Industry leaders highlight need for greater female representation in broking
Calls for increased gender diversity in the mortgage sector have intensified following discussions at the International Mortgage Brokers Federation (IMBF) conference held in Dublin in May 2025.
The event produced a white paper warning of the pitfalls associated with a predominantly male workforce in mortgage broking.
Peter White (pictured top), chair of the IMBF and managing director at the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia (FBAA), noted that while technology and artificial intelligence often attract attention, the ongoing gender gap in broking remains a significant barrier to progress and representation within the industry.
He observed that, despite the profession’s relationship-driven and flexible environment, perceptions persist that mortgage broking is high-pressure, financially uncertain, and not well-suited to women seeking work-life balance or returning to employment.
“Men continue to dominate the broking profession,” White said. “But with more mentoring and sponsorship, we can attract and retain more women to mortgage broking, which stands to benefit from the skills and experience they bring to the profession.”
Read more: Gender diversity in mortgage broking shows minimal progress
The IMBF’s push for greater female participation coincides with the release of the FBAA 2025 Broker Density Report. The report indicates an increase in the number of women joining the industry, with female brokers now numbering nearly 6,500. This represents a gender split of 70/30, compared to 72/28 in 2024.
The conference also heard that while some countries have introduced formal mentoring schemes for brokers, many still rely on informal networks that tend to be male dominated.
Discussions at the event led to five key recommendations for advancing gender diversity in mortgage broking:
- Promote visibility of women through industry campaigns that showcase authentic stories across different roles and career stages
- Establish structured mentoring programmes and encourage senior brokers to support new female entrants by providing access to networks and opportunities
- Collect and publish data on gender participation and progress, set benchmarks, and acknowledge achievements
- Lower financial and psychological barriers to entry for new brokers
- Shift the profession’s image from a focus on “hustle culture” to one of professional independence and relationship-building
White also pointed out that the proportion of women in broking varies by country, and highlighted the strong presence of female nominees at the FBAA’s recent national awards. “It was pretty clear that while women might represent 30% of our industry, they also represent a much larger percentage of higher performing brokers,” he said.
Want to be regularly updated with mortgage news and features? Get exclusive interviews, breaking news, and industry events in your inbox – subscribe to our FREE daily newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
