Our Team

Cathy Brown

Director & Mortgage Broker

Cathy Brown

Cathy Brown is the founder of Activ8 Finance. Cathy has 16 years of experience in banking and 10 years of experience in accounting. Her success in banking is largely attributed to her understanding of complex lending structures and self-employed clients. This is due to the fact that Cathy is a qualified accountant and built a successful accountancy practice for six years prior to her embarking on a banking career.

Cathy is a passionate investor in property and shares who enjoys sharing her experience and knowledge with her clients. She believes that education and informed decisions are the key ingredients to financial success.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of business majoring in accounting

  • Certificate IV in finance and mortgage broking

  • Diploma of financial services in mortgage broking

  • Certified Finance Mentor. Cathy has mentored over 50 adults entering the finance broking industry.

  • Accredited with the Finance Brokers Association of Australia

Sheela Gurung

Mortgage Broker

Sheela Gurung

Sheela Gurung is a mortgage broker with a strong work ethic and attention to detail. Her experience in various roles such as loan processing and credit before becoming a mortgage broker is an added advantage for her clients. Sheela is committed to providing her clients with the best options efficiently and takes pride in her ability to communicate effectively with them.

Qualifications

  • Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking

  • Master of Business Studies in Finance

Awards

Integrity, Excellence and Customer Service Awards

Shristi Silwal

Credit Expert

Shristi Silwal

Shristi Silwal has a wealth of experience in the Australian mortgage industry. She started as a Broker Support, where she assisted clients with their home loan processing and cultivated positive client relations. She then worked as a Credit Analyst, helping clients with lending solutions, and proficiently bridged the credit gap in the technology team by assisting with project management in developing tools to enhance clients’ digital experience. Shristi also worked as a Finance Subject-Matter Expert.

As a Credit Manager, Shristi built, mentored, and led a team of credit analysts. The leadership role was further pivotal in providing opportunities for in-depth research into and understanding lender policies and niches.

Shristi has delved into self-employment with a great extent of research, experience, and training. She understands the details that need to be worked out to help a self-employed client. Shristi believes that authenticity will always win the day, and this is how she helps her clients achieve their financial goals.

Qualifications

  • Certificate IV in Financial Services

  • Master of Business Administration in Marketing

  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance

Awards

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Customer Experience

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Leading the Way

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Excellence

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Integrity

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Professionalism

  • HLE Quarterly Award - Ethical Operation

Anjali Paneru

Senior Support Manager

Anjali Paneru

Anjali Paneru has been an integral part of our team for over two years. With her extensive experience in the banking and finance industry, she has been instrumental in providing exceptional customer service to our clients. Anjali is responsible for overseeing loans from lead generation to settlement, ensuring that our clients receive the best possible support throughout the process. She understands the importance of prompt communication and is always available to address any concerns or queries that our clients may have.

Awards

  • Excellence Award 2019 - From University

  • Appreciation Award for assisting the Recruitment Team - Government Bank of Nepal - 2021

  • Performer of the Month - October 2021

  • Performer of the Month - July 2022

  • Performer of the Month - Jun 2023

  • Most Improved Award - Activ8 Finance - July 2023

Anne Monteagudo

Support Manager

Anne Monteagudo

Anne Monteagudo has been working in the Australian banking and finance industry for seven years. She is responsible for managing loans from submission to settlement and maintaining client relationships post-settlement. Anne is passionate about providing quality customer service and has a deep understanding of the importance of this aspect in the industry. Her experience in the industry has given her a unique perspective on how to manage loans and maintain client relationships. She is committed to providing the best possible service to her clients and ensuring that they are satisfied with their experience.

Connective 2020
Connective 2018
Connective 2019
BBA 2019
BBA 2019
MFAA 2019

MH

Michael Harwood

Our friends recommend Activ8 Finance to support us on our first mortgage journey. Cathy and her team were excellent. They made the entire process super clear from start to finish and guided us with care. Highly recommend Activ8 Finance.

JN

Jacques Nuttall

There is nothing I can say in words that will actually convey how seamless and professional Cathy and her team, were and still are after the fact. What an absolute pleasure to deal with every single member of their business. I highly suggest them to any prospective client. Once you have experienced the service you will know exactly what I mean. Thank you Cathy!

Gv

Greg van Lelyveld

We recently worked with Cathy and the team at Activ8 Finance to refinance our investment loan and we couldn’t be more pleased. From the start, they broke everything down into easy-to-understand language, which was a huge relief for us as we were quite nervous and didn’t fully understand how it all worked. They held our hands through every step, ensuring we felt comfortable and informed throughout the entire process. Their patience, clarity, and support made a world of difference. We highly recommend Cathy and the team to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and supportive mortgage broker!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you only help with Home Loans?

We can help with Home and Investment Loans, Construction Loans, Car Loans, Personal Loans and much more. If you're looking to borrow to buy something, we can probably help.

Can you help with refinancing an existing Mortgage?

Of course! We believe that we can find the best interest rate for you to refinance to, whether it's a Home Loan or Investment Loan.

Are your mortgage brokers licensed and accredited?

All of our Mortgage Brokers are accredited and members of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia. They are extremely professional and provide exceptional service across a range of lending options.

What kind of interest rates can you offer?

We take look at a wide range of products available from Banks, Credit Unions & other lenders across the country. This means we can search thousands of products and make sure we're always recommending the best Home Loans for our clients.

Why should I use a Mortgage Broker?

Mortgage Brokers are there to help you find the right loan whether it be from the major banks, smaller lenders or other sources. We have a broad range of products (more than any single lender can offer) which means we can do all the legwork to find the right loan for you.

Can you help First Home Buyers?

We love helping First Home Buyers! We're experts at the entire process and can help you get the right Home Loan. We're also across the various schemes to help First Home Buyers such as the First Home Owners Grant and the various stamp duty exemptions available.