Buurman to continue as chair as two directors step down
The Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) has announced the results of its latest board election, with two new directors voted in and one current member re-elected at the broker association’s Annual General Meeting held this afternoon.
Melissa Ashcroft (picured above, right), managing director of AAA Mortgages and General Manager of AAA Financial Group, was one of the electees.
Based in Sydney, Ashcroft has nearly a decade of experience across residential, commercial, and private credit lending.
She also holds the position of deputy president of the MFAA’s National Mortgage Managers Forum. Her appointment to the Audit & Risk Management Committee reflects her background in strategic planning, financial analysis, governance, and marketing.
Ashcroft was recently recognised at the 2025 Women in Finance Awards, taking home the Commercial Finance Broker of the Year award and an Excellence Award.
Sana Hosseini (pictured above, left), a senior finance broker with over 23 years in the industry, was also elected.
He is the dual-franchisee owner of Aussie South Yarra and Aussie Northern Rivers, both highly awarded brokerages. Hosseini’s experience includes acting as a senior financial accountant and treasurer on the board of the CASPA North Coast Children’s Home.
A Justice of the Peace in both Victoria and NSW, Hosseini is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and will sit on the Audit & Risk Management Committee.
Chair to continue duties as Jean-Baptiste steps down
Rob McFadden secured another term on the board and will continue as a member of the Nominations, Remuneration and Governance Committee.
Kerri Buurman will continue in her role as chair of the board, with Mark Hewitt named deputy chair.
Pictured: MFAA board of diectors (l-r): Kerri Buurman, Mark Hewitt, Rob McFadden, Sana Hosseini, Melissa Ashcroft, Marissa Schulze, Vladimír Malčík
Buurman congratulated the incoming and returning directors. “We look forward to working with you”, she said in a statement.
Stepping down from the board are Caroline Jean-Baptiste and Peter Clark.
Jean-Baptiste, who joined the Board in 2019 and served two full terms, held the role of deputy chair from 2022 and chaired the Nominations, Remuneration and Governance Committee.
Clark, elected in 2022, was a member of the Audit & Risk Management Committee.
“Caroline and Peter, it has been a pleasure to work with you both on the board,” Buurman said. “You have individually made significant contributions to the progress of the Association, and on behalf of the Board and our entire community, we extend our gratitude for your leadership, insight and service.”
The MFAA Board is made up of five elected directors and two appointed directors. The current elected members are Kerri Buurman, Marissa Schulze, Rob McFadden, Melissa Ashcroft, and Sana Hosseini. Appointed directors are Vladimír Malčík and Mark Hewitt.
“I look forward to leading the Board and working with the MFAA executive and wider team over the next 12 months to support our members by advocating for their interests and enhancing their ability to assist millions of Australian borrowers,” said Buurman.
