Leading with Impact: Women Driving Innovation in Parking
Apr
It was 4am in Sydney, but totally worth it.
On 8 March 2025, I had the absolute privilege of joining the global conversation with the National Parking Association’s (NPA) Women in Parking Spring Leadership Conference in celebration of International Women’s Day. Representing Australia on an international panel alongside trailblazing women from the US and Europe, I was struck by how much we shared — not just in our challenges, but in our ambitions to create a more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking parking industry. Globally.
The session was a half-day workshop focused on leadership, growth, innovation, and empowerment. And from my side of the world, it felt like we were all in the same room. Here are a few of the biggest takeaways that continue to energise me days later.
Technology is Reshaping Parking Industry Sector
Parking is no longer just about physical space — it’s about movement, connection, and smart integration into broader urban ecosystems. The rise of EV charging, integrated access control, and seamless user experiences all point to the same truth: our industry is evolving fast, and technology is at the heart of it.
We spoke at length about how smart parking solutions are supporting the future of mobility, sustainability and city life. That’s something we live and breathe at That’s My Spot and Parking Spotz. We’ve developed innovative smart parking bollards that integrate with building management systems and digital platforms, helping managers better allocate and protect EV bays, visitor parking, and shared-use zones — all while reducing manual administration and boosting compliance.
Innovation in parking tech isn’t about gadgets — it’s about solving real-world problems with smart, scalable solutions. We need more of it. And we need more women shaping it in parking.
🎥 Super GENEROUSLY, the NPA has so kindly made Session recordings available here — NPA’s WOMEN IN PARKING, open to all champions of women in parking!
And for those of you who are a bit time poor, I’m summarising the 5 Key TAKEAWAYS here:
Authenticity Is Leadership
One of the most powerful messages shared on the panel was this:
Confidence isn’t always loud.
It’s consistent.
Women in leadership bring a diverse range of skills, experiences and communication styles. And that’s exactly what our industry needs. Authentic leadership means showing up fully, speaking with clarity, and staying true to your values. It also means giving others the space to do the same.
Diversity Drives Better Thinking
Balanced teams aren’t a nice-to-have. They’re critical to solving complex challenges.
When women are equally represented at decision-making tables, we unlock a broader range of ideas, insights, and innovations. Whether it’s parking product design, operational leadership or policy development — having different voices in the room drives better outcomes.
There’s still work to do to bring more women into the parking sector, especially in technical and leadership roles. But initiatives like the NPA’s Women in Parking panel are helping to build momentum. And every time we show up, we show what’s possible.
Mentorship Creates Momentum
So many of us spoke about the importance of trusted networks. Mentorship isn’t just a feel-good concept. It’s a practical, strategic pathway to leadership.
Mentors can open doors, build confidence, and guide you through challenging moments. And equally, being a mentor is just as powerful. When we lift each other up, the whole boat rises.
That’s why I’m passionate about mentoring and supporting emerging talent in our parking industry. We need to keep sharing what we’ve learned, and paying it forward.
With women as engineers, software developers, business development, marketing and operations – the Parking industry has it all.
Collaboration Beyond Borders
One of the most energising aspects of this panel was hearing from women across the globe. Whether we were talking about tech, leadership, or culture, the resonance was clear: we might be in different markets, but our vision is shared.
Global collaboration will be critical as we shape the next chapter of the parking industry. From integrated mobility solutions to sustainability mandates, we need to be learning from each other and building together.
What Can We Do Next?
If we want to support more women in parking, here are a few tangible actions:
- Create visibility: Share women’s success stories across the industry
- Build inclusive hiring pipelines: Especially for technical and leadership roles
- Support flexibility: Empower women to balance leadership and life
- Foster safe, supportive workplace cultures
- Sponsor women for speaking, panel and board opportunities
We don’t need to sit around waiting for change any longer.
We need to drive it ourselves.
Final Thoughts
Events like the NPA Women in Parking panel remind me why I love this industry.
We’re not just solving problems in car parks.
PARKING IS ABOUT PEOPLE — and how we choose to live together.
We’re shaping how people move, live and experience our cities.
With parking innovation, we get to do it in a way that innovation, inclusion, and impact.
To every woman in parking — and to every ally and champion — thank you for showing up and pushing our industry forward.
The road ahead is brighter because of you.
It’s wonderful to be able to lead with impact.
