Mel transitioned from roles in two of Australia's largest banks to establish Zest, driven by a desire to offer more personalized and client-focused mortgage services. Mel's commitment to excellence has been recognized through various local, state and national awards for both herself personally and Zest Mortgage Solutions. Beyond her professional achievements, Mel is a mother of two and actively contributes to her community in Springfield, Queensland. She is passionate about educating clients on financial matters and often creates informative content to demystify the mortgage process.

Jane is a qualified executive, business and mindset Coach and Leadership Training Facilitator and has deep expertise on diversity and inclusion – especially as it relates to unlocking business growth and innovation for small business owners.

Jane spent much of her corporate career working in the Finance Industry including as Head of Diversity & Inclusion at Westpac Bank. In recent years, her partnership with the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia on the Opportunities for Women project, has given her a unique insight into the specific challenges and opportunities facing women working in finance. As Founder and Chief Coach at thrive4women, Jane works with female business owners and professionals to help them accelerate their business and professional growth by identifying and leveraging their unique strengths, building a positive mindset through constructive self-leadership habits and gaining clarity on their professional purpose. This helps cement their success and longevity as business owners and professionals working in finance.

Luke Achterstraat has over a decade of experience in policy, advocacy and government. He has advised two federal government ministers and appeared before parliamentary inquiries on behalf of both federal and state industry groups. Most recently he was the NSW Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia and was also appointed by the NSW Government as the inaugural Chair of the NSW Expert Housing Advisory Panel. Luke is passionate about small business, having helped co-found and lead the talent disruption business Commtract. His grandfather emigrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 1951 and started a small business, a legacy that helps inform Luke on the vital role small businesses play in building livelihoods and communities across Australia.