Jeff Cowan

Jeff is the creator Pro Talk, North America’s #1 Service Department Sales Training.

Recognized as the creator of the modern-day walkaround and selling processes for service departments, Jeff has over 40 years of sales experience and more than 29 years Training Automotive Service Departments.

Jeff Cowan's presentation, How to get your customer retention above 80% in 12 months will be part of our Special International Program, available only On-Demand.

The Hon Bruce Billson

Bruce Billson commenced his role as Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) in March 2021.

Bruce brings experience and knowledge to the role of Ombudsman, and an understanding of the issues facing small business, having started his own advisory business in 2016.

Bruce has shown his dedication to small business through various board appointments, including the Franchise Council of Australia, Deakin University Business School and Australian Property Institute, and more recently through his appointment as Administrator for the City of Whittlesea.

We are honoured to welcome The Hon Bruce Billson MP as our Keynote Address Speaker in our AADA Cox Automotive Keynote Session on Tuesday 14 September.

Glenn Mercer

Glenn is an independent automotive researcher with over 35 years of relevant experience, beginning in 1985 at McKinsey as Partner in the Automotive Practice.

Since 2006 he has been a sole practitioner with his work with NADA well-recognised across the international automotive industry.

Glenn will be presenting Dealership of Tomorrow: 2025 and Beyond, and EVs in the USA: Just the Facts as part of our Special International Program, available only On-Demand.

Bernie Campbell

Bernie is the Chairman of Angle Finance, a new Australian asset finance business established in conjunction with Deutsche Bank and US private equity giant Cerberus providing vehicle and equipment finance in the SME sector through brokers and strategic alliances with equipment distributors.

Prior to Angle Finance and in the role of Managing Director, Bernie built two significant Australian independent finance companies, Capital Finance and Pepper Asset Finance and served on the International Executive Boards for Pepper Group and Lloyds Bank (International Division).

Join Bernie on the F&I Panel, hosted by Ahmed Mahmoud, in our AADA General Session on Tuesday 14 September.

Dale McCauley

Dale is the Automotive Sector Leader for Deloitte, working closely with colleagues in the US, UK, China and Europe to analyse key industry trends and help the Australian market transition through the changes.

With over 23 years' experience in account, financial management, benchmarking, business consulting and profit improvement processes for retail motor dealers, manufacturers, financiers and legal advisors, Dale has dedicated his career to help improve the Automotive Industry.

Join Dale McCauley and Lee Peters in What has changed in the last year in our AADA General Session on Tuesday 14 September.

David Martin

David is the President of The Mar-Kee Group, an international Automotive sales training company that has served over 5,400 dealerships worldwide, and brings over 38 years of sales, management and training experience to the table.

He has been honored to speak at 41 National and International Conventions including 11 times at NADA and 7 times at AADA. 

David joins us with Amazing Customer Service as part of our International On-Demand Program.

Tommy Gibbs

Tommy Gibbs is President of Tommy Gibbs & Associates specializing in Leadership Skills and Used Vehicle Management, with over 30 years experience in the automobile business with 23 years as a New Car Dealer.

He’s the number one requested speaker for Twenty Groups with a unique hands on experience that allows him to bring real world processes to the table designed to make Dealers money today, without being disrupting to their organizations.

Join Tommy as part of our Special International Program, available only On-Demand for Maximising Your Most Valuable Franchise.

Steven Bragg

Steven, Partner at Pitcher Partners, focuses on business advisory services for retail dealers, OEMs, distributors and suppliers, including audit, tax, mergers & acquisitions, board and executive strategy, consulting, and one-on-one mentoring.

Drawing on his local and international experience over the last 20+ years, Steven provides his clients with strategic insight and knowledge of the automotive industry. His understanding of key business drivers combined with his industry knowledge ensures clients are ‘opportunity ready’.

Join Steven as he leads our Fixed Operations panel on Wednesday 15 September.

Lee Peters

Lee is a Partner at Deloitte Motor Industry Services team, and has worked with automotive clients across Asia-Pacific in numerous roles, including dealership optimisation, network finance analysis and OEM transformation strategy.

Lee has nearly 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry, and is charged with overseeing our OEM distributer network and dealership performance optimisation practice.

Join Lee Peters and Dale McCauley in What has changed in the last year in our AADA General Session on Tuesday 14 September.

