Login
ISCOVER
The major aggregator is calling on the industry to be proactive in building strong communities for women.
Aggregation group Connective has said that the industry must work collectively to ensure that the broking industry is a “thriving environment where women can learn and excel”.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Looking for more benefits? Become a Premium Member.
The aggregator’s strategic partnerships manager Belinda Devlin made the call after the group hosted its inaugural Empower Morning Tea in Melbourne on Wednesday (9 October), an event bringing together female brokers who had been part of its eighth annual Empower Program.
The Empower Program aims to “advance and connect” female brokers across the country and help level the playing field for female brokers, who form a minority in the industry.
According to figures from the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), around a quarter of brokers are women, with 28 per cent of Connective members being female.
Devlin said: “For far too long high-performing female brokers have had to navigate multiple barriers in a male-dominated field, from limited access to mentoring or advice, to minimal targeted guidance. It’s evolving but there’s still a long way to go and by providing the tools and opportunities, we can help them reach their full potential.
“Collectively, we must do more to create a thriving environment where women can learn and excel. We know that when women support women, they can achieve incredible things.”
Devlin said that groups like Connective’s Empower Program, which work to provide “a well-rounded support system that goes beyond traditional industry resources” have been helping better support female brokers.
The strategic partnerships manager said that creating an environment where women can network with their female peers and feel confident to ask questions is important for building a supportive and inclusive industry.
She said: “This year’s program has shown that there is a strong demand for more face-to-face as well as digital events that develop and support women in the broking industry. These events are crucial for creating a sense of community and belonging, and that’s what we’re about at Connective.”
Speaking at the event on Wednesday was MFAA CEO Anja Pannek, who reflected on her experiences working in finance, and Jo Wagstaff, an international leadership coach, who discussed being an authentic leader and presented a transformational roadmap to redefine success.
Pulling on learnings from the Empower Program 2024, Connective found that female brokers believed success could come from:
- Building a network of like-minded individuals who share similar values and can shape your perspective, opportunities, and improve overall wellbeing
- Attending business and networking events to broaden your network and practice continual learning
- Being disciplined with time management for work/life balance and prioritising high-value tasks that no one else can do for you while learning to delegate
- Communicating proactively with clients, referrers, and lenders and providing upfront information to avoid any misunderstandings and save time
- Giving yourself permission to accept help and considering outsourcing or bringing in additional resources rather than taking on everything yourself.
- Learning to speak to yourself kindly, even if you don’t tick off everything on your to-do list for the day.
Devlin said: “Women are increasingly taking on leadership roles in the broking industry. The Empower Program is designed to equip our female community with the tools they need to succeed by offering opportunities for professional growth, networking and mentorship.”
The Empower Morning Tea was held ahead of Connective’s National Conference, taking place in Melbourne on 9–10 October.
She said: “The scale of such conferences can be quite intimidating for both experienced brokers and first-timers. We want women brokers attending our National Conference, especially the ones who are new to Connective, to build genuine connections before walking into a busy conference room, feeling prepared and confident.”
You can find out more about how female brokers can capitalise on their professional networks to achieve their career goals at the Women in Finance Summit 2024.
At the summit, delegates will hear top business advice from female CEOs in the finance industry, as well as keynote speakers and industry experts, who will provide practical tips on how women can ‘build their board’ to propel their career goals.
To hear more, come along to the Women in Finance Summit 2024.
It will be held on Friday, 15 November at The Star, Sydney.
Click here to book your tickets and don’t miss out!
For more 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: How to cultivate strategic alliances in the workplace]
JOIN THE DISCUSSION