The Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA) is leading an industry-first approach to connected broker support, bringing together education, technology, compliance, and business support to help brokers build sustainable businesses.
Opening its National Industry Conference in Sydney on 29 October, FBAA CEO Leo Gagic said feedback from members, brokers and the wider industry was shaping the association’s direction.
“Brokers want a clearer path from where they are today to where they want to be,” Mr Gagic said.
“We’ve listened to what’s useful, where the pressure is and what could work better. We’re taking the lead in turning that feedback into practical solutions.”
Mr Gagic said competing demands on brokers’ time presented an opportunity for the industry to simplify its support.
“Too many events, too many awards and too little time. That’s part of what we’re hearing,” he said.
“Whether we’re an association, aggregator, lender or service provider, we need to make every investment of a broker’s time worthwhile.”
The approach connects three pillars: growth; risk and compliance; and governance and culture, with support suited to each business’s size, complexity, and stage of development.
“Writing more business is a critical part of the equation, however, profitability, systems, accountability, and good customer outcomes need to keep pace,” Mr Gagic said.
“A five-broker business needs a different approach from a 200-broker aggregation group. The goal is to help each grow responsibly without unnecessary cost or complexity.”
The FBAA’s expanded leadership team supports this direction. Mary-Helen Lockton leads membership and experience; Nancy Sundar leads quality assurance and compliance; Kirrily Jones leads digital transformation and innovation; Joanna James oversees commercial strategy and partnerships; and Cara Hayward leads financial strategy.
“We’ve brought these capabilities together, so broker feedback informs how we invest and what we deliver,” Mr Gagic said.
“The test is whether brokers find the support they need more easily and use it to build stronger businesses.”
