Celebrating Women in the Automotive Aftermarket on International Women’s Day
The Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA) proudly celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) with a special breakfast event, bringing together women from across the automotive industry under a unified banner of progress and change. Sponsored by Bapcor, GPC, Penrite, Amotiv, and AAAA, the event was more than a celebration—it was a call to action to improve gender diversity and strengthen support networks within the industry.
Women remain significantly underrepresented in automotive, with one of the lowest female workforce participation rates of any industry—trailing only mining and construction. Despite this, momentum is building, and the AAAAWomen initiative is at the forefront of driving meaningful change.
“The automotive aftermarket sector is stepping up to create real opportunities for women. We are working together, across brands and organisations, to support and retain the talented women already in our industry while also encouraging more women to join,” said Lesley Yates, AAAA Director of Government Relations & Advocacy.
Industry research has consistently shown that two key factors have the greatest impact on attracting and retaining women in male-dominated industries: the attitudes of senior leadership and the presence of formal and informal support networks. The AAAAWomen project is addressing both, with direct engagement from business leaders and the launch of Connection Circles—a structured peer mentoring and support initiative inspired by a successful program in the US run by Auto Care.
“These Connection Circles provide women in our industry with a trusted space to share experiences, develop skills, and build the networks that are crucial for career growth. It’s another example of how we are creating change—not just talking about it,” Yates added.
The statistics underscore the need for action. Women currently represent less than 20% of the total automotive workforce in Australia, but in critical areas such as automotive trades, that number is even lower. In key technical and leadership roles, the figure drops further—less than 1% of qualified mechanics are women. Yet, businesses with gender-diverse teams have been shown to outperform their competitors in both financial and operational outcomes.
“Change won’t happen overnight, but we are moving in the right direction. This breakfast was a celebration of what we have achieved so far, but it was also a commitment to continue the work. The automotive aftermarket is stronger when we work together, and AAAAWomen is bringing industry leaders, brands, and individuals into the conversation to ensure real, long-term impact,” Yates said.
The sold-out industry breakfast was a resounding success, with leading industry women sharing their insights, alongside an inspiring keynote from guest speaker Lisa O’Neill. The energy in the room was electric, making it a truly memorable and motivational event.
About AAAAWomen
AAAAWomen is an initiative of the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA), designed to improve the recruitment, retention, and career development of women in the automotive industry. Through industry collaboration, leadership engagement, and structured support networks, AAAAWomen is working to drive lasting change in gender diversity across the automotive aftermarket sector.
AAAAWomen Steering Committee Members
Aileen Hays (GPC), Ange Wall (Accelerate Automotive), Barbara Harrison (Amotiv), Fiona Murphy (mycar), Hiliary Bradbury (AGA), Lesley Yates (AAAA), Merryl Dooley (Bapcor), Priscilla Robb (Penrite).
