Australia's mortgage and finance industries descended upon Melbourne Thursday night for the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia's (MFAA) 2026 State Excellence Awards.
The event — which was held at the Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne and is now in its 23rd year — honours stand-out broking professionals across Victoria and Tasmania. Categories include exceptional BDMs, service providers, community champions, commercial and asset finance brokers, regional brokers, newcomers and more.
"The Victorian and Tasmanian winners demonstrate the innovation, leadership and professionalism that continue to drive our industry forward,” said Anja Pannek, chief executive officer of the MFAA. “The calibre of submissions this year was exceptionally high, reflecting the strong culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the Victorian and Tasmanian broking community.
"These awards recognise businesses and professionals who continue to evolve alongside changing client expectations while maintaining a strong focus on trust, service and long term relationships," Pannek continued.
MFAA State Manager, Business Development for Victoria and Tasmania Maree Maditianos added to Australian Broker: "Victoria and Tasmania may be different markets, but both are underpinned by a strong broker profession built on trust, relationships and long term client outcomes.
"In Victoria, brokers have adapted to changing market conditions by strengthening client engagement, supporting refinancing opportunities and helping borrowers navigate cost of living pressures," Maditianos said. "In Tasmania, success continues to be driven by deep community connections, local expertise and the power of referrals. Across both states, the brokers thriving today are those focused on trusted advice, professionalism and lasting client relationships.”
An independent panel assessed all entries, with outcomes independently checked and confirmed by Hall Chadwick to uphold transparency and fairness throughout the judging process.
The MFAA is hosting five state awards events throughout May and June to honour exceptional broking professionals. Australian TV personality Faustina Agolley, aka "Fuzzy," is the MC for all state-based events.
Winners of the state awards will be eligible for the annual National Excellence Awards, taking place on Wednesday, 22 July at the Crown Melbourne.
