Profile
“I’m so proud to see that through my hard work and that of my team, we have built trust with our industry partners”
Victoria Coster,
Credit Fix Solutions
Debbie Hutchings has turned three decades of finance industry experience and a deep passion for helping others succeed into a thriving business that is the epitome of “paying it forward”.
As founder and director of REFS Australia, Hutchings has elevated mentorship to an art as she and her staff impart their knowledge and experience to help others build thriving businesses. With a passion for mentoring aspiring professionals and a focus on attracting women to the industry, she is making a significant difference within the fast-moving finance landscape.
Over the past five years, Hutchings’ outstanding leadership and vision have led to significant growth for REFS Australia. The organisation has expanded to over 80 members and five full-time mentors.
This achievement is a testament to the organisation’s commitment to its mission and its dedication to providing exceptional support to its members and the needs of growing aggregator partners.
“Looking back at how far we’ve come, I’m proud of our achievements,” she says. “I am reminded of my struggles and experiences as a 23-year-old female in the industry, which motivates me to support other women navigate the industry and carve out their career path.”
As a woman working in the male-dominated finance world, Hutchings was the youngest woman to be appointed branch manager of a local bank, a position that required board approval and a reduced salary for a one-year period.
She jumped at that unique opportunity and, determined not to fail, built the branch to become the highest-achieving and award-winning location in the network. Later, Hutchings recognised the potential to launch a mortgage broking business in the third-party space. Over the course of 15 years, she was at the helm of two thriving companies.
“My biggest challenge is ensuring I am supporting the growth needs of the mortgage industry and providing fresh offerings to our brokers,” she says.
Her flourishing business keeps her busy as clients rely on the mentoring, training, and consulting services offered. She overcomes that challenge by prioritising time management to ensure her continued commitment to service excellence.
Regarded by her peers and clients as an authentic and knowledgeable professional with a profound interest in guiding others on their career journey, Hutchings no doubt will continue to adapt to the changing needs of the industry to provide the right services at the right time.
121 Vise Rd, Mons, QLD 4556
0407 314 287
info@refsaustralia.com
linkedin.com/in/debbie-hutchings-7227015a
refsaustralia.com
Debbie Hutchings
Director, Endorsed Mentor and Trainer
REFS Australia
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Milestones
“I’m genuinely keen to keep bettering myself”
Victoria Coster,
Credit Fix Solutions
2021
2022
2015–2016
2021–2022
Present
Better Business Awards – Finalist Mentor of the Year
2021
Finalist in the Women in Finance Mentor of the Year
Better Business Awards – Finalist Mentor of the Year
2022
Mortgage Consultant at Resolve Finance
2015–
2016
Women In Construction Ambassador
2021–
2022
Director at Australian Mortgage Assist since 2004
Crawford and Associates
Women in Construction Ambassador
Recognised as one of MPA’s Elite Women
2023
Assistant Vice President and Senior Broker at MJ Hall & Company since 2018
Present
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Coster brings depth and breadth of experience to her current position, having joined the industry as a mortgage processor before leaping into broking. She later honed her credit reporting education and credit repair skills for several years while working directly for various brokers.
“Starting Credit Fix Solutions was a deliberate move, as I saw there was a niche in ‘no win, no fee’ credit repair that the industry didn’t currently offer,” she says.
As a CEO, Coster learned through business coaching that there are no challenges in business, only opportunities to learn and grow. She wholeheartedly adopted that perspective, enabling her to overcome the obstacles inherent in team management and implement new and improved systems. She employs several strategies for challenging situations, such as following routines, forward planning, sleeping well and exercising.
“If I make sure I look after myself, have a plan of action, and I’m organised, then I can overcome any challenge (opportunity to learn) if and when it presents itself,” Coster says.
A firm believer in the power of leadership, Coster strives to set an example that the next generation of women and men can look up to. She prides herself on her reliability and trustworthiness and is the first person to show up and the last to leave the workplace.
“I’m genuinely keen to keep bettering myself,” she says. “Even now, at the top of my game, I’m still always learning.”
Guided by her favourite quote, “It’s better to be green and growing than ripe and rotting”, Coster constantly stokes her curiosity and keeps an open mind about life and business. Her kindness, positive attitude, business acumen and dedication to her profession make her a trusted and valuable partner to her peers and the mortgage industry.