MFAA Partners with COSBOA to Increase Women in Australian Broking World

• Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia is working with Council of Small Business Organisations Australia
• The partnership is taking place with an intent towards developing women leaders in the broking world

A new partnership is taking shape to focus on supporting women in the industry and promoting greater gender diversity. The Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) are working together to help develop female leaders in the broking world.

Their initiative entitled as ‘She Means Business’ will start as a pilot program, backed by funding from the federal government. This program will provide up to 10 MFAA member businesses with support in business growth and leadership skills. It’s open to mortgage and finance broking companies in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria that have fewer than 20 employees.

To join, businesses need to be MFAA members and share a genuine interest in improving gender diversity in the industry. People selected to take part will go through training that includes interviews, in-person mentoring, and ongoing feedback. The goal is to help make the industry more comprehensive and innovative.

In a statement, MFAA CEO Anja Pannek said, “The latest 2025 Value of Mortgage and Finance Broking report confirms that female participation in the profession remains flat at 27 per cent – unchanged since 2018. Our industry is built on small businesses, and this pilot is an important further step toward shifting that statistic. By supporting brokerages with a passion for improving gender diversity, we’re helping to create a more inclusive profession and positioning mortgage and finance broking as a viable, rewarding career path for women.”

The pilot is scheduled to run from June 2025 through March 2026. Once it wraps up, the organizations involved will suggest expanding the program to other industries. People interested can submit their applications through the MFAA website, with the deadline being June 6.