The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) in partnership with Bank of Ireland is delighted to host the 10th Women@SIMI event!. 

Now in its milestone year, Women@SIMI continues to offer a valued platform for professionals across our industry to connect, share insights, and build lasting relationships. The event is also a celebration of the extensive contributions made by women across the Motor Industry in Ireland.

This event aims to provide a platform for professionals within our industry to come together to network, exchange experiences and create business contacts. SIMI remains committed to promoting inclusion and empowerment within the Motor Industry.  

Mary Kennedy, Master of Ceremonies, welcomed an impressive panel of speakers, including Susan Russell, CEO of Retail Bank of Ireland, Helen Westby, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland, and Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor & Columnist. The panel shared valuable insights into their careers, leadership, business, innovation, and their views on the future of work. Following the panel, guest speaker Dr. Maureen Gaffney, a distinguished Psychologist and author, delivered a captivating talk on resilience, understanding yourself, and female leadership.

As part of a sector review, SIMI carried out a survey of 120 women from across the industry to gather their perspectives before the event. Survey results found that over half (62%) of respondents have observed positive changes in the motor industry's attitude towards women employees over the past 3 years. Almost 70% of respondents had seen an increase in the number of new female employees recruited. While over half of respondents reported having the same opportunities for advancement as their male colleagues, it’s clear there is still scope for improvement.

Flexible working policies were ranked as the most supportive policy in respondents’ organisations. For the majority, these policies have had a positive impact on their working experience and career in the motor industry. While not all organisations currently offer flexible arrangements, this highlights an opportunity for the industry to extend these benefits more widely.

Emma Mitchell, Operations Director/Company Secretary SIMI “Since the event's inauguration, our industry has experienced enormous changes. Brexit, Covid, Government policy changes, VRT restructuring, and a transformation in the types of vehicles on our roads, from 73% of new registrations being diesel in 2014, compared with just 17% today. While BEVs have grown from less than 1% to 18%. These challenges are real, but so too are the opportunities to adapt and innovate. To ensure that our industry remains strong and resilient in the years ahead, we need a diverse workforce with greater female participation and opportunities in all our sectors. Significant steps have been taken; however, there is room for improvement in organisation policies to recruit and retain employees.”

Karen Kennedy, Senior Sales & Relationship Manager - Motor, Corporate and Commercial Banking at Bank of Ireland, addressed attendees, “Bank of Ireland is proud to support Women@SIMI as it marks the 10th anniversary of driving progress and inclusion in the motor industry. Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed a powerful shift with more women stepping into leadership roles, shaping strategy, and redefining what’s possible. As a bank committed to equality and innovation, we’re honoured to stand beside SIMI in championing a more diverse and dynamic future for the industry”.

SIMI remains committed to promoting inclusion and empowerment within the Motor Industry.

Our Previous guest speakers have come from a variety of backgrounds to share their own personal stories and insights as to how they became leaders within their chosen profession. 

• 2025 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Dr. Maureen Gaffney, Psychologist, Speaker & Bestselling, Panel Discussion with Susan Russell, CEO of Retail Bank of Ireland, Helen Westby, Managing Director, BMW Group Ireland and Geraldine Herbert, Motoring Editor & Columnist
• 2024 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Sharon O’Buachalla, Managing Director of Ayvens and Aoife O’Grady, Head of Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI)
• 2023 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Louise Grubb CEO TriviumVet, Norah Casey Broadcaster, entrepreneur and human rights campaigner
• 2022 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Sharon Keegan, founder of Peachylean Athleisure wear, Lucy Gaffney, founding director of the Digicel Group
• 2019 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Breege O’ Donoghue Executive Director, Penneys, Alison Comyn , Award Winning Journalist
• 2018 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Francesca McDonagh, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland, Geraldine Herbert, Editor & Motoring Journalist, Gerry Hussey, Performance Psychology Consultant
• 2017 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Anna May McHugh, Managing Director National Ploughing Association (NPA), Paula Fitzsimons, Managing Director of Fitzsimons Consulting, Michelle Spillane, Director of Global Marketing, RTÉ.
  
• 2016 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Moyagh Murdock CEO of the Road Safety Authority, Penny Ferguson, Founder of the Living Leader and Regina Doherty, Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State in the Department of An Taoiseach. 
  
• 2015 Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Louise Phelan, Business Speaker, PayPal VP Global Operations EMEA, Mary O’Rourke, Former Government Minister and writer, Gráinne Cronin Former Aer Lingus Pilot. 
  
• 2014 Inaugural Women@SIMI Guest Speakers; Katie Taylor, Olympic Gold Medalist, Nicola Byrne, CEO and Founder of Cloud 90, 11890 and Stenics Media, Lynne Cantwell, Ireland's most capped women's rugby player, Aifric Campbell, Novelist and former MD of the trading floor at Morgan Stanley, Rosemary Smith, the legendary rally ace and SIMI Irish Motor Industry Award Winner.