The Motor Trades Association of Queensland (MTA Queensland) is thrilled to announce the recipients of the Auto Women Scholarships for round two, 2022.

We extend our congratulations to Gabrielle Clift from Highfields Mechanical in Toowoomba, who has been awarded the Leading Edge Scholarship valued at $3,490, and Kim Siegmann from Cairns Car Brokers, who has been awarded the Executive Ready Scholarship valued at $7,990.

The scholarships, sponsored by MTA Queensland, Spirit Super and Women & Leadership Australia, aim to support the career advancement of women working in the automotive industry through two, fully funded, high-impact training programs.

The first course, Leading Edge, is designed to assist females in early-career positions to transition into confident, capable, and motivated leaders. This scholarship has been awarded to Gabrielle Clift, a recently qualified light vehicle mechanic from Highfields Mechanical in Toowoomba.

Back in 2020, Gabrielle was named MTA Queensland’s Apprentice of the Year for her skill, work-ethic, and passion for the industry. That same year, she also took home Capricorn’s Rising Star Award, further evidencing her talent. Now, two years on, Gabrielle has only continued to impress, recently joining Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Red Bull Ampol Racing team at the 2022 Bathurst 1000 event in early October.

With dreams of one day becoming the owner of her own mechanical workshop, Gabrielle hopes to use the Leading Edge course to build her business skills.

Gabrielle said, “Working in the automotive industry can be hard, but it has so much to offer if you truly embrace it. If you are given an opportunity, take it; if you are given advice, listen to it; and if you have a chance to do something different, do it. Never stop learning.”

The second course, Executive Ready, is designed to stretch mid-level leaders and propel them towards executive-level positions, bolstering skills and mindsets. This scholarship has been awarded to Kim Siegmann, the Owner and Managing Director at Cairns Car Brokers.

Kim oversees a range of operations in the business from accounts, financing, and licensing, to marketing, administration, and customer service. Over her 15 years managing the business, Kim has placed high importance on continual professional development, with plans to use the Executive Ready course to advance her leadership capability and unlock the full potential of her staff.

As Vice-President of the Cairns Businesswomen’s Club, Kim would also like to use the opportunity to grow her presence in the community, supporting women across both the greater Cairns region, and the automotive industry as a whole.

Kim said, “Women are woefully underrepresented in the automotive industry, but this is beginning to change. I want to be a leader in my community and promote the growth of women in business; be an influencer, a mentor, and help others break their glass ceiling. I believe this scholarship will provide me with the tools and resources necessary to do this, and I am grateful to be given this opportunity.”

Supporting career advancement is just one part of MTA Queensland’s Auto Women initiative, which was established at the beginning of this year to provide a supportive environment for women working across the automotive industry.

Kellie Dewar, Deputy CEO at MTA Queensland said, “We have a long way to bridge the gender imbalance in the automotive industry, but this year has seen the beginning of something new, an initiative that will bring together a community of women.”

“Women can, and do, bring fresh insights and vision to all levels of business, and seeing leaders such as Gabrielle and Kim use their skills to further themselves in their careers is inspiring to others.”

Both the Leading Edge and Executive Ready courses are run by Women & Leadership Australia, who are a sponsor alongside Spirit Super and MTA Queensland. The sponsors agree the courses are an exceptional opportunity to assist women in the automotive industry to reach their career aspirations.

Find out more HERE.

26 October 2022