2022 Australian of the Year, Dylan Alcott AO, is one of worlds most successful and well recognised Paralympians, media personalities and disability advocates. In 2021 he became the only male in any form of tennis to win the 'Golden Slam', winning the Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open Championships and the Paralympic Gold Medal, and he is a Paralympic Gold Medallist in two different sports, wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball. He is a 23-time Grand Slam champion in Quad Wheelchair Tennis.
Born with a tumor wrapped around his spinal cord, Dylan survived a 3.5 year battle to live and has been achieving ever since. Since retiring from professional tennis Dylan has not slowed down, continuing his work as a global keynote speaker as well as pursuing a career in acting - already being cast in australia cult-classic BUMP and world renowned theater show The Rocky Horror Show. His drive is stronger than even when it comes to his purpose and mission: ‘to change perceptions so people with disability all over the world can live the lives they deserve to live’.
In 2017, Dylan launched the Dylan Alcott Foundation, providing grants, scholarships and mentoring to young Australians with disability to eliminate the barriers of entry to get involved in sports, study, training, employment and business ownership. In the same year, he co-founded consultancy firm Get Skilled Access with a purpose to create a new generation of disability inclusion that is equitable for all. More recently, he has founded and launched The Field Jobs – a dedicated platform to establish pathways between job seekers with a Disability and employers of all types in the marketplace and through his Foundation developed and launched the Shift 20 Initiative with the objective of significantly increasing inclusion and participation for people with disability in mainstream advertising all around the world. He is also the founder of the worlds only fully disability inclusive music festival called Ability Fest.
With over 23 years of experience, Melissa is a highly respected mortgage broker and an influential voice in the finance industry. She founded Smart Lending in 2003, which has grown to become an award-winning brokerage, renowned for streamlining the home loan process and helping clients across Australia achieve their dreams of home ownership.
Melissa is a champion for women in finance and has been deeply involved with the MFAA for over 15 years, serving as a non-executive director, Deputy Chair, and Chair of the governance committee during the pivotal Royale Commission. She has earned numerous accolades throughout her career, including the prestigious MFAA National Excellence Award for Mortgage Credit Adviser of the Year in 2014, the only female to achieve this award in two decades.
Under her leadership, Melissa and her team recently celebrated a major milestone, winning the 2024 MFAA Best Customer Service Office Award for VIC/TAS. A sought-after speaker, facilitator and panellist, Melissa continues to mentor and inspire brokers, sharing her expertise on building a successful business while balance family life.
Candice Joseph joined the Entourage team in March 2022, bringing over a decade of experience in the finance industry. After years of working within the constraints of a single Bank, Candice made the move to broking to truly deliver on the promise of tailored solutions for her clients. With access to a panel of over 60 lenders, she finds it liberating to offer a range of options that genuinely meet her clients’ unique needs.
Now, as Director of Entourage Byron Bay, Candice has found a renewed sense of purpose, driving her to deliver even greater outcomes for her clients and lead her team with a fresh perspective and determination. Specialising in supporting executives, entrepreneurs, lawyers, medical professionals, and other high-net-worth clients, Candice has a reputation for managing complex financial affairs with precision and care. Her strong background in Private Banking and her knack for financial modelling and problem-solving allow her to navigate even the most intricate lending scenarios with confidence.
Candice thrives on understanding her clients' journeys, where they are now and where they want to be. She has a talent for breaking down complicated financial situations into simple, actionable plans, ensuring her clients feel supported and empowered throughout the process. For Candice, the most rewarding part of her work is forming genuine connections with her clients and their families while helping them achieve their financial and lifestyle goals.
As a seasoned broker and the proud owner of a boutique mortgage brokerage firm, Shelley has seamlessly combined an extensive background in property management with a degree in commerce to carve out a successful career in mortgage brokering. This path was an obvious choice for Shelley, given her passion for helping clients navigate the complex world of finance to achieve their property and investment goals.
Specialising in the investor, construction and SMSF sectors, the firm has recently expanded into the commercial and business finance arena, allowing for a broader range of tailored solutions. Her boutique approach ensures that each client receives personalised attention and expert advice, resulting in customised financial strategies designed to meet unique needs.
The firm is built on a foundation of strong morale and teamwork, fostering a supportive environment that promotes both personal and professional growth. Shelley prides herself on creating lasting relationships with clients, understanding their unique objectives, and guiding them through every step of their financial journey. Her commitment to excellence and personalised service has cemented her reputation as a trusted adviser in the mortgage brokering industry.
Christian Paterson doesn’t believe brokers need to be taught how to sell or write loans to go to the next level. What many brokers truly need is support and guidance in running a sound mortgage broking business. Growth is often misunderstood as simply closing more deals, but real, sustainable growth—the kind that gives you both the business and lifestyle you’ve been striving for—starts with building solid foundations and day-to-day operations.
Christian has been immersed in the mortgage broking industry since 2006, with a career spanning roles as a broker, operations manager, and now as a hands-on coach dedicated to helping brokers succeed. His journey began with the common belief that success came from working harder—a mindset he soon realised often leads to burnout rather than lasting results.
Through personal experience, Christian discovered the transformative power of working smarter. By implementing streamlined systems, using human resources effectively, and adopting simple technologies, he learnt how to achieve more while working less.
But Christian doesn’t just share this knowledge from the sidelines—he rolls up his sleeves and works alongside brokers to help them implement real, lasting change where it matters most: in their businesses and day-to-day operations. With a focus on practical, actionable steps, Christian empowers brokers to improve their operations immediately, providing tools and strategies they can take away and put into practice straight away.
Rob Roper is the Founder and Director of Trusted Finance, the most followed Australian company across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, You Tube, LinkedIn and Snapchat at over 1,500,000 people. Rob motivates small business owners, key company stakeholders and decision makers to take control of lead generation, increasing their bottom line.
In only 36 months, Rob has gained over 50,000 Home Buyer Leads, converting to over $1 billion in settled mortgages, without spending even $1 on advertising.
As a leader in the field of social media marketing, Rob's innovative approach is based on proven educational practices designed to engage, enhance and encourage home buyers to take action. Rob enables companies to generate more revenue by revealing the secrets that will build their brand awareness on social media, working with solo broker operators through to Australia's largest Aggregators.
Rob is an expert in forging the shift in mindset needed to engage consumers organically. His energetic approach coupled with his passion for education makes for a highly practical session.
