Headquarters:

333 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000

Year founded:

1952

Number of employees:

500

Phone:

13 80 10

Email:

customerservices@latrobefinancial.com.au

Website:

latrobefinancial.com.au

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/company/la-trobe-financial

“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”

Chris Andrews

Chief Executive Officer

Cory Bannister

Chief Lending Officer

Antonietta Sestito

Chief People and Marketing Officer

Leadership

Chris is an industry-leading CEO and a highly sought-after commentator on industry, economic and market themes. As CEO of La Trobe Financial, he has led the asset management transformation while driving rapid technology modernisation and a high-performance culture. Chris has a strong focus on people leadership and has built a market-leading leadership team delivering exceptional value creation.

Chief Executive Officer

Chris Andrews

Cory is an acknowledged industry leader in real estate private credit and a highly sought-after commentator on credit and third-party origination. He has led the asset origination strategy that has underpinned the growth of La Trobe Financial into Australia’s #1 originator of real estate private credit assets.

Chief Lending Officer

Cory Bannister

Antonietta is a highly seasoned financial services executive with deep experience across asset management, superannuation and banking. She has led the transformation of La Trobe Financial’s marketing function, delivering market-leading brand recognition and volumes. Under her leadership, La Trobe Financial has also been recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 Places to Work.

Chief People and Marketing Officer

Antonietta Sestito

BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs

Leadership

Michelle Bannister

Head of Distribution

Michelle has served as La Trobe Financial’s head of distribution since 2019. She has over 28 years of experience in financial services and joined La Trobe Financial in 1996. Prior to her current role, Michelle gained experience across various internal departments including financial control, collections and head of credit. As head of distribution, Michelle manages the distribution channel for La Trobe’s broker clients and is responsible for increasing its loan portfolio.

Head of Distribution

Michelle Bannister

Josh Crawford

Vice President of Training & Development

Josh Crawford is a leader in the financial services industry, bringing the power of Nobel Prize-winning investing science to communities across the US and Puerto Rico. His expertise includes leading breakthrough educational experiences to hundreds of advisors and thousands of their clients, helping lead and engineer innovative advisor training programs, and training and developing entrepreneurs to expand themselves and their businesses. As vice president of training and development at Matson Money, he is instrumental in bringing the American Dream Experience to families across North America.

Vice President of Training & Development

Josh Crawford

Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues. In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has: • experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year • improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40% • significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience • expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers. The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.

“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”

Wayne Tower, IQumulate Premium Funding

Matt Matson

Vice President of Technology

Francine Minervini 

Senior Vice President, Chief Technical Claims Officer

Nicholas Webber

VP, WC Litigation 

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

A founding team member of Matson Money, Matt Matson has brought innovation to the organization through the implementation of technological advancements since the early 1990s. He put Matson at the forefront of the industry by pioneering its online presence in the early days. For 10 years, Matt guided the firm’s technology and design teams, expanding them into full design, development, and networking departments. He returned in 2018 to revolutionize Matson Money’s technology by championing the new Matson Tech team. Matson Tech is reimagining how technology can fulfill the promise of bringing purpose and the American Dream to every family it serves.

Vice President of Technology

Matt Matson

Francine Minervini is chief technical claims officer at Arch Insurance. She joined the company in 2007 as an assistant vice president in the casualty division and has held various roles of increasing responsibility in the claims department, ultimately being promoted to senior vice president in 2018. Prior to joining Arch, Minervini held several claims handling roles with AIG. She has her JD from New England School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Seton Hall University. She is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and New York. 

Senior Vice President, Chief Technical Claims Officer 

Francine Minervini 

Cemal Akgul sees the head of risk and collections role as pivotal in guiding and influencing business decisions. He has more than 15 years of experience across financial and government services, most recently with the NDIS, where he was the leading consultant driving the Risk Management process’ nationwide. Prior to that, he served various roles at BMW Finance across the United States, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia. During Akgul’s tenure at BMW Finance, he predominately worked in risk management, guiding the organisation through seismic changes between 2016 and 2018. In his time prior, he was based out of New York, leading BMW Finance’s American subsidiary's market risk and data analytics teams between 2011 and 2016. Akgul values a balanced approach to business, encourages a positive work culture and is passionate about teaching and guiding the business and individuals at IQumulate.

