Industry heavyweights back accord
A number of major players in the automotive industry have become the latest organisations to join the Women in Automotive New Zealand Accord.
Sime Darby, Giltrap Group, Custom Fleet, Inchcape, and AJ Motors have all signed up to the accord, which aims to attract more women to the sector and support the retention and advancement of women into senior leadership roles.
The accord was launched in May this year and Armstrong’s was the first company to announce its backing for the scheme.
By becoming members of the Women in Automotive NZ initiative, these organisations have committed to upholding the seven accord principles which foster diversity, equity, and inclusion ensuring a more inclusive and dynamic workforce.
Kym Mellow, Inchcape New Zealand’s general manager, says: “Inchcape is committed to empowering and developing our female colleagues, as we believe that by attracting the best talent and fostering an inclusive and diverse environment, we will all thrive for today, for tomorrow and for the better.
“As we continue to promote greater inclusion and diversity in the industry, we proudly join the Women in Automotive Accord.”
Richard Giltrap, managing director of Giltrap Group, notes joining the accord demonstrates a commitment to developing and supporting women to succeed and reach their potential while at the company.
“Diversity is important as it drives performance and innovation across our business. We look forward to delivering on our action plan,” he adds.
Women in Automotive NZ says the latest additions to the accord reflect an industry-wide commitment to work together to drive meaningful change within the automotive sector.
It also notes the combined scales of the five newest signatories, with Sime Darby alone employing more than 1,200 staff across its retail and commercial divisions.
Pat McKenna, Sime Darby’s managing director New Zealand and director of commercial vehicles Asia Pacific, says it is delighted to show its support for greater female representation in the automotive industry.
“Our aim is to hire the best people for each job, which means making sure women have fair chances at all roles,” he explains.
“Our focus is on creating the right culture to accommodate and welcome more women into our group. Working with Women in Automotive is a key part of this.”
For more information about Women in Automotive NZ and the accord, visit womeninautomotive.nz/info/sign-the-accord/ or email info@womeninautomotive.nz
