Broker association partners with COSBOA's She Means Business pilot program
The Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) is teaming up with the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) to tackle persistently low female representation in the broking industry.
Through COSBOA’s She Means Business pilot – a federally funded program targeting small business gender diversity – up to 10 MFAA member businesses across NSW, Victoria, and Queensland will receive tailored leadership development and funding support.
The pilot is open to brokerages with fewer than 20 employees, with a focus on business owners committed to improving gender diversity.
MFAA chief executive Anja Pannek (pictured) said the initiative is a strategic response to stagnant female participation in broking, which remains at just 27%, unchanged since 2018.
“Our industry is built on small businesses, and this pilot is an important further step toward shifting that statistic,” Pannek said. “We’re helping to create a more inclusive profession and positioning mortgage and finance broking as a viable, rewarding career path for women.”
Participants will gain access to mentoring, customised training, and policy-shaping discussions. COSBOA’s head of programs, Nicole Walsh, said the goal was more than representation.
“She Means Business is about more than visibility – it’s about investment,” she said.
The pilot will run from June 2025 to March 2026, with applications closing 6 June and successful applicants notified by 20 June.
