Brighten Broker

Chris has over 21 years of experience in the finance industry with a focus on lending, business development and sales management.

Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for La Trobe Financial, where he was an executive general manager and head of origination channels. Previously, he worked for Pepper Financial Services Group as state manager and senior business development manager.

Chris holds a diploma of finance and mortgage broking.

Nick brings over four years of hands-on experience in the finance industry, with a particular focus on reverse mortgages. He has extensive experience originating reverse mortgage loans as a broker with Reverse Mortgage Finance Solutions and Reverse Mortgages NSW, and previously managed key accounts across Australia for Gilbarco Veeder-Root. 
 
Passionate about reverse mortgages, Nick combines his expertise in sales, customer service, and relationship management to deliver tailored solutions for clients. 

Ben has 20 years of experience in the finance industry with a focus on commercial lending, business development and sales management.

Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for Pepper Money, where he was the National Sales Manager of Commercial, leading their commercial & SMSF channel. Ben has held prior roles in both banks and non-banks in Business Development and Business Banking.

Sharon is a highly experienced financial services executive with over 25 years in the industry. Prior to joining Brighten, she served as Chief Compliance and Sustainability Officer at Heartland Bank Australia and as General Manager of Heartland Finance, Australia’s largest reverse mortgage provider.

Throughout her career, Sharon has held senior roles spanning Operations, Distribution, Marketing, Compliance, Risk, and Communications. She is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading experts in reverse mortgages and has successfully delivered strategic initiatives and large-scale transformation programs across multiple areas of financial services.

Sharon holds a Master of Business Administration from Swinburne University of Technology and is a member of the Golden Key Honour Society. She is a Fellow of FINSIA, a Signatory to the Banking and Financial Services Oath, and previously served as a Judge for the Australian Mortgage Awards from 2020 to 2024.

Jimmy has over 12 years’ experience in Banking and Finance.

Prior to joining Brighten, Jimmy worked for BC Securities as a Relationship Manager working directly with consumers in their direct channel. Jimmy started his career with Standard Chartered Bank then moved into Mortgage Broking before working for the NAB in Credit Assessment. Jimmy has a proven track record of delivery across customer service, credit risk and assessment, and relationship management.

Jimmy holds a Master’s Degree in Science from the University of Bridgeport in the USA, as well as a Bachelor Degree in Engineering from Toyama University in Japan and a Cert IV in Mortgage Broking and Finance.

Jay has over 10 years of experience in Property and Credit Finance.

Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for La Trobe Financial as a Platinum Partners Credit Analyst. Previously, he worked for McGrath Estate Agents as a Senior Property Associate & Auctioneer.

Kay has over 11 years’ experience in the Finance Services industry.

Prior to joining Brighten, Kay worked for St.George Bank as a Mobile Lending Manager. Prior to that, she worked for NAB as a Home Lending Specialist. Previously, she worked for Linc at Law as a Conveyancing Paralegal, mainly responsible for Settlement. Kay is also a fully licensed conveyancer in New South Wales.

Kay holds a Master of Commerce – Double Major in Finance and Banking from the University of Sydney.

Lewis has over 9 years of experience in the financial services industry across several roles.
Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for Commonwealth Bank as a Relationship Manager. Previously, he started off working as a mortgage broker for three years.
Lewis holds a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University.

With over a decade of experience in the banking and finance industry, Prashanth has built his career supporting brokers and lending professionals through a combination of credit expertise and business development. He has held key roles at major institutions including Macquarie Bank and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) in credit management and later transitioned to a Business Development Manager role at AFG.

Prashanth’s strong background in credit gives him a unique perspective when assessing scenarios, allowing him to provide practical coaching, strategic guidance, and support to brokers navigating complex lending environments. Prashanth is passionate about enabling brokers to succeed by combining deep industry knowledge with a hands-on, solutions-focused approach.

Abhi has more than seven years of experience across commercial and mortgage lending, with a background spanning Bridgit, Suncorp Bank, Macquarie Group, Westpac, ANZ, AMP Capital and Commonwealth Bank.

She brings strong expertise in relationship management, credit assessment and end‑to‑end lending processes, working closely with brokers, clients and internal credit teams.

Abhi is a graduate of Penrith Selective High School and holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics from the University of New South Wales.

If she wasn’t in lending, she would be pursuing a career as a wedding planner or running his own bakery.

Daryl has over 7 years of experience in finance, specialising in Residential and Commercial Lending, including construction, development, and SMSF lending. He is highly regarded for structuring tailored solutions that address diverse client needs while equipping brokers with the tools and knowledge to succeed.

Before joining Brighten, Daryl was Senior Manager of Client Partnerships at La Trobe Financial, where he worked closely with brokers and business partners to deliver bespoke lending solutions and foster long-term relationships. Earlier in his career, he spent 18 years as a professional athlete, competing at the highest level. The resilience, discipline, and teamwork developed during this time continue to shape his leadership style and client-focused approach in the lending industry.

With more than 23 years of experience in finance and lending, Liz brings deep industry knowledge and a genuine understanding of what brokers need to succeed.

