10 minute read
Automotive Stalwart Looks Back on His Career
by Boylen
For Neville Gibb, the automotive industry was something he was born into. Embracing it with open arms, the Jamestown born and bred local ultimately helped shape its future direction at the national level.
His meteoric rise yet politely spoken nature reflect the MTA Life Member’s career which has spanned more than five decades and seen him appointed to some of the industry’s highest positions. This was all achieved with one eye firmly remaining on his local community where his passion for automotive and his hobbies all started and still continues to do this.
“It was just a given that if you were in the automotive industry you joined the South Australian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (the precursor to the Motor Trade Association)” Neville explains.
“I joined my father’s business in 1977 and started attending the Upper North MTA zone meetings in the early 1980’s.”
From 1982 onwards Neville became a Dealer Principal and helped oversee its growth in a country town. After attending more and more zone meetings, he decided to put his hand up for the MTA Board and was elected in 1997.
From there the Jamestown local was elected MTA Vice President in 2008 before serving as President from 2011 to 2014 and Past President from 2014 through to 2020. He was concurrently a Motor Trades of Australia (MTAA) Board Director from 2010 and was the national peak body’s Chairman from 2013 to 2023.
In the latter role, Neville brought industry leaders, government and decision makers together in Canberra for the inaugural MTAA Automotive Summit in 2015. With the impending demise of vehicle manufacturing in Australia, he assured officials that automotive would continue to be a robust and viable industry.
“Contrary to popular belief the Australia automotive industry does not end with the final closure of vehicle manufacturing,” he remarked during his Summit opening address.
“More than 340,000 Australians will remain employed in businesses keeping a fleet of more than 20 million vehicles moving, contributing more than $38 billion to the national economy.”
Throughout the Summit business owners and MTA members from across Australia along with Federal politicians discussed and planned the future needs of the industry which continue to be felt today.
Looking back, his highlights locally include the MTA receiving a South Australian Training Award, hosting the 2012 President’s Luncheon, the development of the new workshop at the MTA’s Training and Employment Centre, purchasing the Cleve Training Centre, presenting Life Memberships to long-term board members Peter Roberts and Frank Agostino and the integration of the Northern Territory into the MTA.
After a long and successful career, his attention is never far away from the trends and requirements of tomorrow.
“Much of the MTA’s work is not visible to members. This is the lobbying of both Government, Opposition and cross benches on legislation that has impacts on their business members,” Neville said.
“The auto industry has been forced into rapid change due to worldwide pressure for zero and low emission vehicles. Electric vehicles might not necessarily be the long-term solution to this, with alternative fuels only still to come especial in the heavy vehicle sector. The MTA needs to have a strong presence advocating a true national unified stance on behalf of the industry,” he concluded.
Neville’s extraordinary leadership, counsel and guidance as well as his business acumen and determined manner have greatly assisted the state and national organisations. On behalf of the MTA, congratulations on a successful career and thank you for your dedication in helping strengthen our industry.
