AUSMASA sponsors MTA WA networking event celebrating women's contributions across the sector.
Women working in automotive and allies came together at an AUSMASA-sponsored event in Perth to network, discuss opportunities for women in the industry, and share insights about building a more sustainable and inclusive workforce.
Hosted by Motor Trade Association of Western Australia (MTA WA) CEO Neil Le Febvre and President Robyn Cook in early August 2026, the Auto Women Social – Advocating, Promoting and Connecting Women in Auto, attracted a fantastic turnout of women and allies from across the local automotive industry.
Highlighting the variety of career pathways on offer in automotive, guest speakers Leonie Knipe and AUSMASA’s Emma Burgess-Anderson shared their inspiring accomplishments in the industry.
Leonie, Dealer Principal of Avon Valley Toyota, Isuzu Ute, Nissan & Mitsubishi, spoke about finding her way into the automotive industry by chance while raising four young boys, before building a successful dealership business and being recognised as the 2019 Telstra WA Businesswoman of the Year.
Emma reflected on beginning her career as a trade apprentice, progressing through leadership and training roles at Nissan, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, ultimately finding her niche at AUSMASA, where she combines her passion for stakeholder engagement with deep automotive expertise as the Principal Industry Engagement Advisor for Automotive.
The discussion focused on what the automotive industry can do to attract, retain and empower more women for the long term. Leonie encouraged women to actively support one another throughout their careers, highlighting the importance of mentorship, encouragement and lifting others up as they progress into leadership roles.
Emma followed with practical advice for employers, encouraging them to consider the language used in job advertisements to ensure it is genuinely welcoming and inclusive, helping more women see themselves in automotive careers from the outset.
Together, the speakers also highlighted the value of resilience, adaptability and workplace flexibility in supporting women through different stages of life and careers.
The evening reinforced a shared message: while the industry has made significant progress, continuing to invest in women and create environments where they can build rewarding, lifelong careers has never been more important.
The event reflects AUSMASA’s ongoing commitment to supporting gender equity across the sector. In its stewardship capacity, AUSMASA has supported Auto Women to highlight automotive career pathways in and the important role the VET sector plays in opening those pathways to more women.
Read more about AUSMASA’s Automotive Career Pathways project >