For 15 years, Liz ran her own Financial Planning and Mortgage Broking business, alongside a training and publishing company in the Financial Planning sector. Following her time in self-employment, she spent two years with AFG Aggregation as an RM/BDM before moving to Resimac, where she supported brokers across NSW and ACT for more than six years.

Her career has given her a unique perspective, having been a broker, practice manager, trainer, and managing her own accounts department, all while raising a family. This breadth of experience means Liz truly understands the challenges and opportunities brokers face every day.

Liz holds a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management.

With 21 years of experience in banking and finance, Joanne brings deep expertise in commercial and business lending, underpinned by a strong relationship‑driven approach. Her career includes over seven years as a Senior Business Banking Manager at ANZ, where she focused on business development and supporting complex client needs.

Prior to this, she spent nearly eight years as an Owner Manager at Bank of Queensland, further strengthening her hands‑on experience working closely with SME clients. Joanne has held senior relationship roles at HSBC as a Premier Relationship Manager, and earlier in her career worked as a Customer Consultant with Westpac in New Zealand. This diverse background across major banks and relationship‑led roles has shaped her ability to connect with clients, build trust quickly, and manage long‑term commercial relationships. Known for her strong people skills and relationship management capability, Joanne works closely with brokers to understand their clients’ commercial needs and deliver practical, well‑structured lending solutions. She holds a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University, supporting her strong technical and analytical foundation in commercial finance. If Joanne wasn’t in lending, she’d be a baker creating all kinds of sweet treats.

Nicole has over 24 years of experience in financial services, with an extensive background as both a BDM and credit manager for broker introduced business.

Prior to joining Brighten, she worked for AMP Bank as a Business Development Manager. Previously, she worked for Pepper Money. Nicole holds a Cert 4 and Diploma in Finance & Mortgage Broking.

With more than 15 years of experience across the finance industry, Nicole brings in-depth experience and a thorough understanding of the lending landscape to her role as Senior Business Development Manager at Brighten. With experience across various roles at a major lender, she brings a complete and practical perspective to the lending journey.

Before joining Brighten, Nicole served as a BDM at AFG, where she supported brokers throughout Victoria and Queensland. She played a key role in helping brokers navigate the intricacies of residential and commercial lending across a broad panel of lenders, earning a reputation as a trusted and knowledgeable partner.

With 15 years of experience in the finance and lending industry, Francois brings a strong blend of credit expertise and business development capability. His background spans credit analysis and lending-focused business development roles, giving him a well‑rounded understanding of deal structuring, risk assessment, and broker support.

Francois is known for his strong networking skills and ability to clearly break down credit scenarios, helping brokers navigate policy and structure solutions with confidence. He is an effective presenter and collaborator, with a natural ability to build and lead strong internal and external relationships. His contributions have been recognised through internal banking awards, reflecting his focus on performance, teamwork, and service excellence. His experience across both credit and relationship‑led roles allows him to deliver practical, commercially sound outcomes while maintaining a strong partnership approach with brokers. If Francois wasn’t in lending, he’d be a dog trainer.

Rochelle has worked in the finance industry for 18 years, spending the past four years in broker distribution.  

She has been a BDM at Bluestone and prior to that held a variety of roles in retail banking at Commonwealth Bank, including Lending and Branch Manager before becoming Relationship Manager Third Party Banking.

Rochelle is relentlessly customer focused, with strong interpersonal skills and driven to get results. Her experience in the retail channel and in leadership roles has given her the resilience and knowledge to excel in the industry.  

Rochelle was a finalist for The Adviser Better Business Best Lender BDM Award in 2024.

She holds a Certificate IV in Finance & Mortgage Broking and is also partway through a Bachelor of Business Management qualification.

Stephanie brings over 15 years of experience in the banking and finance industry. Before joining Brighten, she held the role of Home Finance Manager at Westpac, where she developed strong expertise in residential lending while delivering exceptional customer service and building long-term client relationships.

Stephanie holds a Diploma and Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking and Finance, as well as a Master’s degree in Logistics Management from the University of Sydney.

Wendy has over 20 years’ experience in the mortgage & finance industry.

Prior to joining Brighten, she worked for Infinity Group Australia as a Personal Banker.
Previously, Wendy worked for Mortgage Ezy in Operations. Prior to that, she worked for Better Choice Home Loans as a Business Development Manager.

Wendy holds a Certificate III in Business, Office Administration.

Nicola brings more than 15 years of experience in banking and finance, with expertise spanning customer service, mortgage solutions, and business development. She began her career at CUA in Mortgage Retention and Solutions, later moving to ANZ as a Personal Banker. Most recently, she was a Business Development Manager at Granite Home Loans, where she worked closely with brokers to strengthen relationships and deliver tailored client solutions.

With her deep knowledge across both banking and non-bank lending, Nicola is well-positioned to support brokers in achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients.

