The winners of the 2023 Autocar Great Women: Rising Stars awards have been announced. These awards recognize the top up-and-coming female talent in the motoring industry across 11 different categories.
The Autocar Great Women awards, organized in collaboration with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and supported by executive search specialists Ennis & Co, aim to celebrate the success of rising stars in various roles within the industry. These individuals are employed by companies such as JLR, Mini, and Pendragon.
A total of 124 Rising Stars were recognized across the 11 categories, with each category having a winner. All of these Rising Stars were regarded as exceptional in their respective fields and were honored at the annual Autocar Great Women event, which took place this year at Stellantis’s UK headquarters in Coventry.
Among the winners were Julie Stears, chief engineer at JLR, who is responsible for engineering quality; Megan Harrall, Mini UK’s strategy, planning, and operations manager; and Emma Whyld, Toyota UK’s section manager for employee relations. Whyld was recognized as the winner in the new ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ category, which acknowledges individuals making efforts to make the automotive sector more inclusive and appealing to a wider range of people.
Autocar’s editor, Mark Tisshaw, commented on the high standards of this year’s entries. He said, “The quality of our entries was so strong that it made judging not only more difficult but more enjoyable than ever before. I know all of our winners will continue to showcase our industry at its best, both in their fast-progressing careers and personal development. We will watch their careers grow with great interest.”
Rachael Prasher, the Chair of the judging panel and managing director of Haymarket Automotive, added her congratulations to all the winners and highlighted the inspiring variety of talent and roles in the automotive industry. She emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives and talents during this period of significant industry change.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the SMMT, also commended the winners, describing them as rising stars in their respective fields and emphasizing the career opportunities available in the automotive industry. He expressed hope that recognizing the achievements of these future business leaders would encourage more talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in automotive, contributing to the industry’s transformation in the UK and globally.
The event featured several speakers, including Lynn Calder, CEO of Ineos Automotive; Diane Miller, plant director for Vauxhall Motors; and Claire Miller, advisor and former director at Octopus Electric Vehicles. Additionally, a panel debate was held with industry experts such as Lynda Ennis, founder of Ennis & Co, Tina Lovelock of Brompton Bicycle, Kristian Elvefors, managing director of Volvo Car UK, and Ivan Sarti, IT director of Group Lotus.