Want to make the best submission? Previous winners give tips and tricks to help you stand out
Nominations for the 2026 Australian Mortgage Awards (AMAs) are piling in, with Australia's top mortgage brokers, brokerages, lenders, aggregators, and business development managers invited to enter before the 3 July deadline.
The prestigious annual event honours outstanding achievements across the Australian mortgage industry, recognising professionals who have made significant contributions and demonstrated exceptional expertise in their respective roles over the past 12 months.
Winners will be announced at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney on Friday, 16 October. The AMAs are presented by Mortgage Professional Australia and AustralianBroker.
The 2026 program spans 28 categories across broker, brokerage, BDM, lender, aggregator, and industry recognition, making it one of the most comprehensive awards programs in the Australian mortgage sector.
Check out the full details at the nominations portal now.
Crafting the best AMAs submission
Brokerages entering for the first time – or those looking to sharpen their submissions – would do well to heed advice from those who have been through the process before.
Maddie Walton of 2025 Bankwest New Brokerage of the Year winner Money Lounge stressed the virtue of authenticity. "One of the biggest tips is to be genuine and tell your story," she said. "Of course numbers matter, but people also want to understand who you are, what your business stands for, and the impact you're having on clients."
Walton also flagged the practical demands of the process. "Don't leave it until the last minute – it's a big process. Give yourself enough time so the submission really reflects your business and everything you've achieved over the year."
The sentiment is echoed by 2025 Broker of the Year Katie Thomas. "It's a big process. Give yourself enough time so the submission really reflects your business and everything you've achieved over the year,” she said.
Thomas was equally direct about what the judging panel does not want to read. "No generic AI waffle – tell your story in your voice. If our community wanted to be accountants they wouldn't be reading your award submissions, so don't write them like a tax return. Judges are going through so many of these submissions – don't help them fall asleep while they're doing it."
All entries must be completed via the Australian Mortgage Awards online nominations portal. Entries should focus primarily on achievements and results from the past 12 months – covering the period 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026 – and address the specific criteria for the relevant category.
There is no cost to enter, and there is no limit to the number of entries. Individuals and organisations can be entered in any or all categories for which they meet the criteria. Entries are open to all organisations in Australia.
Entries submitted incorrectly may be rejected – reasons can include not following instructions, not providing requested information, or submitting in the wrong category. Judges may, at their discretion, move entries to other appropriate categories. All judging decisions are final.
Where a nomination comes from an external party, the AMA team will contact the nominee directly to confirm they are happy to participate. All entries remain confidential and will only be shared with the judging panel, except where otherwise stated.
This year's panel judges include Helen Avis, director of finance at Specialist Mortgage; Cory Bannister, senior vice president and chief lending officer at La Trobe Financial; Adam Brown, executive of broker distribution at NAB; and Anja Pannek, chief executive of the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).
Broker and brokerage categories
The 2026 awards span broker, brokerage, industry, aggregator, BDM, lender, and national categories. Individual broker awards include:
- La Trobe Financial Broker of the Year – Commercial
- FBAA Broker of the Year – Residential
- Pepper Money Broker of the Year – Specialist Lending
- Equity-One Broker of the Year – Productivity
- Brighten Broker of the Year – Regional
- Bendigo Bank Broker Young Gun of the Year
To be eligible for Young Gun of the Year, nominees must be aged 35 or under as at 1 June 2026 and have been accredited as a broker on or after 1 June 2024.
Brokerage categories:
- MFAA Brokerage of the Year (1–5 staff)
- Resimac Brokerage of the Year (6–20 staff)
- Commonwealth Bank Brokerage of the Year (over 20 staff)
- AMP Bank Brokerage of the Year – Regional
- Bankwest New Brokerage of the Year
- Liberty Brokerage of the Year – Diversification
- Bluestone Home Loans Best Customer Service from an Individual Office
BDM and lender awards
BDM categories recognise excellence across the third-party distribution channel:
- Firstmac Best Aggregator BDM
- Finsure Best Major Bank BDM
- So Money Best Non-Major Bank BDM
- Mortgage Choice Best Non-Bank BDM
Lender and aggregator categories include:
- Infinity Capital Financial Group Bank of the Year
- Rate Money Non-Bank of the Year
- Brighten Fintech Lender of the Year
- Keystone Capital Mortgage Manager of the Year
- Prime Capital Boutique Aggregator of the Year
- MSA National Aggregator of the Year
Industry and diversity recognition
Beyond performance metrics, the 2026 program also includes awards recognising broader contributions to the industry:
- Titan Capital Best Industry Marketing Campaign
- NAB Best Industry Service
- ANZ Woman of Distinction
