Program
This year the MFAA Conference will be held over two days. With the theme Future Matters, the conference program features an exceptional line-up of keynote presentations, workshops and broker and industry panels, arming you with tools, strategies and thought-provoking future matters in technology, people, building your business and property.
Are you ready to take action and embrace tomorrow, today?
Workshop Wednesday will feature unmissable Women of Influence events at ICC Sydney plus exclusive workshops hosted by lenders around the Sydney CBD. Tickets are limited.
People matters: MFAA Women of influence series.
Tickets for the Women of Influence series are sold separate to the main conference ticket. Part of the fee will be donated to a charity
| Time | Activity | Location |
10.00am - 3.30pm | Registration | ICC Sydney, C3.3, Level 3 |
| 10.30am - 12.00pm
| Leading for impact. Brought to you by ANZ. Natalie Smith, General Manager, Retail Broker and Third-Party Deposits, ANZ |
ICC Sydney, C3.3, Level 3 |
| 1.30pm – 3.00pm | Women, broking and the economy. Brought to you by Mortgage Choice. Eleanor Creagh, Senior Economist, PropTrack | ICC Sydney, C3.3, Level 3 |
Lender workshops
These workshops are complimentary and are hosted by our lenders
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 10.00am - 11.30am | The Retention Revolution - how to stop clients from leaving. Brought to you by Sherlok. Adam Grocke, Sherlok CEO |
Club York Sydney |
| 4.00pm - 6.00pm | A Brokers’ Guide to building a social media presence. Brought to you by Ubank. Katie Chandler, Ubank Growth Director | Ubank head office |
Welcome
Anders Sörman-Nilsson, Futurist and Innovation Strategist
Anders Sörman-Nilsson (Global EMBA / LLB) is a futurist and the founder of the think tank and trend analysis firm - Thinque, which provides data-based research, foresight and thought leadership assets for global brands across 4 continents.
Anders helps leaders decode trends, decipher what’s next and turn provocative questions into proactive answers.
He has published 3 books on digital transformation and innovation including ‘Aftershock’ (2020), ‘Seamless’ (2017) and ‘Digilogue’ (2013) and is the author of the 2020 Microsoft and Thinque whitepaper "How Artificial Intelligence is powering Australian Retail in 2020 and beyond", the co-creator of the B2B marketing award-winning Adobe Creative (CQ) Intelligence test, and is the host of the 2nd Renaissance Podcast. His futurist thinking has been shared by the Wall Street Journal, Financial Review, Monocle, BBC, South China Morning Post, Esquire and ABC TV.
Welcome to Future Matters
Anja Pannek, MFAA CEO
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Anja will welcome everyone and provide an outline of our focus for the conference. Highlighting how the future matters for your world, your industry, your business and yourself and how the conference content will deliver across these areas. Anja will look ahead to the challenges and opportunities that will shape the industry and broker of the future.
About the speaker
Anja has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) since September 2022. She has over 20 years’ experience in financial services leading successful businesses within the third-party channel.
Prior to the MFAA, Anja was CEO of PLAN Australia. She was CFO of NAB’s Personal Banking division for several years and has held leadership roles at Loan Market Group, Advantedge Financial Services and Challenger Limited.
The Future of business (that’s already here) and the new C.E.O.s in charge of your business
Lisa MacCallum, Former Vice-President at Nike and founder of Inspired Companies
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Consumers, employees and outsiders can make or break a business faster than ever before in history. Lisa looks at the new C.E.O.s and how they’re looking for inspiration and authenticity and have the tools, networks, voice and motivation to demand it. Ignore and you’ll only fuel their collective will to work against you. Embrace the profound shift in marketplace power and you’ll create a company with a resilience, agility, brand distinction and level of competitive advantage that will leave everyone else behind.
About the speaker
Lisa MacCallum is Founder and Chief Strategist of Inspired Companies and is focused on corporate reputation, purpose driven business performance, complex stakeholder leadership, communications and brand transformation.
A former Vice President at Nike, Lisa worked internationally for two decades, primarily in the USA and Japan. She held global leadership roles for Nike in Corporate Strategy, Apparel, Sales and Retail and also led Nike’s global Access to Sport and community impact work as Managing Director of the Nike Foundation.
Lisa holds several non-executive director roles, including with British Telecom’s Sustainable Business Board Committee in the UK; Bond University, Australia and Adani Transmission, India. Lisa is a Young Global Leader of the Economic Forum, Ambassador for the World Benchmarking Alliance and Commissioner for the Aspen Institute on Information and Democracy.
