The winners of the 2023 Autocar Great Women: Rising Stars award have been announced, recognising the motoring industry’s best up-and-coming female talent spanning 11 categories.

Held in conjunction with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and assisted by executive search specialists Ennis & Co, the Autocar Great Women awards celebrate the most successful rising stars across a wide section of the industry, employed by firms from JLR and Mini to Pendragon.

There were 124 Rising Stars recognised across 11 classes – as well as a category winner in each class. All Rising Stars were judged to be outstanding in their field and recognised today at the annual Autocar Great Women event, held this year at Stellantis’s UK headquarters in Coventry.

Among the winners were Julie Stears, chief engineer at JLR 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 named winner in the new ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ category, which recognises those making the automotive sector more appealing to a wider range of people. 

Mark Tisshaw, Autocar’s editor, said the standards were higher than ever this year. “The quality of our entries was so strong that it made judging not only more difficult but more enjoyable than ever before," he said. "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.”