Specialist lender expands brand profile by partnering with NRL legend as it targets self-employed lending market
Specialist non-bank lender RedZed has named former NRL player and current Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater (pictured top) as its brand ambassador, in an arrangement aimed at raising awareness of its lending products among self-employed Australians.
The partnership was announced today as Slater enters his fifth season as head coach of the Maroons ahead of the 2026 State of Origin series. It builds on RedZed's One Trick campaign, which ran in 2025.
RedZed, which focuses exclusively on self-employed borrowers, reports having issued $14 billion in loans to more than 30,000 clients across residential, commercial and self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) products.
The lender's chief sales and marketing officer cited the alignment between Slater's profile and its target customer base as the basis for the appointment.
"Billy's success mirrors values held by self-employed Australians: drive, passion, humility, and persistence," said Natalie Irvine (pictured right), chief sales and marketing officer at RedZed. "So often, we focus on the big stories, the big multinational giants, but the economy is built on the work of small business owners who have backed themselves in.
"Through his career, Billy has shown what can be achieved with clarity of purpose and a strong work ethic. That message is incredibly powerful for self-employed Australians, and we're proud to partner with someone who represents those values so authentically."
Slater, who will participate in campaigns and initiatives under the ambassadorship, pointed to parallels between elite sport and business ownership.
"We lean on sports to inspire us, but there are inspirational stories from people that dive into their passion and take the leap and go after what they believe in," he said. "I think we can draw inspiration from those stories. That leap of faith, that backing yourself and going after what you believe in and having passion towards it. Hopefully, we can create some inspiration for people to go out there and chase that dream."
RedZed's chief executive, Calvin Cordle (pictured right), echoed the sentiment, connecting the mindset of self-employed borrowers with that of professional athletes.
"Self-employed Australians understand what it means to take risks, stay focused and keep showing up, and Billy's career is a clear reflection of that same commitment," Cordle said. "Billy brings more than just sporting success; he brings a perspective on leadership, teamwork and long-term thinking that we believe resonates strongly with the self-employed community."
RedZed did not disclose the financial terms of the ambassadorship. The lender is privately held and operates as a non-bank, offering mortgage products to borrowers who fall outside standard serviceability assessments due to their employment structure.
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