Vehicle Standards: An Overview

Lesley Yates is Director of Government Relations and Advocacy for the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association.  Lesley manages AAAA advocacy campaigns, designing creative and innovative solutions to address the greatest challenges facing our industry and then lobbying and encouraging government to make the right decisions to support our industry. In 2021, after a decade of AAAA campaigning for fair and open competition, the new motor vehicle repair law was passed in Australian Parliament. This legislation is the result of a tireless and persistent grassroots campaign by the AAAA.  Lesley is now tackling our ongoing substantial industry challenges, including the workforce shortage crisis and government vehicle modification regulations.

Doug is a highly experienced Engineering Director, who has worked within Automotive Engineering sector for over 17 years. Doug heads up the Engineering function at AutoPacific Group, a leading manufacturer of Automotive Accessories and Trailering Products in the Asia Pacific region. Some of AutoPacific’s brands include Hayman Reese, CruiseMaster, Kaymar, Rola Roof Racks, ECB, Trojan parts and Trimotive. Doug has extensive knowledge of the Australian and New Zealand Automotive industry particularly the design, verification, validation of Automotive Accessories and Trailering products. Doug is at the forefront of Engineering thinking and thought leader within the Automotive Accessory and Trailering industries, specialising in the design of structural and cosmetic functional accessories and trailering products. He is the Chair of two Australian Standards, as well as sitting on the committee for multiple Australian Design Rules.