Meet, Network and Connect with Scotland’s foremost Mortgage Professionals

Robert helped establish the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) as an independent entity on 1 February 2012. Robert joined the former parent trade body, AIFA, in October 2006, initially looking after the Association of Finance Brokers and since 2008, AMI. He lobbies government, regulators and other policy-makers, liaising with fellow trade bodies and briefing the national and trade press.

He brings a wealth of industry experience to the trade body having held a number of front line sales roles in personal, private and corporate banking combined with experience in marketing, training and internal audit with both HSBC and Santander.

Robert served five years as a non-executive director of the Buckinghamshire Building Society, is now a non-executive director of the Darlington Building Society and advises the Bank of England as a member of the Residential Property Forum.

Jonathan has 18 years industry experience working with banks and a building society across the residential, BTL and commercial lending sectors. During his career he has worked for Lloyds Banking Group before entering the intermediary market. He’s now the Senior National Accounts & New Build Lead at Skipton Building Society. He is dedicated to helping mortgage brokers effectively navigate the complexities of the UK market. Through his experience and detailed knowledge, he is passionate about raising awareness and providing education on industry topics and trends. He hopes to empower advisers to make informed decisions for their customers.

Hannah Walker has worked in the mortgage industry for over 12 years. In her current role of National Sales Manager she heads up the Partnerships Regional team for LV= GI for Intermediaries, ensuring advisers nationwide support. Hannah is also proud to be part of the steering group for the MIMHC (Mortgage Industry Mental Health Charter) which helps support our colleagues in financial services. Hannah is also focused on her own health and wellbeing and took part in the 2023 Tough Mudder challenge

Simon Meadows is editor of Mortgage Introducer and has a wide editorial background across print and broadcasting, having reported for The Wall Street Journal in the United States and The Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph in the UK, as well as reporting and production for BBC Radio, ITV News, Sky News and Five News in Britain too. With a special interest in business, he’s interviewed top executives across the world in boardrooms from London to New York and Delhi to Moscow and particularly enjoys getting to know the personalities and human stories behind a brand.  

Kieran joined Canada Life in 2020 to manage offered equity release cases through to completion. He quickly progressed through the ranks to field BDM in 2022 and became a Key Account Manager in the North in 2024.

Kieran is an expert in all areas of the lenders process for equity release and is a product and criteria specialist within the sales team.

Alistair’s career now spans 42 continuous years in the banking and mortgage broking industry. He established his first secured loan brokerage in 1997 and co-founded The Lending Channel in 2010 together with his wife Elaine and brother Murray. The Lending Channel is now Scotland’s most prominent property finance broker and trades UK wide from its Perth base. Operating across all areas of FCA regulated and non-regulated real estate lending.

Helen has been working in the industry for almost 20 years, based in the Highlands, and launched her own broker business in 2008 as a sole adviser, alongside an administration colleague.  

Helen became Directly Authorised in 2021 after 17 years as an Appointed Representative of Networks.  

Helen’s firm won Best Broker – Highlands & Islands in 2019 & 2021 as voted for by their clients. 

James began his career as mortgage advisor in 1997, with Pearl Assurance and over the following 4 years helped the Pearl set up mortgage operations at locations throughout Scotland.  From there James moved on to become Head of Business Development at the PSM Law Group (now Your Conveyancer).  In 2003, James co-founded the company The Mortgage Finance Store, based out of the technology park in Dundee.  He currently manages a team of 16 advisors and 8 support staff but is still very much “in the trenches” completing around 300 mortgage cases personally each year.

Simon Meadows is editor of Mortgage Introducer and has a wide editorial background across print and broadcasting, having reported for The Wall Street Journal in the United States and The Sunday Times and Daily Telegraph in the UK, as well as reporting and production for BBC Radio, ITV News, Sky News and Five News in Britain too. With a special interest in business, he’s interviewed top executives across the world in boardrooms from London to New York and Delhi to Moscow and particularly enjoys getting to know the personalities and human stories behind a brand.  

Jeff Knight founded Grey Matter Marketing in 2021 to help companies in the mortgage market optimise their marketing efforts. It is all about giving business and people the confidence to do the right things right. 

Jeff has been active in the mortgage market since the late 1990s, working for start-ups to large global firms. He has worked at a senior executive level, so knows about more than just marketing! As a Fellow of the CIM, he never stops learning and developing ideas, as anyone who knows him will tell you. 

Jeff has even won several awards for marketing excellence and is passionate about marketing and passionate about people development, as anyone who has worked for him will tell you. In 2024, Grey Matter Marketing joined the WHJE group of companies, giving access to a broader range of solutions. 

Jeff also runs the Mortgage Marketing Forum. 

Robert helped establish the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) as an independent entity on 1 February 2012. Robert joined the former parent trade body, AIFA, in October 2006, initially looking after the Association of Finance Brokers and since 2008, AMI. He lobbies government, regulators and other policy-makers, liaising with fellow trade bodies and briefing the national and trade press.

He brings a wealth of industry experience to the trade body having held a number of front line sales roles in personal, private and corporate banking combined with experience in marketing, training and internal audit with both HSBC and Santander.

Robert served five years as a non-executive director of the Buckinghamshire Building Society, is now a non-executive director of the Darlington Building Society and advises the Bank of England as a member of the Residential Property Forum.