Janine Wade, founder of Ikaya Finance, in a supplied industry-profile photograph.
Janine Wade’s mortgage-broking business, Ikaya Finance, is based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, but the ambition to run her own business came well before the company.
Wade founded Ikaya in 2016 after a career path that began in the United Kingdom and brought her to Australia on a working-holiday visa. Her move into the local finance sector followed a sponsorship search and a role with Pepper Money.
Ten years on, the founder-led business has received back-to-back Champion Broker recognition in its category. The result reflects a practice built through a challenging period for borrowers and brokers, while staying grounded in a local client base.
The Sydney angle is more than an office address. Wade has made the Northern Beaches a base for client work while balancing family life, mentoring and community commitments, including rugby coaching. It is a familiar model for small-business owners whose public expertise is supported by a dense local network.
Her story is also a reminder that a Sydney business can start with a practical next step rather than a grand launch plan. Ikaya grew from Wade’s stated goal of owning a business, then took shape through experience in the industry and the decision to build a local operation.