With 25 years of experience in the finance industry, Brett brings extensive knowledge across residential, commercial, and third‑party lending. His career spans major roles at NAB over two decades, where he built deep expertise in both retail and commercial banking. He later expanded his industry perspective with four years at Aussie and three years at La Trobe Financial, strengthening his credit skills and broadening his understanding of diverse lending environments. 

Brett is known for his strong relationship‑building abilities, exceptional credit knowledge, and broad industry insight across multiple lending segments. His practical, solutions‑focused approach has made him a trusted resource for brokers navigating complex scenarios. He holds an RG146 certification, a Financial Planning degree, and a Certificate IV in Mortgage & Finance Broking, demonstrating his commitment to professional capability and continuous learning. If Brett wasn’t in lending, he’d be a butcher.

Kristina brings 14 years of experience in the finance industry, developing deep expertise across lending, broking, and business development. Her career began in banking as a Lending Specialist with the Bank of Queensland, where she strengthened her credit knowledge. She went on to run her own brokerage firm from 2019 to 2021, gaining firsthand insight into the full customer and broker experience. Before joining Brighten, Kristina spent five successful years as a BDM at Firstmac, where she built strong broker relationships and became known for her credit acumen and her ability to navigate complex scenarios. Her performance was recognised through multiple industry awards, including Home BDM of the Year with her previous employer in both 2024 and 2025. Kristina’s strengths include relationship building, a strong understanding of credit, and specialised experience in SMSF lending. These capabilities, combined with her hands-on background across several lending roles, make her a trusted partner for brokers seeking clear guidance and practical solutions. She holds a Certificate IV and a Diploma in Mortgage Broking, supporting her commitment to continued professional excellence. If Kristina wasn’t in lending, she'd be on a boat somewhere.

Scott has 17 years of industry experience working in Finance, including working for AFG and multiple Big 4 lenders - with a focus on Residential & Commercial Lending, Business Development and supporting Brokers to grow their businesses. 

Prior to joining Brighten Home Loans, Scott was the Business Relationship Manager for AFG Home Loans in WA - looking after multiple Residential Non-Bank products including the Brighten offering, along with supporting the White Label Commercial offerings.
Scott has also won The Adviser's, Better Business Awards - Best Lender BDM (Non-Bank) 2024 WA award.

With 19 years of experience in the banking industry, Elisia brings a deep understanding of broker support, relationship management, and lending operations. Prior to joining Brighten, she worked as a Business Development Manager at P&N Bank from 2022, where she partnered closely with brokers and supported their lending growth. Before moving into a BDM role, Elisia spent several years within broker support teams across a range of positions, working closely with WA brokers. This hands‑on experience has given her strong insight into broker needs, lending workflows, and the importance of clear, responsive support throughout the loan process. Elisia combines her frontline BDM experience with a solid operational background, allowing her to provide practical guidance and build trusted, long‑term broker relationships. She holds a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking, supporting her strong foundation in lending and broker engagement.

With over a decade of experience in the mortgage industry, Hannah has demonstrated expertise across various roles. She began her career as a Broker Support Officer, transitioned to a Home Loan Specialist in the direct space, and later excelled as a Relationship Manager in third-party distribution. Hannah's extensive experience working with both brokers and customers has provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the mortgage process.

Hannah holds several qualifications, including a Diploma in Finance and Mortgage Broking, a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking, and a Certificate IV in Credit Management.

With over 30 years of experience across the finance and technology industries, Susan brings a strong background in client services, product management, and financial operations to her role as a Broker Relationship Manager. 

Prior to joining Brighten, Susan spent 3 years at Resimac as a Product Analyst in Mortgages, developing a solid foundation in the lending sector. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles at SWIFT, FIS, and First Data (now Fiserv), following a decade at ANZ in Treasury as a Money Market Dealer. 

Susan holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Six Sigma Green Belt and leverages her education and diverse experience to deliver strategic, client-focused solutions in mortgage finance.

With 8 years of experience in the finance industry, Serina brings a well-rounded background across broker engagement, credit assessment, and end-to‑end lending. She began her career as a Junior Business Development Manager with a private lender, where she built strong foundations in broker relationships and product knowledge. Seeking to deepen her technical expertise, she then moved into credit, developing strong skills in policy interpretation, loan assessment, and deal structuring.

This dual perspective, front‑end broker engagement and back‑end credit, underpins her success as a Relationship Manager at Brighten. Serina is known for her ability to quickly build trust with brokers, provide proactive and clear guidance, and collaborate on workable solutions for complex scenarios. Her strong communication style and solutions‑focused approach have enabled her to consistently grow her broker portfolio and expand business opportunities through networking and industry events.

Serina holds a Certificate IV and Diploma in Finance & Mortgage Broking, as well as a Bachelor of Accounting, reinforcing her commitment to technical capability and professional growth. With extensive experience across the full lending lifecycle, she is now progressing toward a Business Development Manager role.

Thomas brings a strong mix of credit knowledge and hands-on operational experience, giving him a practical, end-to-end understanding of the lending process and what it takes to get deals across the line. With experience across broker support, credit, and settlements, Thomas understands the full lending lifecycle, enabling him to work proactively with brokers and improve turnaround times.