Women in the Tyre Industry (WITTI) was founded in 2024 by Founder Melissa Latter and Co-Founder Sana Bahtic. We created WITTI to build a community where women working across all areas of the tyre industry could connect, support one another and share their experiences.

The tyre industry is incredibly diverse, with women working in operational, technical, administrative, leadership and hands-on roles, but there had never really been a dedicated space bringing those women together. WITTI provides that space through networking events, industry engagement, social media and opportunities to share the stories of women working within the industry.

Our aim is to create genuine connections, increase the visibility of women in tyres and encourage more women to see the tyre industry as a place where they can build a long-term and rewarding career.

The tyre industry has traditionally been very male dominated, particularly in operational and hands-on roles such as tyre fitting. While there are many incredible women working within the industry, they can often be spread across different companies, sites and roles, meaning there are limited opportunities to connect with other women who understand their experiences.

When Melissa and I started WITTI, we wanted to address that lack of connection and visibility. We also recognised that many people outside the industry don't realise how many different career pathways exist within tyres. By creating a stronger network and showcasing women already succeeding in the industry, we hope to challenge some of the traditional perceptions around who belongs in tyres and show other women that there are genuine opportunities available to them.

WITTI is focused on creating opportunities for women to connect in a relaxed, supportive and inclusive environment. Since launching, we have held a range of networking and social events that bring together women from different companies, roles and areas of the tyre industry.

We also use our online platforms to highlight the women behind the industry, share their career stories and celebrate their achievements. An important part of WITTI is showing that there is no single pathway into the tyre industry. Women are contributing across tyre fitting, operations, training, administration, management, sales and many other areas.

We also work with businesses and industry supporters who believe in what WITTI is trying to achieve. Ultimately, our approach is about building connections rather than competition and creating a community that supports women across the wider tyre industry.

One of the biggest impacts of WITTI has been seeing connections form between women who may otherwise never have met. Women from different companies and different areas of the industry are able to come together, share experiences, build relationships and realise that there is a much broader community around them.

We have also seen growing support from businesses and individuals within the tyre industry, which has been really encouraging. For us, that demonstrates that creating a more connected and inclusive industry isn't only important to women; there are many people across the industry who want to support positive change.

WITTI is still growing, but every new connection, conversation and woman who feels encouraged to enter or remain in the tyre industry is an impact we are proud of.

WITTI has already started reaching beyond Western Australia. We have held an event on the East Coast and have connected with women and industry professionals across Australia and internationally. While our international presence is still relatively small, it has been exciting to see the WITTI name reaching people in the tyre industry around the world.

Looking ahead, we would love to build on that momentum by holding more events across Australia, strengthening our national network and continuing to grow our international connections. We also want to create more opportunities to showcase the different career pathways available to women within the tyre industry and share the stories of women working in roles across the sector.

Our goal isn't necessarily to become the biggest network, but to build a strong, meaningful community that continues to connect, support and create opportunities for women in the tyre industry, wherever they are.

You can follow WITTI on LinkedIn to stay connected and keep up with their latest updates.