About us
About us
Women in Automotive New Zealand is a working group collective of organisations that are equally passionate about the automotive industry; NZME’s DRIVEN, MITO, Motor Trade Association, Motor Industry Association, and NZ Collision Repair Association. Our purpose is to bring together organisations of influence within the automotive sector behind a co-ordinated and aligned effort to deliver on our ambition, which is to actively increase the participation of women across the automotive industry, and the advancement of women into automotive senior leadership roles.
We have a vertical integration strategy which is why we have partners in our collective who specialise in working with school leavers and apprentices right through to those who represent the corporate new vehicle sector.
Natasha Callister
Natasha Callister is a senior commercial and automotive leader with extensive experience across media, finance and consumer industries in New Zealand.
She entered the automotive industry as Head of Revenue, and later General Manager of DRIVEN, one of New Zealand’s leading automotive marketplace businesses, which at the time listed more than 48,000 vehicles for sale. She also served as Head of Automotive at New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME), leading national automotive revenue strategy while overseeing daily automotive news and car review content across the group.
Natasha was previously Chief Commercial Officer at MTF Finance, one of New Zealand’s specialist automotive financiers, where she led commercial growth, franchise leadership, marketing and strategic partnerships across the business.
In 2023, she co-founded Women in Automotive New Zealand, a collaborative industry initiative focused on increasing the participation, visibility and advancement of women across the automotive sector.
Outside of automotive, Natasha serves as an independent director and is currently Country Manager of Pernod Ricard New Zealand, bringing broad leadership experience across governance, strategy and commercial performance.
Nalini Dutt
Nalini Dutt is a senior commercial and transformation leader with over 20 years of experience across India and New Zealand, with a strong foundation in the automotive sector spanning OEMs, customer experience, partnerships, and business growth.
Her connection to the automotive industry was shaped early in her career with organisations such as Hyundai Motor India, VE Commercial Vehicles, and Yamaha Motor Company. Working closely with customers, dealers, and partners, she developed a deep appreciation for the role mobility plays in people’s lives - not just as a product, but as an enabler of independence, safety, and opportunity.
She currently leads the home services business at AA New Zealand, where she is responsible for growth, customer experience, operations, and strategic partnerships across a national service network. Her role extends her passion for supporting customers beyond the vehicle into everyday life.
Nalini is a Core Committee Member of Women in Automotive New Zealand and is actively committed to increasing the presence and impact of women across the automotive sector through leadership, mentoring, and advocacy. She is also involved with organisations such as Rape Prevention Education and Business Mentors New Zealand.
Jo Fisher
Jo Fisher is MITO’s nominated Women in Automotive New Zealand Committee Representative. Her role at MITO is Group Manager – Marketing and Communications.
MITO is a founding partner of Women in Automotive and is committed to building a more inclusive and diverse automotive sector in New Zealand. MITO takes a proactive approach to attracting and retaining women in the automotive sector by combining targeted outreach, practical support, and visible pathways for career progression.
Through initiatives such as scholarships, school engagement, and employer partnerships, MITO actively promotes automotive careers to women and highlights the breadth of opportunities available beyond traditional perceptions of the industry.
Stewart Gibb
Stewart has been with Women in Automotive New Zealand since 2023 and is currently the General manager of the Collision Repair Association(CRA) . Prior to his role in the CRA he worked in a multi-national energy organisation with senior roles in ANZ and APME, including senior governance roles in NZ.
Working in previous roles in mostly engineering based industries, he saw the lack of female participation in the industry as a concern. When industries are crying out for skilled workers, Stewart says “it’s ridiculous that have half of the population not fully participating. Diversity of thought is an element of success in business, in boardrooms and in all endeavours, diversity in gender is a vital part of this.”
Stacey Spall
Stacey's connection to the motor industry started in childhood with family businesses as well as growing up around motorsport. With a professional background in finance, sales and technology, she now owns and operates an MTF Finance business, providing finance options to local business and personal customers, especially with their vehicle purchasing requirements.
In a governance capacity, Stacey is also committed to the automotive industry and has been a District or National Councillor for AA New Zealand for nearly 15 years, served as a Trustee on the AA Research Foundation and now serves as a Board Member for AA New Zealand.
Her husband is also a Director and Dealer Principal of a multi-franchise, new vehicle group and this keeps her in touch with the challenges of ensuring women feel supported and confident to apply for roles at all levels of a dealership operation.
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