Digilogue - how to win the digital minds and analogue hearts of tomorrow's customers. Waves of change - global trends that will disrupt our existence.
Anders Sörman-Nilsson, Futurist and Innovation Strategist
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
As some organisations careen recklessly into the digital future and others are left behind by remaining steeped in the ways of old, thought leaders are coming to realise there is an important middle ground. Most often that’s where your customers and clients want you to be, the place where digital and analogue converge - the ‘digilogue’. In the digilogue it is understood that digital satisfies a customer’s mind while analogue soothes the heart.
Waves of change are rolling towards but how do you spot the waves? How do you identify what’s going on in the market? How do you sense the direction of the currents, and how do you best position yourself so you’re not washed away and ride the wave?
Anders will decode the trends, decipher what’s next and turn provocative questions into proactive answers.
About the speaker
Anders Sörman-Nilsson (Global EMBA / LLB) is a futurist and the founder of the think tank and trend analysis firm - Thinque, which provides data-based research, foresight and thought leadership assets for global brands across 4 continents.
Anders helps leaders decode trends, decipher what’s next and turn provocative questions into proactive answers.
He has published 3 books on digital transformation and innovation including ‘Aftershock’ (2020), ‘Seamless’ (2017) and ‘Digilogue’ (2013) and is the author of the 2020 Microsoft & Thinque whitepaper "How Artificial Intelligence is powering Australian Retail in 2020 and beyond", the co-creator of the B2B marketing award-winning Adobe Creative (CQ) Intelligence test, and is the host of the 2nd Renaissance Podcast. His futurist thinking has been shared by the Wall Street Journal, Financial Review, Monocle, BBC, South China Morning Post, Esquire and ABC TV.
The ultimate guide to recruitment and retention
Roland Youakim, Founder and Director, Platinum People Group
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
Roland will explore the drivers of recruiting and retraining of the people in your business, how you can improve processes and make smart hiring decisions.
About the speaker
Roland Youakim is the founder and director of Platinum People Group, a specialised Mortgage Brokerage and Third-Party Banking recruitment firm who help business owners and leaders find, qualify, attract and engage the best candidates in the market. Roland has been guiding businesses within the mortgage broking, aggregation, financial planning and retail and third party banking sectors since 2010. It is Roland’s passion to build creative recruitment strategies and efficient processes that deliver better candidates in less time.
Roland loves meeting and getting to know new people. It is this passion that led him to recruitment almost 12 years ago.
The psychology of decision making and property market update
Dr Tony Hayek, CEO, Blue Wealth Property
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
Combining research with human behaviour, Dr Tony Hayek will explain the state of the property market, what he predicts will happen amidst all the media headlines and the psychology of decision making.
About the speaker
Dr Tony Hayek is the CEO of Blue Wealth Property. He was born in Melbourne, raised in Sydney and educated in Newcastle. He has created his own personal wealth through property and found his passion in teaching others what he knows. Combining a PhD in psychology with economic data makes him a unique speaker in the property space as he delivers a message not often seen in our industry. He prides himself on having educated over 50,000 people about property investment, while navigating all sorts of markets over the last two decades – that experience is why many Australians value his thoughts, opinions and expertise in property investment.
Transforming marketing and communications
Jordana Borensztajn, Social Media and Communications Strategist
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Whether we consciously create it or not, we all have a personal brand. Jordana will explore the value effective social media marketing brings and the powerful role that it plays in driving business growth. You hold the power to create an awesome online narrative, gain an understanding on how to build brand awareness, promote your unique point of difference, creating connections and building relationships.
About the speaker
Jordana is a Social Media Strategist and communications expert who loves creativity, new ideas, and bringing dreams to life. With a diverse media and communications background, Jordana teaches business owners, entrepreneurs and marketers how to build their personal and professional brands with captivating digital content.
Her two books, Capture My Attention: How to Stand Out Online with Creative Content and 21 Steps to Become an Awesome Public Speaker, are filled with tips, techniques and strategies to help people overcome their fear of public speaking.
Jordana Borensztajn has been featured on Channel 10’s The Living Room, Channel 9’s A Current Affair, Nova 100, ABC Radio National, WIN News, Channel 31, and across the Herald Sun, mX, the Sunday Herald Sun, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Tech enabling my business broker panel
Therese O’Neill, Facilitator
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
Facilitated by business coach and mentor, Therese O’Neill, your peers will discuss how technology is powering their businesses and improving processes.
