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Flint – the brokerage brand headed up by brokers Christian Stevens and Redom Syed – has established a new outpost of its broking brand, bringing together four brokers and a dedicated partnerships manager and operations manager to form Flint Newcastle.
The NSW-based team is being led by principal and agri-lending specialist Ben Robinson, who has been Flint’s director of regional lending for the past year.
As broker principal and mentor, Robinson will lead the team, while focusing on SME and complex self-employed lending.
Joining him in the team are:
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Matt Hollinworth, broker director (formerly of Loan Market Direct in Newcastle), who will be specialising in young professional borrowers.
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Anthony Toth, broker director (a former Aussie broker), who will be specialising in financial and corporate wellbeing.
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Lauren Franzmann, finance broker (formerly a lending analyst at Flint), who will be specialising in first home buyers and investors.
Backing the brokers is strategic partnerships manager Bree Atkinson (formerly a licensee at Stronach Realty), who will lead property partnerships, and Ana Souza, Flint’s group operations manager. The office is supported by Flint’s internal team of 15 specialists dedicated to complex credit, processing, and compliance.
While the business has been operating for the past two months, the office premises, based on Dick Street in Newcastle, will open its doors on Wednesday (12 November).
Speaking to The Adviser, Robinson said Flint Newcastle had been in the works for the past 12 months, adding that there had been “a lot of hard work behind the scenes to bring together some of the best talent in the area”.
“For our team, this is truly a dream come true… There is no brokerage in Newcastle that has the scale and resources we have to facilitate this level of client service, credit advice, and ongoing support,” Robinson said.
“Newcastle is Australia’s largest city outside the majors, and the opportunity is enormous. It’s a community full of professionals, business owners, and families who deserve access to mortgage advice and support at the highest level.”
Hollinworth added that it was the “right time” to be building a large brokerage in Newcastle, as it has “grown massively” over the past 10 years, meaning “client expectations are higher, the market is shifting, and clients want a modern, client-first experience”.
He suggested there was a large opportunity for borrowers seeking developments, lifestyle suburbs, and family homes.
Toth said he was excited to join something that was “about building something bigger than [him]self”.
“The Central Coast through to Newcastle is one of the fastest-growing corridors in NSW. With first-home buyers, investors, upsizers, and commercial clients all active, there’s momentum. For Flint, that means the opportunity to position ourselves as the brokerage of choice,” he said.
Two more brokers are expected to join Flint Newcastle in early 2026.
According to Robinson, Flint Newcastle aims to have a team of 10 brokers by July 2026 and hopes to become the city’s “first $1 billion brokerage”.
“It’s an ambitious annual milestone, but achievable. Newcastle and the Hunter Valley are a hub for entrepreneurs and business owners who need strategic finance support. The business and professional community here is highly connected, and I’m confident we can achieve this goal with the right team and focus,” he said.
However, he added: “For me personally, this isn’t just about growth or milestones – it’s about helping people in Newcastle and the Hunter secure their futures and build confidence through finance.”
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