Profile
“My strongest professional quality is my ability to build trust and long-term relationships, whether with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
Morgan Owen is the founder and CEO of Penny Finance, an award-winning brokerage shaking up the industry with bold branding, strategic lending, and a seriously loyal client base. Launching Penny in July 2020 from her one-bedroom apartment, and while managing personal debt, Morgan has grown it into a national business with a team of 10 and a reputation for results.
Owen’s career began in fitness, where she led rapid franchise growth for Jetts and KX Pilates before pivoting to finance in 2016. After co-founding – and walking away from – her first broking venture, she built Penny on her own terms, prioritising transparency, education and client empowerment.
Now recognised as the 2023 National Young Professional of the Year and a 2024 SFG Rising Star, Owen is known for pairing expert advice with unmatched client care. She has also built a powerful digital presence, with over 16,000 followers across Penny and her personal brand, and generates consistent leads through organic and paid Instagram strategies.
Whether she’s mentoring brokers, launching rebrands (like Penny’s 370-person event in 2024) or helping business owners turn profits into portfolios, Owen is driven, disruptive and unapologetically passionate about financial empowerment. Due to this, the company’s settlements continue to double year-on-year.
102/697 Burke Rd., Camberwell, VIC 3124
0459 595 999
morgan@pennyfinance.com.au
au.linkedin.com/in/morganowenbroker
pennyfinance.com.au
Morgan Owen
Director Penny Finance
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Special Report
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Bio
Milestones
Profile
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made”
Danny Ibrahim,
KeyRate Mortgage
2012–2014
2014–2016
2016–2018
2018–2019
2019–Present
Regional manager at Jetts Fitness
At just 22 years old, she managed her first Jetts Fitness franchise. Within two years, she had scaled her impact to oversee five locations as regional manager. This role gave her invaluable experience in operations, people management, and multi-site leadership, building the foundational skills that would later fuel her entrepreneurial ventures
2012–2014
Franchise growth lead at KX Pilates
Recruited by KX Pilates to drive its national expansion. During her tenure, she played a
pivotal role in growing the business from nine to over 40 studios. Her strengths in franchise operations, strategic planning, and team development were critical in supporting rapid and sustainable scale across the network
2014–2016
Entry into finance in a mortgage manager role
Motivated by a desire to make a meaningful impact and align her earnings with her efforts, Owen transitioned into the finance sector. After completing her Certificate IV in finance and mortgage broking, she spent two years learning the ropes under a seasoned mortgage manager, sharpening her technical skills and deepening her understanding of client strategy and lending
2016–2018
Co-founder of Zella Money Co-founded Zella Money, marking her first entrepreneurial foray into the broking world.
Although the partnership was short-lived, the experience was instrumental in laying the groundwork for her next and most defining chapter – building her own business from the ground up
2018–2019
2019–Present: Founder and CEO at Penny Finance
In July 2020, she launched Penny Finance from her one-bedroom apartment, with no external funding and while personally in debt. Since then, she has transformed it into a nationally recognised finance brand with a team of 10, a bold rebrand in 2024, and loan volumes that double each financial year. Penny is now known for its standout brand identity, client-first service model and strategic lending expertise.
2023: Winner – National Young Professional of the Year (Mortgage & Finance Association
of Australia)
2023–2024: Multiple state and national awards for Customer Service – Individual
2023–2024: settled $160 million in loans for this financial year, doubling volumes year-on-year
2024: Named an SFG Rising Star, recognised as one of Australia’s fastest growing and
most influential brokers
2024–2025: Built a combined audience of 16,000+ followers across Morgan’s and Penny’s
social media channels; developed and executed a high-performing Instagram marketing strategy (organic + paid), consistently generating inbound leads and national brand visibility
2019–Present
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
As a founding member of WOW! (Women. Opportunity. Winning.), an employee resource group created for all women of Ryan Specialty, Phillips Topping has long championed for women in the industry.
“It’s very important to set an example and to not only inspire but mentor other females,” she adds.
In addition to her sharp marketing eye, the key to Phillips Topping’s success lies in her high-energy approach and positive attitude.
“As the leader of a team, it’s important to motivate and encourage your team members. People work very hard and do their best and it’s important to recognize these efforts. For my career overall, my attitude has been one of curiosity. The more you can learn, the better you’ll understand the business, and then the deeper your knowledge will become, making you a better team member.”
Chief underwriting officer of executive risk at Chubb
President of financial insurance solutions at Kemper
Chief underwriting officer at Axis Capital
CEO of global Insurance at Endurance
CEO of global Insurance at Sompo International
A significant part of his focus today is staying ahead of regulatory change while maintaining a seamless client experience. He tracks updates from regulators and lenders closely and works with his teams to adjust systems as needed.
“My approach to my role and my career has always been rooted in passion, focus, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” he says. “I’ve never been driven solely by profit or business metrics. I believe in hiring great talent, trusting them, and pushing boundaries because innovation doesn’t come from playing it safe.”
His experience isn’t limited to Canada. Ibrahim has worked in the US and UAE, which shaped his global perspective and comfort with adapting to different markets. He thrives on risk, viewing setbacks as stepping stones to progress.
“I’ve always believed that if you love what you do, you’ll never settle, and that attitude has guided every decision I’ve made,” he adds.
That outlook continues to guide his work and reflects his broader goal of helping move the industry forward. Through his brokerage, lending company, and legal services, Ibrahim is focused on creating long-term value for his clients, his teams, and others working in the field.