10:44 am, January 15, 2026
The Auto30Club has achieved its goal of securing 30% of automotive leadership roles being filled by women five years early, as it announces its Inspiring Automotive Women 2026 award winners.
Since its founding in 2016, the Auto30Club’s KPI has been to increase female representation in the car industry.
Its goal was to see 30% of key leadership and decision-making roles being filled with diverse women by 2030. But, as of the start of 2026, that KPI has been met.
The achievement comes as the organisation announces the winners of its annual Inspiring Automotive Women awards.
Nominations for the awards opening in July 2025 through a LinkedIn campaign called ‘Inspiring Automotive Women – Who Inspires You?’.
Over 500 nominations were made, with judging based on how nominees supported women in the workplace and wider industry, through actions such as outreach, mentoring, building networks, creating inclusive policies, and championing underrepresented groups. It also considered their visibility and impact as role models, trailblazers and influencers, and how they drove change to improve inclusion and better serve female customers.
The winners, which are listed below, will come together at a private ceremony at The IMI Annual Awards Dinner on March 11, with the winner being named and presenter with their 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’ve been named as inspirational and have been recognised by their colleagues for the amazing work they are doing to help attract, develop and retain women by removing the barriers that have historically excluded them.
‘Gender-balanced businesses can access much larger high performing talent pools, have a more balanced approach to risk, make better decisions and demonstrate more creativity and innovation. These are the results of an inclusive culture that optimises the contribution of all employees.
‘Our award winners have all played a critical role in establishing that culture in their own organisation and have had a hugely positive impact on the wider automotive sector.’
Auto30Club Inspiring Automotive Women 2026 Award Winners
Aliscia Burrows – diversity and inclusion manager, TrustFord
Alyx Gregory – head of commercial operations and leasing, Carwow
Charnjit Saranna – co-founder and chief operations officer, EZOO
Clare Bradley – commercial director motor, Close Brothers Motor Finance
Emma Johnson – director marketing, Toyota (GB) Plc
Gemma Benbow – people and organisation director, Kia UK
Gemma Tomlinson-Reynolds – head of retail change, implementation and communication, Halfords
Georgia Spybey – panel technician, Solus
Hannah Yates – head of resourcing, Autotrader
Harriet Glover – regional director, Motus Commercials DAF
Heidi Physick – chief people officer, Oodle Car Finance
Holly Tuffnell – TPS regional performance manager, VW Group UK
Katie Martin – customer experience director, Group 1 Automotive
Kayleigh Smithers – group HR director, Johnsons Cars Ltd and Brayleys Cars Ltd
Lisa Jay – Range Rover programme chief, JLR
Lorraine Dodd – ISIT director, Renault UK
Lottie Roberts – operations director, Direct Affinity CX
Mandisa Gordon – finance business change manager, JLR
Sarah Greaves – director of commercial finance, Lithia UK
Sarah Sillars OBE HonFIMI – C-suite and board advisor
Sian Hall – UK people director, Lithia UK
Vicky Clarke – head of rental operations, Zenith Vehicles
Vicky Gardner – retail group sales director, Cox Automotive
Vikki Chauntry-Brooks – CMA general manager, Vertu Motors