Evan Stents

Evan is the Lead Partner of HWL Ebsworth’s Automotive Industry Group and is considered one of the leading automotive industry lawyers in Australia. 

Evan acts for a broad range of clients in the automotive industry including motor vehicle dealers, component producers, automotive service providers, after market providers and automotive industry group associations including AADA and VACC. 

Evan will be part of our Advocacy Panel hosted by James Voortman, in our AADA Cox Automotive Keynote Session, on Tuesday 14 September.

Gus Balbontin

As the former executive director and CTO of Lonely Planet, Gus led one of the most loved brands in the world through significant disruption. Gus remains heavily involved with the startup scene around the world as a founder, investor and advisor.

Gus will delve deep into the digital transformation of the past two decades, sharing stories of how so many companies mishandled this seismic shift and how today’s business leaders can capitalise on the disruption that’s still occurring today.

Join Gus at our AADA Carsales Luncheon on Wednesday 15 September.

Michael Crossland

One of Australia's most inspirational speakers, Michael Crossland has been a fighter since birth, defying the odds of surviving not only a rare form of life-threatening cancer, but being the sole survivor of a horrific cancer drug trial.  His fight continues to this very day, having spent nearly ¼ of his life in hospital.

Raw, real and truly life changing, Michael’s story will undoubtedly bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your heart, as he teaches the keys to success, the importance of embracing change and the mindset needed to achieve your goals.

Join Michael at our AADA MotorOne Business Breakfast on Wednesday 15 September.

David Kain

David is the President of Kain Automotive Inc., an industry leading provider of Automotive Interest Sales, Fixed Ops, Business Development Center and Digital Marketing training and consulting.

Kain Automotive teaches dealers how to successfully market and sell vehicles online.

Join David in Digital Marketing Simplified! as part of our Special International Program, available only On-Demand.

Candice Crane

Candice is the People Strategist of Crane Automotive Resources.

As the Organizational Development Director of a large automotive group in the United States, Candice designed and led a transformational change that improved the customer experience and reduced employee turnover by replacing the Finance silo with cross-functionally trained recent college graduates. 

Candice will present Redesign Your People Strategy to Improve Your Customer Experience and Drive Profit as part of our Special International Program, available only On-Demand.

David Speers

Leading journalist David Speers will host the AADA 2021 Future Focused National Convention & Expo.

‘Speersy’ hosts ABC TV’s ‘Insiders’ political panel program on Sunday mornings, after two decades with Sky News as political editor and host of several programs. He won his first Walkley in 2014 for his interview with Attorney General George Brandis, and his second the following year for his ‘The Fixer’ interview with Christopher Pyne.

In 2016, News Corp Australia named ‘Speersy’ one of Australian television’s 50 most powerful people. We look forward to him bringing his experience and expertise to our Convention in September.

James Voortman

James Voortman is the CEO of the Australian Automotive Dealer Association.

James has extensive policy and automotive advocacy experience and has worked as an advisor to a Federal Minister as well as several senior policy roles within a range of industry association. In an unprecedented year of challenge and change, James has led the AADA to historic achievements in franchise reform and better outcomes for franchised new car dealers. James is future focused, on ensuring the policy settings of governments and regulatory authorities align with fair, balanced and equitable outcomes for this vital $60 billion industry and the dealers who invest in it.

James will be the Moderator of our Advocacy Panel, in the AADA Cox Automotive Keynote Session, on Tuesday 14 September.

Kerri Wise

Kerri is the co-founder and President of Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN), a non-profit organisation that seeks to improve diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry.

She is also the Vice President of Marketing at AutoFi, a digital retail pioneer and financial technology company. Her career spans 22 years in automotive, a decade of which in technology.

Kerri will part of our Special International Program, presenting The Power of Diversity in Automotive: Why you can’t afford to ignore Diversity and Inclusion, available only On-Demand.

Simon Bowkett

Simon is the Managing Director & Founder of Symco Training.

He is the author of Words That Sell Cars, and began his career in motor vehicle sales in Australia, moving to the UK in 1995 to broaden his experience. In 2000, he saw a gap in the market for trainers that could bring 'the real world' into training, and formed Symco Training to build a team of trainers and consultants who could bring their practical experience and proven success to their training methods.

Simon will present Words That Sell Cars as part of our International On-Demand Program.