AADA Convention and Expo
MCEC Melbourne | 21-22 July 2027
Sponsor advertisement
AADA Convention and Expo
MCEC Melbourne | 21-22 July 2027
Sponsor advertisement
That is what the AADA Impel Feature Luncheon at AADA 2026 is set to deliver.
On Thursday 30 July at 12:30pm, delegates will hear from Dr Louise Mahler, one of the world’s leading experts in body language and communication.
In an industry built on leadership, relationships, trust and influence, that makes this one of the most compelling sessions on the Day 2 program.
The AADA Impel Feature Luncheon is the only lunch session on the program to feature a speaker, and this year’s guest brings a perspective that reaches well beyond the automotive sector.
Dr Louise Mahler works at the intersection of leadership presence, communication, body language, confidence and influence. She helps leaders refine their voice, body language and frameworks to enhance presence, amplify confidence and build influence.
That is highly relevant to dealership leaders.
Whether it is leading teams, managing customers, presenting to stakeholders, negotiating outcomes or creating confidence inside the business, the way leaders communicate matters.
Dr Louise Mahler brings an unusual and powerful mix of academic depth and stage presence.
She is recognised as a Top 30 Global Guru in both Body Language and Communication, has delivered keynote presentations for organisations including Adobe, Gartner and the Million Dollar Round Table, and blends academic expertise, opera performance and behavioural science to help leaders be confident, trusted and heard. She holds a PhD in Business, qualifications in Organisational Psychology, is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and also holds a Bachelor of Music.
That combination of performance, psychology and leadership communication is part of what makes her perspective so distinctive.
What makes this session especially relevant for an AADA audience is that it is not simply about speaking well.
It is about how leaders are perceived, how trust is built, and how confidence is communicated – often before a word is even spoken. Dr Mahler’s work focuses on gravitas, leadership confidence and influence, all of which have direct relevance for dealer principals, general managers and senior dealership leaders.
In a dealership environment, that can affect:
This is what gives the session its edge. It is not just about presentation skills. It is about leadership presence.
Dr Mahler has worked with organisations including Microsoft, Qantas, Salesforce, NAB, Macquarie, PwC and Deloitte, reflecting the breadth of her work across leadership, communication and executive development.
And the response to her sessions speaks for itself.
Event organisers have described her as highly engaging, practical and memorable. One major conference organiser said she was the highest-rated speaker across a three-day Las Vegas conference, while others have said she was the highlight of the event and that attendees were still talking about her session afterwards.
That kind of response is telling.
The most effective event speakers do more than entertain. They bring energy to the room, challenge thinking, and leave people with ideas they remember and use long after the session ends.
The AADA Impel Feature Luncheon offers something different from the more operational and market-focused sessions across the Convention.
It creates space for delegates to think about the human side of leadership – the way they communicate, the way they influence, and the way they are experienced by others.
In a business environment where confidence, trust and presence can shape outcomes every day, that is not a soft topic. It is a serious leadership issue.
And it is one that is likely to resonate strongly with dealership leaders.
The AADA Impel Feature Luncheon will take place on Thursday 30 July at 12:30pm as part of the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo. With Dr Louise Mahler bringing her expertise in body language, communication and leadership presence to the stage, this session is set to be a major Day 2 drawcard.
Join us at the 2026 AADA Convention & Expo on 29-30 July at ICC Sydney and hear from a speaker who can challenge the way you think about leadership, presence and communication.
