Three key themes were present at the event: curiosity, connection, and AI. The event brought together brokers, lenders, and tech providers to explore the forces reshaping Australia’s mortgage and finance industry.
The overarching sentiment? A wave of cautious optimism and eager curiosity about how technology, particularly AI, can enhance broker capability.
The day was made possible through the support of the partners: NextGen, Accurateli, Mortgage Choice, Bankwest, Prospa, Stryd, Bizcap, Lextech, DocuScan, LoanOptions.ai, Cynario, and Broker Pulse by Agile Market Intelligence.
Representatives from these companies joined the Broker Daily Uncut podcast in a special recording on the ground at the summit.
Here, the partners discussed the strides that are being made to automate some of the most time-consuming processes.
While there are some fears that AI could replace brokers, the consensus from the day was that no piece of tech can replace the human touch that is the bedrock of broking. Tech is here to free up time so brokers can interact with clients more.
Brokers are inundated with administrative tasks, from client onboarding to income verification, which can pull them away from this core strength. This is where tech can alleviate the strain.
Despite the excitement, a strong undercurrent of the conversation was the responsible and strategic implementation of AI. The partners captured this sentiment perfectly, noting a key takeaway was “the safety element” and the need to be selective, not to adopt every new tool at once.
There is a risk that brokers can overindulge in tech due to the benefits. The discussions on the day reinforced the importance of being selective with adoption. Overdoing it can be a waste of time and money and can leave business vulnerable to cyber security threats.
Diversification emerged as another key theme, following increased attention throughout 2025. More mortgage brokers than ever before are diversifying into commercial and business lending.
As the principal partner, NextGen led discussions on open banking technologies. There is growing “curiosity” around open banking. There are compelling benefits: it’s a zero-cost, secure service for consumers that provides significant processing efficiencies.
With more lenders integrating open banking data, its adoption is becoming an increasingly logical step for forward-thinking broking businesses.
The verdict: A community embracing the future
The energy at the Broker Innovation Summit was a testament to a profession in evolution. The brokers in attendance were not there out of fear, but out of a desire to adapt and excel.
In the end, the summit confirmed that the future of broking lies in a powerful synergy: leveraging the speed and accuracy of technology to empower the irreplaceable value of human connection.