Panel speakers
Sadish Visvalingam, Premier Financial Advocates
Fabien Tribe, The Lending Lab
Suvidh Arora, Cinch Loans
Kirra Ligudzinski, Smart Lending
Future matters industry panel
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Your peers are embracing transformative technology. Unique customer engagement techniques and efficiencies in their business to make them relevant.Panellists
Networking drinks sponsored by ubank
Details
Expand your connections at the end of the day by joining the ubank networking function inside the Exhibition Hall. Connect and catch up with friends and industry partners.
Oak Capital Afterparty
Details
Stop by Oak Capital’s stand in the exhibition to get one of the most sought-after tickets to the official after party.
The SME market and potential
Roberto Sanz, Prospa
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
We will look at SME market potential and what brokers need to know to identify and capture SME opportunities.
About the speaker
Roberto joined Prospa in 2015 with 15+ years’ experience in finance and sales which he applies to growing the extensive broking channel. Combining his passion for building high performing sales teams, his vast industry knowledge and a Master in Banking and Business Strategy, Roberto leads the intermediary channel for Australia.
Industry tech - what's next?
Renee Blethyn, Head of Broker Partnerships, NextGen
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
Open banking - preparing you and your customers for open banking.
About the speaker
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.
Sustainability and the economy
Joseph Capurso, Commonwealth Bank
This session will be recorded. Those who access the recording will be able to obtain 1 CPD hour. Session recordings will only be made available to delegates who attend the MFAA Conference in person and will be accessible via the MFAA’s Learning Hub.
Details
We will look at sustainable lending that encourages positive environmental, social and governance outcomes.
The presentation will cover the following
- Sustainability – Growth opportunities and risks for the economy
- Capital spending requirements - Opportunities in the different markets (commercial and consumer).
About the speaker
Joseph has been analysing and forecasting economies and financial markets for more than two decades.
Joseph is currently Head of International and Sustainable Economics in the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s Global Economic and Market Research team. Joseph and his team are involved in monitoring and forecasting trends in foreign economies, and drawing implications for central banks’ policy and currencies. Joseph’s team also analyse the economic and financial market impact of sustainable issues such as carbon markets, circular economy and biodiversity.
Hey! Meet your future customer, the future matters to me!
Scott Millar, Entrepreneur and Tech-Head Prodigy
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Meet Scott Millar a tech-head prodigy and a young entrepreneur taking the world by storm. But Scott is more than that – he is your next customer and he matters. Scott is a ‘Digital Native’. Scott will take a magnifying glass to the largest generation in the world, Gen Z and discuss how you can find better ways to engage them as future customers or even as employees. Scott will take you into the mind of your next generation of consumers to explore their motivators, communication styles and purchasing processes.
About the speaker
Compared to a young Steve Jobs after turning a year nine project into a thriving business, Scott finished high school and turned down university scholarships and full time job offers to run his company, BOP Industries, full time with a growing presence around the world. As a now 22 year old, Scott has recently been named one of Australia’s top 30 CEOs under 30 years of age, Asia Pacific’s Inspiring Youth Leader for 2019, Queensland’s Small Business Leader for 2021, Griffith University’s Entrepreneur in Residence and an LGBT advocate and youth leader in Australia and overseas.
You matter - feeling good functioning well
Sir John Kirwan, Mental Health Advocate, All Blacks rugby legend, co-founder of Groov
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
Through sharing his incredible and inspiring story Sir John Kirwan or ‘JK’ will share how to feel good and function well. John will share his own daily mental health plan and provide the tools to build your own. You will leave this session armed with the toolkit to find your own Groov and a renewed sense of optimism about your mental wellbeing. John will also discuss ‘Performance Care’ – why caring for your people should come first, and far from getting in the way of productivity, is actually the tool for great performance.
About the speaker
Sir John Kirwan thought speaking about his mental health would ruin his career. But when the All Blacks legend shared his journey with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ruminations, he sparked one of the most influential mental health campaigns of his generation. In 2012 he was knighted for his services to mental health. ‘JK’ is a captivating and endearing speaker who strives to leave people feeling a little better than when he found them. He’s exceptional at encouraging people to think differently about mental health and makes a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to hear him speak.
Here we go – the future is now!
Broker and industry panel
This session will not be recorded and will not be available for viewing after the event.
Details
The panel will share how they will approach the future and in particular share ideas to future proof broking businesses.
Panel speakers
Anja Pannek, CEO, MFAA
Anthony Landahl, Managing Director and Broker, Equilibria Finance
Bernadette Christie-David, Director and Broker, Atelier Wealth
Tony Carn, Chief Customer Officer, NextGen
MFAA Events | 1300 554 817 | events@mfaa.com.au | mfaa.com.au