Jeff is the founding Managing Director of TrailBlazer Finance. Jeff prefers to be known as the “CRO” – Chief Resources Officer – his role is to source the funding, best people and nicest offices for the team – the rest is their job! Prior to creating TrailBlazer Finance in 2011, Jeff ran and successfully sold several businesses including serving as the inaugural CEO of Vow Financial which won the MFAA “Wholesale Aggregator of the Year” awarded during his term of office. Jeff studied at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa and then read law at Oxford University in England. After graduating, he joined Goldman Sachs, where he was trained on Wall Street, and then worked in their wealth management division in London.

Stewart joined TrailBlazer Finance as a Director in 2021. Stewart brings with him extensive experience in the financial services industry, the bank regulatory community and investment banking. He is currently serving as the managing member of Leopard Rock Property Group, a real estate development and investment firm located in Los Angeles and San Diego, California. Mr. Paperin holds an M.S. in Management, and a B.A. in Economics Management from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York.

Mary Anne joined TrailBlazer Finance in 2021 as a Non-Executive Director. Mary Anne is a passionate, proven, & strategic leader with over 30 years of multichannel customer engagement experience. She has executed successful sales strategies and market growth in national and global territories for companies from start-up to $20 billion in revenue across a broad range of industries. Mary Anne is an experienced board & C-level executive.

Sharon joined TrailBlazer Finance in 2011. She has over 15 years’ experience as a PA & Office Manager. Sharon has strong organisational skills and ensures the TrailBlazer Finance team stays on task. She is the point of contact for all office matters and recruitment. Sharon originally started her career at Ansett Australia as an HR administrator, then progressed working at companies such as Corporate Express, Nutrimetics, Skin Doctors and Naturopathica.

Giuseppe joined TrailBlazer Finance in 2020 as Credit Manager. He is responsible for the credit process, overseeing all new and existing credit applications. Giuseppe has broad experience in the banking and finance industry and prior to joining the team, he spent over seven years with Macquarie Bank in various senior roles within the Credit and Settlements divisions. He has a Masters of Business in Finance from University of Technology of Sydney and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Hayden joined Trailblazer Finance in 2023 as our Operations Manager. Previously, Hayden worked at fast-growing tech firm Cluey Learning from inception through to listing on the ASX and has a background in investment banking. Hayden brings operations and automation acumen to the team as well as many years of experience in finance and start-ups.

Nataliia joined the Credit team at TrailBlazer Finance in 2020. Reporting to the Head of Lending, she is responsible for managing the settlements and credit assessment functions for the business. An experienced banking professional with almost 20 years in the finance industry, Nataliia has spent her career working for leading financial services brands in Australia and Europe including, most recently, seven years’ at CBA. Nataliia holds a Bachelor of Banking & Finance from the Donetsk National University, Ukraine, in addition to a number of diplomas in accounting and banking services management.

Laura joined TrailBlazer Finance as the Marketplace Manager in 2022. Laura is responsible for managing the TrailBlazer Marketplace where Mortgage Brokers buy and sell trail books. Laura has a background in broking having worked at major banks and independent brokerages. Outside of work Laura is kept busy with her three young sons!

Simon joined TrailBlazer Finance as its Sales and Growth Strategist in 2022 and is responsible for all marketing operations and execution as well as strategic partnerships. Simon has extensive experience in marketing having worked at some of the biggest advertising agencies in Australia and runs his own successful ecommerce company. Outside of work Simon enjoys surfing and cycling.

Markus joined Trailblazer Finance in 2023 as our Loan Processor and is responsible for managing valuation and lending enquiries. He has over 6 years of experience in the industry and holds a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking. Markus has a Master of Business Administration from AKAD University in Germany and a Bachelor of Arts from SAE Institute in London. Outside of work he enjoys riding his motorcycle.

Richard commenced working with TrailBlazer Finance in 2013. As Legal Consultant, Richard is responsible for the preparation of all loan and security documentation as well as providing ongoing legal advice. Richard has over 20 years’ legal experience in private practice and for corporations, specialising in corporate finance. Richard previously served as a partner in a global top tier law firm providing advice and negotiating high level corporate and project finance transactions. Richard also spent many years in-house as senior legal counsel within Westpac Institutional Bank, Investec Bank Australia (Capital Markets) and Rabobank Australia. Richard has worked in Sydney, Perth, London and Singapore.

Tom joined TrailBlazer Finance as Chief Information Officer in 2022. Tom is responsible for technology and projects. Tom has a depth of experience in established and start-up ventures operating in the financial services vertical. Having spent over 20 years in CIO and senior operations roles at TeleTech, Cover-More, Asurion and EziFin. Outside of work you can find Tom focussed on building an equity release business, running and playing golf.

Daniel joined TrailBlazer Finance as a Senior Credit Analyst in 2022. He is now responsible for conducting Financial Planning valuations. Daniel has more than 10 years’ experience across credit, product management and financial analysis having worked for ANZ, Westpac and Volt Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Law as well as a master’s in Financial Analysis. Daniel is a sports buff and loves spending time with his wife and son.

Pardeep joined TrailBlazer Finance as a Financial Controller in 2021. Pardeep is responsible for the business’s management figures, loan statements, financial statements and tax returns. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant with more than 19 years of experience in the fields of Accounting and Taxation.

Pooja joined TrailBlazer Finance as a Management Accountant in 2019. She is responsible for the company’s bookkeeping, maintaining accounts, and other administrative work. She has a broad technical knowledge that spans across all areas of bookkeeping and financial reporting. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Kurukshetra University.

Charlene (otherwise known as “Doc”) joined Trailblazer at its inception. As Company Secretary she takes responsibility for compliance and governance, oversees high-level financial and legal document execution and supports the Board of Directors. This essentially means that she signs forms and agreements day in and day out. She is in a committed relationship with Zoho-sign which can be very demanding at any time of day or night. Whatever time is left is reserved for her 4 children, maintaining the morale of the Chief Morale Officer, and having dinner with the Managing Director.

Plato joined TrailBlazer 3 years ago at the tender age of 12 weeks. Plato is responsible for maintaining morale in the office. His job entails spreading happiness and affection throughout the office, reducing stress, and lifting the spirits of the TrailBlazer team, its clients, and visitors. Every morning, Plato makes his rounds of all employees, generously sharing sloppy kisses and tail wags, whilst demanding a ball toss or two in return. He assists in staff maintaining a good life-work balance, by insisting on short walks throughout the course of the day. He has been known to excel at the coffee runs too. Plato’s paw of approval always means a job well done.