With the 2026 nominating process well underway, we caught up with one of last year’s winners to hear the key factors behind her success
The Canadian Mortgage Awards (CMAs) return on November 25 for the program’s 20th year, with Rebel Toronto the stage for one of the mortgage industry’s most prestigious awards ceremonies.
For mortgage professionals across the country, the ceremony remains a clear public marker of professional standing in an industry built largely on relationships, networking, and developing connections.
The awards recognize mortgage professionals across a swathe of different categories – including the lender underwriter of the year (prime) award, a title that recognizes the broker-facing side of one of the most crucial jobs in the industry.
Anne-Marie Koebel (pictured top), senior mortgage underwriter at RFA Mortgage Corporation, won that award at the 2025 ceremony. With the industry’s leading prime underwriters vying for that role, she told Canadian Mortgage Professional it was “amazing” to come away with the top prize. “I was surprised, humbled, and excited,” she said.
What drives an award-winning mortgage underwriter?
Underwriting occupies a critical space in the mortgage industry. Broker expectations, lender guidelines, and client timelines all converge on an underwriter’s desk – but while it can be a high-pressure position, Koebel said her enthusiasm and passion for the role were key factors behind her win last year.
“What truly drives me is the satisfaction of helping make homeownership a reality for people and their families,” she said. “I work hard to bring a collaborative, transparent, and customer-first approach to every relationship I build, and I’m incredibly grateful that my industry partners and peers value that approach enough to have taken the time to nominate me.”
That nomination process is central to how the CMAs work, with the window still open (until August 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET) for this year’s awards.
Submissions can come from brokers, colleagues, or employers, with no fee attached and self-nomination permitted.
How broker trust defines the underwriting relationship
Koebel said her underwriting philosophy is based around the premise that brokers and underwriters may be on opposite sides of the file, but they’re both focused on achieving an optimal solution for their clients.
“I attribute much of my success to the trust I’ve earned from my broker partners and the understanding that we’re working toward the same goal: delivering the best possible outcome for our mutual clients,” she said.
“My number one priority is to be a collaborative partner. To me, that means communicating openly, applying guidelines with sound judgement, and helping brokers navigate challenges in a way that makes the process easier for them and less stressful for their clients.”
A recognition that resonates through the industry
Other Canadian Mortgage Awards winners have highlighted the positive impact the recognition has had on their careers – both within the industry and beyond.
For Koebel, the award bolstered her professional standing as well as boosting existing relationships with broker partners.
“I believe that this recognition has helped further strengthen my reputation in the mortgage industry,” she said. “More importantly, I believe that it has reinforced the trust and relationships I’ve built with my broker partners – many of whom have come to see me as a go-to resource.”
As always, this year’s CMA field is shaping up to be a competitive one – and Koebel said the quality and depth of competition she faced in last year’s event made the win even more rewarding.
“Receiving this award really was an honour, especially knowing the calibre of underwriters who were nominated alongside me,” she said. “I look forward to continuing to support my brokers and contributing to the ongoing success of RFA.”
The 2026 ceremony spans 26 categories judged through a five-stage process, set to showcase some of the leading figures from across the mortgage industry.
Excellence Awardees – the final nominees in each category – are to be revealed in September, with winners to be announced at the much-anticipated November ceremony, a glitzy event that will also feature a cocktail reception, dinner banquet, and post-awards celebration.
Don’t hesitate to get your nominations in for one of the most unmissable mortgage industry events of the year.
Make sure to get all the latest news to your inbox on Canada’s mortgage and housing markets by signing up for our free daily newsletter here.
