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The principal partner of this year’s Women in Finance Summit has said organisations that practise inclusivity are more likely to build trust in the community.
Ahead of the summit, Mortgage Choice’s executive manager, corporate communications, events and franchise marketing, Sally Chadwick, said that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is key to the long-term sustainability of organisations.
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“As societies change and grow, so too do consumers’ values and preferences,” she told The Adviser.
“Today, consumers’ social values are increasingly shaping their purchasing decisions, and organisations that demonstrate their commitment to inclusive practices are more likely to build trust in the community and attract customers whose values reflect those of the organisation.”
Chadwick noted that, in order to encourage more organisations to take action on DEI, it was critical to showcase how DEI practices benefit workplace culture and business success.
However, the broking industry and the wider corporate sector is not always reflective of the diversity across the broader society in Australia, particularly when it comes to the representation of women.
Indeed, the most recent edition of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia’s (MFAA) Industry Intelligence Service Report – which covered the six-month period from 1 April 2023 to 30 September 2023 – showed that out of a total of 19,872 brokers, only 26.6 per cent (or 3,547) were women.
MFAA CEO Anja Pannek recently told The Adviser that there needs to be a continued focus on increasing female representation in broking, as the industry should reflect the demographically diverse community it works with.
The Opportunities for Women 2022 – A Diversity and Inclusion Initiative report by the MFAA also revealed that a significant gap exists in the proportion of women who believe there are barriers for women working in the broking industry compared to men.
For example, while 45.5 per cent of female respondents cited unconscious beliefs about gender roles in the workplace as one of the biggest barriers, only 19.6 per cent of men held this view.
Moreover, more than a third (34.33 per cent) of female respondents said an industry culture that is not inclusive of women was a key barrier, compared to only 11.6 per cent of men.
“At Mortgage Choice, we believe the mortgage broking industry should represent the communities it serves, and we’re passionate about increasing the representation of women in broking,” Chadwick said.
In 2020, the major brokerage established its Aspire program, a talent nurturing program that offers professional development opportunities, education and events designed to help women brokers build successful and fulfilling careers in the Mortgage Choice network.
Mortgage Choice has been the principal partner of the Women in Finance Awards since 2022 and also joined the Women in Finance Summit as the principal partner in 2023.
Commenting on the partnership, Chadwick said the major brokerage is thrilled to continue this partnership in 2024.
“Conferences like the Women in Finance Summit play a crucial role in fostering a sense of community in an industry like finance where women remain underrepresented,” she said.
“This summit creates a dedicated space for women to be inspired, connect with their peers and learn from the thought leaders and role models who are elevating the finance industry.”
The Women in Finance Summit 2024 will be held on Friday, 15 November at The Star, Sydney.
Click here to book tickets and don’t miss out!
For further information, including agenda and speakers, click here.
This summit is produced by Captivate Events. If you need help planning your next event, email director Jim Hall at
[Related: Should we have gender quotas in financial services?]
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