Brighten reshuffles leadership team amid expansion

Publication Date: Thursday, 5 March 2026
This article originally appeared in Australian Broker

Four new state managers have been added around the country

Brighten is reshuffling its leadership team as it continues to scale. 

The non-bank lender has added four distribution managers in the newly-created role of state manager, while also promoting Jimmy Hou to the role of national partnerships manager. All report directly to Chris Meaker, Brighten’s head of distribution (pictured above right). 

“Brighten is entering a very exciting phase of growth,” Meaker told Australian Broker. “Over the past year, we’ve expanded our distribution team significantly and delivered strong settlement growth, and this new leadership structure is about making sure we continue to scale in the right way. 

“These roles strengthen our capacity where it matters most, on the ground with brokers, so they receive faster decisions, clearer policy guidance and specialist solutions delivered consistently across every state,” Meaker continued. “As brokers manage more active pipelines and increasingly specialised lending scenarios, they need faster access to decision-makers who understand local markets. A state-based leadership model allows us to shorten feedback loops, improve turnaround times and ensure consistent support across every region.”

The four state managers have been tasked with strengthening Brighten’s on-the-ground leadership in each region while also cultivating relationships with broker partners and boosting broker engagement, the company said. 

Meanwhile, Hou will focus on expanding Brighten’s footprint across broker partners and niche distribution channels nationwide. “His role is designed to complement the state-based leadership structure by identifying national partnership opportunities that can further expand Brighten’s broker reach,” the company said. 

Leadership changes at a glance

Brighten’s updated leadership structure includes: 

• Sydney-based Kay Yang as state manager of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. She has been with Brighten for more than four years, most recently serving in the role of senior BDM. 
• Brisbane-based Wendy Goulevitch as state manager of Queensland. She has been with Brighten for more than four years, most recently serving as BDM. 
• Victoria-based Nicole Woodruff as state manager of Victoria and Tasmania. She has been with the firm for nearly two years, most recently serving as BDM. 
• Perth-based Scott Chandler as state manager of Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. He has been with the firm for two years, most recently serving as senior BDM. 
• Melbourne-based Hou as national partnerships manager. He has been with the firm for nearly six years, most recently serving as senior BDM. 

The changes follow earlier hires at Brighten. Brighten recently tapped Heartland alum Sharon Yardley for the newly-created role of head of reverse mortgages, as the firm builds out its reverse mortgage arm. Yardley reports directly to Brighten Chief Executive Officer Jason Azzopardi (pictured above left). 

The non-bank also joined Mortgage Choice’s lender panel last year.

Brighten said the next phase of its strategy will center on expanding distribution and refining products across residential, commercial, self-managed super funds (SMSF) and specialist lending, while strengthening ties with brokers and BDMs across the country.

“Our focus over the next 12 months is to keep investing in our broker partnerships, broaden access to our specialist lending solutions and ensure brokers have fast, direct access to experienced decision-makers,” Meaker said. “By strengthening our local leadership and maintaining a clear broker-first mindset, we’re confident we can continue building momentum and supporting more brokers and borrowers across Australia.”