Australian mortgage brokers are set to deal with a familiar – and firmly enforcement‑minded – leader at the corporate watchdog, with Deputy Chair Sarah Court appointed as the next chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), starting 1 June 2026.
The appointment comes as ASIC’s 2026 agenda is being shaped by cost‑of‑living pressures, rising household debt, rapid advances in AI, and escalating scam activity.
For brokers, the move signals continuity rather than a reset in ASIC’s approach. Court currently leads the commission’s enforcement and investigation work, with a focus on enforcement, scams, small business, insolvency, climate disclosure and greenwashing – all areas that intersect with lending, advice, and disclosure obligations.
Outgoing ASIC chair Joe Longo, who told Treasury in June he would not seek an extension, said the agency would remain in safe hands.
“Sarah is an exceptional regulator with a strong record in enforcement that demonstrates her integrity and impact,” Longo said in a media release.
“Her work as ASIC’s deputy chair has been instrumental to the success of the agency’s structural transformation that has strengthened our enforcement posture and work, leading to better outcomes for consumers and a fairer financial system.
“ASIC will be in very capable hands under her leadership. Over the coming months, I will support Sarah, the commission, and all our staff to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.”
Court has been an ASIC deputy chair since 1 June 2021 and has held senior statutory appointments across major economic and corporate regulators for more than 17 years. She represents ASIC on key national bodies including the Council of Financial Regulators and the National Anti‑Scam Centre Steering Group, and participates internationally in the OECD Committee for Financial Markets and Corporate Governance Committee.
Before ASIC, Court served three terms as a commissioner at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), following senior roles at the Australian Government Solicitor overseeing major competition, consumer, and administrative law litigation.
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