Head of Risk and Collections

Cemal Akgul

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view. IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance. “We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.

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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share. “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

“By investing in our people at every level, we foster a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement”

Annie Sestito, La Trobe Financial

“We believe in a high-performance, high-integrity environment where individuals are empowered to grow, collaborate and contribute meaningfully”

Cory Bannister, La Trobe Financial

Ivan Verescuk

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Shaun O’Brien

Head of Underwriting

Emily Walker

Head of Strata and Development

Rex Oakman

Head of Operations and Risk

Sandy Newton

Head of Underwriting

Andrew Mitchell

Manager – NSW

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

La Trobe Financial has built staying power the old-fashioned way, through consistency, long-term thinking, and a culture that is second to none. With over 70 years in business, the company continues to distinguish itself in Australia’s financial services sector through a high-performance, people-first ethos and a relentless focus on delivering meaningful outcomes for clients and employees alike. At the core of La Trobe Financial’s culture are its T.E.A.M. values – Trust, Excellence, Accountability, and Making a Difference. These values are more than words, they guide every decision, including who gets hired, how people lead, and how clients are served. “We believe in a high-performance, high-integrity environment where individuals are empowered to grow, collaborate and contribute meaningfully,” Chief Lending Officer, Cory Bannister explains.

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”

Medals

Advancement

Benefits

Compensation

Culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Innovation

Reputation

Sustainable programs

Overall

La Trobe Financial calls itself a partner in the financial journeys of Australians, not a service provider. That distinction runs through every part of the business, from how brokers are supported to how employees are trained, and clients are cared for. Career mobility is built into the organisation’s structure, enabling staff to grow across lending, risk, investments, or technology without leaving the company to get a fresh opportunity. That structure, coupled with intentional hiring and leadership continuity, has helped it remain agile and scale rapidly surpassing $20 billion in assets under management with the goal to reach $55 billion by 2030. Three familiar names anchor the leadership team. CEO Chris Andrews brings more than 15 years with the business and leads with strategic clarity and disciplined growth. Cory Bannister has been a cornerstone at La Trobe Financial for over two decades and is one of the sector’s most visible and respected mortgage leaders. He chairs multiple credit and origination committees and is a repeat honoree in the MPA Global 100 list. Cory shapes both product strategy and broker relationships, leading with an “others before self” ethos which is admired and respected. On the people side, chief people and marketing officer Annie Sestito has been instrumental in the company’s award-winning culture. Under her leadership La Trobe Financial has been named an MPA Top Mortgage Employer and one of Australia’s Top 50 Places to Work. Under her leadership, the company takes a deliberate and structured approach to development, ensuring every employee has the tools, support, and opportunities to thrive. “By investing in our people at every level, we foster a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement,” explains Annie.

The result is a professional development approach that’s accessible, relevant, and aligned with both individual aspirations and the company’s strategic growth. Retention is driven by a commitment to both personal and professional fulfilment Employees benefit from a range of flexible and meaningful options including birthday leave, the purchased leave, a community day of leave and access to celebratory events including an annual ‘all-staff’ concert with an Australian icon and an annual awards evening where teams and individuals are celebrated for their contributions. Employee sentiment is tracked through engagement surveys, pulse checks, CEO roundtables, and exit interviews. Feedback leads to actual change, not just post-event reports. Diversity, equity and inclusion have a tangible structure, too. The company audits gender pay gaps, trains all leaders on bias, and keeps hiring focused on skills. Cultural observances are celebrated year-round, and flexible work arrangements are available. One of the standout policies is 12 months of maternity leave paid super at full salary, which reflects how seriously the company takes equity and retention. BDMs and credit teams are empowered to make decisions quickly. The credit approach is practical, giving brokers a wider product suite for everyone from PAYG borrowers to complex SMSF lending scenarios. By 2030, La Trobe Financial aims to more than double is AUM and solidify its roles as Australia’s most trusted alternative asset manager. But growth is not just about the numbers. The Executive team ensure it’s also about partnerships that deepen, careers that evolve and a culture that continues to set a benchmark in the Financial Services industry. To view our awards and ratings please visit the Awards and Ratings page on our website.