# Break The Bias

Iris Huizinga chats to International Women’s Day Illawarra treasurer Katrina Rowlands about life, work and the campaign theme for 2022

Meeting Katrina Rowlands makes you want to buy a house just so you have an excuse to keep talking to her. Year on year, the seasoned mortgage broker wins awards, but it is her frankness and honesty that impresses me the most. The youngest of seven, she quit high school at 14 to look after her sick mother. At 17 she started a highly successful career in finance and never looked back. The Austinmer local and mother of four is now one of Australia’s most respected and best mortgage brokers.

Katrina is also a founding member and treasurer of the International Women’s Day Illawarra. Once a year this committee organises a get-together to raise funds for local organisations – such as the EVE Project – that specialise in helping women.

How did the International Women’s Day Illawarra come about and what is it?

It [the IWD luncheon] is an opportunity to say: let’s get together, let’s be proud. And let’s really highlight what the women of this area do. It’s been aimed at that from day one, as well as supporting those that need some help.

It commenced [15 years ago] with Vicki Tiegs ringing a few of the known strong women in the Illawarra. Anybody that would like to take a day out and celebrate the women on International Women’s Day should come. It’s so refreshing.

In 2022 we welcome keynote speaker Anna Meares OAM and soul and blues vocalist Mahalia Barnes to Wollongong. It’s an incredibly entertaining day, but it’s the day you walk out of feeling really proud and really happy.

This year the focus is on breaking the bias, can you tell us about that?

The message is we can break the bias in our own communities. We can break the bias in our workplace. We can break the bias in our schools and other educational facilities… We break the bias on International Women’s Day and beyond.

What kind of bias have you seen?

I think there’s the age-old pay-grade bias that someone could do the same job, but gets paid less.

Any personal examples?

I had two children and worked through, but then I fell pregnant with twins. At that stage I was the only female manager. I was told that there was no way I could possibly do the job when I was having twins. I said: “Well, can’t I make that decision?”

But they said: “We won’t put you back into the same management role. When you come back, you go back to this position and we’ll see how we go.”

I went to mortgage broking. They rang me a few months later, after I’d had the babies, and said, “Are you interested in returning?”

I very happily said, “Sorry, you had me, but you can’t afford me now.”

That’s what led me into mortgage broking, someone telling me I couldn’t do my job.

Why do you need a mortgage broker?

Once someone uses a broker, they love it and say, “Why would I ever do anything else. It doesn’t cost me anything, the broker does all the work, has all the experience and then fights for me.”

I refer to it as an ice-cream job. I make people’s dreams come true. It’s a wonderful job.

Where does your passion to make a difference originate from?

My dad was a very wise man, a very gentle man. His attitude was always, if you can make a difference, make it. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it.

I easily let go of negativity. I’m also a very thankful person, I appreciate a lot and I don’t take much for granted. I know everything can be gone tomorrow. Things can change overnight. So today is really good. Today is worth celebrating.

You also mention you want to help people achieve the great Australian dream. What do you think is the great Australian dream?

I think it is happiness and stability, comfort, confidence, and that largely comes with managing your own choices …To me, that is still the great Australian dream – to have your own home and stability and confidence.

Your tips for those buying a house?

• Be prepared, seek advice from professional people that have the correct standing.

• Talking to one lender will give you one opinion. Talking to a mortgage broker will give you a platform and a foundation for your choices.

• Be prepared to make a decision at the time you find a house. You need to be pre-approved.

8 March: International Women’s Day

Show your support and strike the IWD 2022 pose (above) – then share your #breakthebias pic on social media.

The IWD Illawarra Luncheon has moved to 20 May, WIN Entertainment Centre, 11am-3pm. Tickets on sale now via Ticketmaster.