Reuters Events unveiled the 2023 Automotive D.R.I.V.E Honour Winners, which aims to celebrate excellence in the automotive industry through recognition of innovation, commitment, impact, and leadership.
D.R.I.V.E. considers five categories and includes 25 honours which span the globe: DEI Commitment, Reducing Emissions, Innovation, Visionary Leader, and Empowering Women.
For driving diversity, equity, and inclusion within the auto sector, the judges selected the following DEI Commitment Honour Winners:
- Toyota (Going Beyond – DE&I at Toyota Motor Europe);
- Mazda UK (Dealership Gender Balance Initiative);
- Winnebago Industries (All In, Outdoors);
- AutoTrader (Driving Change Together. Responsibly; and
- PAVE (Raising Diverse Voices for Safer Streets through AV Education).
For PAVE, the judges said: “Just WOW! Collaboration across so many sectors, covering equity for so many aspects of the diversity wheel! Even the DOT for accessibility.”
For stand-out leadership, vision, and dedication to the auto sector, the judges selected the following Empowering Women Honour Winners:
- Lauren Tedesco, SVP, Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA),
- Dr Isotta Cerri, Head of Material Engineering, Toyota Motor Europe,
- Laura Brailey, Head of Retail Operations, Mazda UK,
- Kristen Siemen, Vice President Sustainable Workplaces & Chief Sustainability Officer, General Motors, and
- Angela Zepeda, Chief Marketing Officer, Hyundai.
Of Tedesco, the judges said: “A really strong application about a true trailblazer who has not rested on her laurels. Lauren is one to watch as she continues to do great things for women in the automotive industry.”
The judges, experts in their respective fields, were pulled from a range of areas. Some include Cheryl Thompson, Founder/CEO of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion and Advancement; Axel Cooley, Board of Directors, Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation; and Patrick George, Editor-in-Chief of InsideEVs, The Verge.
Heiko Seitz, Global eMobility Leader at PwC; Erin Baker, Editorial Director at AutoTrader; and association experts, such as Philippe Vangeel, Secretary General, AVERE, The European Association for Electromobility, were also judges.
For the full list of winners, click here.
