Winners of the Better Business Awards 2022 NSW/ACT celebrated!

More than 500 members of the industry glammed up and turned up at the awards ceremony to cheer on the 135 finalists contesting to win 21 awards, including the coveted Broker of the Year award.

There was light and laughter throughout the evening as stand-up comedian and actor Dave Thornton entertained the audience, while members of the broking industry let their hair down and connected with their peers after two years of stop-start lockdowns and numerous challenges.

Shore Financial senior credit adviser Christian Stevens took home the award for Best Residential Broker NSW/ACT for 2022. As the highest-scoring individual broker winner at this year’s awards, he was also named Broker of the Year for NSW/ACT.

After being crowned Finance Broker of the Year 2021 at the Australian Broking Awards last year, First Choice Mortgage Brokers broker director Tony Bice repeated his success at the Better Business Awards, winning Best Finance Broker in NSW/ACT for adding value to his clients through new innovations and a diversified approach.

No stranger to winning awards at the Better Business Awards, Money Links director Brenden Lowbridge picked up the Best Regional Broker award this year. He won the same award in 2017. He was praised for recording significant transactions and volumes, demonstrating clear points of difference, and focusing on training and mentoring.

The awards also acknowledged lender BDMs for their unrelenting support of brokers, and superior work ethic and business service, with Macquarie Bank’s Nicholas Ganis named Best Lender BDM (Bank), and Prime Capital’s Lydia Li crowned Best Lender BDM (Non-Bank).

Meanwhile, Australian Finance Group (AFG) partnerships manager Haley Bellamy was awarded the Best Aggregator BDM award after standing out from the crowd for her level of care for her broker partners and receiving positive feedback from those in her network.

Scarlett Financial BDM Shikha Shah won the Best Loan Administrator award after impressing the judges with her submission.

The rising stars of tomorrow in broking were also celebrated, with BE Astute director Blake Edwards named Best Newcomer.

Customer service is the cornerstone of broking and this was exemplified by boutique mortgage and property investment advice company Stoneturn, whose founder, Alycia Inglis, was named this year’s Best Customer Service (Individual) winner. She received applause for her outstanding client due diligence as well as her women’s advocacy.

Brokers were also rewarded for giving back to the industry, with Classic Mentoring & Coaching founder and mentor Nancy Youssef conferred the Thought Leader of the Year title. Judges noted the proven impact of her programs and podcasts, her championing of the broker channel, as well as funds raised for overseas development.

When it came to mentors, Finsure Finance & Insurance national learning and development manager Anthony Zveglic won the Mentor of the Year award for his structured, accessible, and valuable mentoring system.

Inspire Realty founder and chief executive Colin Lee repeated his success from the 2021 Australian Broking Awards (where he was recognised for his work in coaching other men to improve their mental health) by winning the Wellness Advocate of the Year award at the Better Business Awards.

He was lauded for his inspiring community initiatives that have translated into an improved working environment and outcome for clients, as well as his fundraising.

MoneyQuest Penrith & Blue Mountains’ lending specialist Peita Davies was the Editor’s Choice pick this year, winning the trophy in her 20th year of business. Ms Davies was celebrated for demonstrating leadership, improving the financial literacy of her clients, and for mentoring the next generation of mortgage brokers.

Group awards

It was not just individuals in the broking industry who were recognised for their hard work and dedication throughout last year. Broking groups were also celebrated for their teamwork.

Loan Market Double Bay (led by director Daniel Pynn) won Best Branded Office for its dedication to growth and success, while Wisebuy Group triumphed with the Best Regional Office award for its successful business model.

Mortgage Advice Bureau Sydney, which is headed by managing director Mark Kevin, received the Best New Office award, with the judges noting its strong results just over a year after establishment.

It was an evening of double victories for Home Loan Experts – headed by CEO Alan Hemmings – which won both Best Customer Service (Office), and Best Independent Office (more than five brokers).

After winning the Best Customer Service (Office) award in 2021, Zippy Financial – headed up by principal broker Louisa Sanghera – nabbed the Best Independent Office (five brokers or less) award this year.

Birdie Wealth (led by director and credit adviser Nathan Smith) accepted the Best Community Engagement Program accolade (after winning the Social and Community Engagement Program of the Year award at the 2021 Australian Broking Awards) for supporting anti-violence organisation Enough is Enough and tying the sponsorship with business growth.

Congratulations to all of this year’s NSW/ACT winners!

Better Business Summit – next stop: Adelaide

The 2022 Better Business Summit will proceed to Adelaide next week after wrapping up a successful summit in Sydney.

Themed “Digital Broker”, a variety of speakers will provide brokers with the tools and knowledge to harness technology to increase efficiencies and succeed in their businesses.

The Better Business Summit 2022 will be held in the following locations in May and June:

• Adelaide, 12 May 2022 at the Adelaide Convention Centre
• Perth, 19 May 2022 at Crown Towers
• Melbourne, 2 June 2022 at Crown Towers

Click here to buy tickets to the summit for $249 and make sure you don’t miss out!

Alternatively, attend the summit for FREE by becoming a member of The Adviser. Click here to learn more.

For more information about the 2022 Better Business Summit including speakers and agenda, click here.

[Related: Better Business Summit 2022 to reveal tech tools of tomorrow]