MTA Queensland has kick-started the Auto Women Initiative, with over 50 women (and male leaders) from across the automotive industry coming together to celebrate and support one another at the first Auto Women Connect virtual event.

Held via Teams on Wednesday, 9 February 2022, the event provided an outlet for women to connect, network, and seek advice from industry leaders as they navigate the barriers that still exist for females in the trades.

From apprentices, mechanics, and workshop managers to business owners, trainers, and executives, the virtual meet-up brought together a vast pool of knowledge and experience to draw on.

Joining the event as a special guest speaker was Radmila Desic, a strong supporter of women in the trades and a recently appointed Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service in advancing women in the construction industry.

Radmila spoke about ‘How to Deal with Disrespect when Working in a Man’s World’ and offered invaluable advice for those facing diversity issues in the workplace.

Following Radmila’s talk, attention turned to the Auto Women Mentor team for an interactive ‘ask for advice’ session, where attendees could raise any issues – from a small personal problem to a ‘big picture’ ongoing issue – for the group to address.

Participants asked various questions on breaking down barriers, building resilience and changing workplace culture. The Auto Women Mentor Team, consisting of nine female leaders, were eager to help – sharing their learnings and providing feedback on how to handle or overcome these challenges.

They also spoke about the current opportunities available to women in the industry and how to make the most of them. The group was particularly excited to hear about Auto Women’s four new professional development scholarships coming out in 2022, as well as the various resources promoting diversity to employers.

“We wanted to create a platform where women across the industry could connect, share their stories, and seek advice. I believe we achieved this,” said Kellie Dewar, MTA Queensland Deputy CEO and Auto Women Mentor. “For our first event under the Auto Women initiative, it was fantastic to see so many people get involved. Thank you to all those who attended. I am excited to see this initiative grow, and encourage everyone to come along to the next event.”

The February event was just one of three Auto Women Connect events for the year, with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, 20 April 2022.

Don’t miss out! Follow the Auto Women Facebook page to stay up to date on the latest news and upcoming events.

17 February 2022