The Automotive 30% Club has highlighted some of the highly skilled HR executives and women in technical and technological leadership roles with the winners of its latest Inspiring Automotive Women awards.
The Automotive 30% Club’s Inspiring Automotive Women Awards recognise incredible women who are creating inclusive cultures in their organisations and are personally acting to encourage other women to join the sector.
This year the Automotive 30% Club has chosen to honour women who are trailblazers in roles traditionally occupied by men and who are proving to other women that they can succeed; and HR executives who are driving significant change in their organisation to ensure women will thrive as well as their male peers.
Nominations were made through the “Inspiring Automotive Women – Who Inspires You?” LinkedIn campaign that ran in July 2024, and was sponsored by the Lithia UK businesses Evans Halshaw, Stratstone and Jardine Motors Group.
This open and democratic way to show public appreciation for colleagues resulted in an incredible 508 nominations for the awards, from companies within and beyond the Club members.
The winners were selected on criteria including helping to promote the company as an employer of choice for women, mentoring or coaching female colleagues and driving change to ensure companies serve female customers better.
In addition, the Automotive 30% Club is showing appreciation to two Special Recognition Award winners and the recipient of the 2025 Founders Award.
The Automotive 30% Club’s Partner Sponsor is The IMI, and the winners will come together to receive their awards on March 12 in a private ceremony at The IMI Annual Awards Dinner.
The overall Inspiring Automotive Woman of The Year Award winner will be presented with her award at The IMI main awards ceremony.
Julia Muir, founder of the Automotive 30% Club, said: “Congratulations to all our Inspiring Automotive Women Award winners.
“They are working hard above and beyond their day jobs to ensure that the automotive industry is a place where women of all profiles can thrive.
“It is fabulous to see so many fantastic women inspiring their colleagues to build inclusive businesses.”
Inspiring Automotive Women 2025 Award winners
| Name | Job title | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Lynne McBurney | Group People Director | Arnold Clark |
| Catherine Faiers | Chief Operating Officer | Auto Trader |
| Jessica Montgomery | Master Technician | Vertu Motors Group |
| Sally Foote | Chief Commercial Officer – Sell My Car | Carwow |
| Nicola Jackson | Partner Support Executive | Close Brothers Motor Finance |
| Sam Panayides | Sales Director | Cox Automotive |
| Melanie Phillips | Site Manager | DLG Auto Services |
| Amanda Yasmin Houssein | Director of Product Portfolio | Enterprise Mobility |
| Karena Shahid | Regional Account Manager | LKQ Euro Car Parts |
| Laura Giri | Lead Garage Trainer | First Step Trust |
| Justine Rebecca Bates | People Director | Group 1 Automotive |
| Tracey Newton | Chief People Officer | JCT600 |
| Claire Bell | Head of Diversity and Inclusion | Lithia UK |
| Jenna Randall | General Manager | Roco Truck Bodies |
| Karen Greenwood | Head of HR | Solus Accident Repair Centres |
| Nicola Sutherland | People and Culture Director | Steer Automotive Group |
| Katie Grey | Technical Trainer | Thatcham Research |
| Carolyn Bundey | Senior Manager Strategic Projects | Toyota GB |
| Vikki Gill | Business Technical Support Manager | TrustFord |
| Rachel Harrison | Group Vehicle Operations & Logistics Manager | VW Group UK |
| Louise Baker | Company Director | Womanic |
| Olivia Mills | Remarketing Manager | Zenith |
Special Recognition winners
Awarded in honour of services to effectively include and communicate with the female EV customer.
| Name | Job title | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Erin Baker | Editorial Director | Auto Trader |
| Michelle Breffitt | Co-Founder | Women Drive Electric |
The 2025 Automotive 30% Club Founder’s Award
Awarded in honour of services to create a female apprentice talent pipeline through schools engagement and inclusive apprentice search programmes.
| Name | Job title | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Nicola Thompson | Partnership Integration Marketing Manager | Vertu Motors Group |
