FinTech Australia unveils 2025 Finnie Awards finalists list

FinTech Australia has named the finalists for the 2025 Finnie Awards, while also marking the 10-year anniversary of the industry body.

The Finnie Awards are recognised for celebrating achievements across multiple sectors of Australia's fintech industry, including services that support fintech organisations.

This year's awards received a record 348 entries, exceeding the 322 submissions from the previous year. A notable addition to the 2025 programme is the Most Innovative Fintech Product or Service category, which attracted over 47 submissions – the highest number for a single award category in the history of the Finnies.

Rehan D'Almeida, Chief Executive Officer of FinTech Australia, remarked: "Last year we were overwhelmed with entries, so we are in disbelief that we've received even more than in 2024."

He continued: "Given this is FinTech Australia's 10-year anniversary we have a special night planned for all attendees. Even if you aren't up for an award, it will be a night to remember. We expect the event to fully sell out, so please consider registering and purchasing tickets early to avoid disappointment."

The judging process for the Finnie Awards involves two rounds, featuring more than 70 independent experts from the Australian fintech ecosystem. This week, 47 new industry professionals have commenced the second round, which is described by the organisers as one of the fairest and most transparent award processes within the country's financial sector.

D'Almeida stated: "We're especially proud of our judging process. We go to great lengths to ensure the winners of the Finnies are truly deserving and the best in their field, as judged by their entry."

He added: "As a result, making the finalists list is an achievement in itself. We congratulate all companies and individuals who made the list, and look forward to celebrating with both them and the winners on the night in June."

Finalists across categories include a range of firms and individuals, reflecting both emerging organisations and established names. Among the categories are Best Workplace Diversity, Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year, Female FinTech Leader of the Year, Giving Back to the Fintech Community Award, Outstanding FinTech Leader of the Year, and others addressing areas such as open banking, payments, insurtech, regtech, web3, artificial intelligence, and positive impact.

Notably, the 2025 finalists for Best Workplace Diversity include Citrus Innovations, Hello Clever, Kanopi, Lendi Group, Lightspeed Commerce, Monoova, Nimo Industries, Swyftx, and upcover. The Emerging FinTech Leader of the Year category features nominees such as Aaron Bassin, Ashley Frenken, Caroline Tran, Gaby Rosenberg, Jessie Lin, Julian Fayad, Justin Steer, and Parth Gulati.

For Female FinTech Leader of the Year, the finalists are Anita Tham, Caroline Tran, Jodie Imam, Leann Jones, Lisa Zhu, Rebecca del Rio, Shanique Busby, and Skye Theodorou. The Giving Back to the Fintech Community Award sees Acclime, Stone & Chalk, Tank Stream Labs, and WeMoney as its shortlisted organisations.

Government, finance, and technology industry representatives feature prominently in categories for collaboration and global market presence, with finalists such as AssuranceLab, Bizcap, CoinJar, Data Zoo, DoxAI Australia, LAB Group, PropHero, and Water Ledger Australia, among others. Partnerships such as AMP Bank with Engine by Starling and PwC, and Open Insurance with Bupa Australia, are also highlighted under Excellence in Industry Collaboration & Partnerships.

The 2025 Finnie Awards will culminate in an event at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf on 26 June, where winners in all categories will be announced. Organisers advise that tickets for the event are in high demand due to the anniversary and increased interest.