CEO’s message

Capricorn’s 50 celebrations kick into top gear this month, with the first of our 50 Years Strong-themed Gala Dinner & Tradeshows taking place in Sydney on 21 September. The Gala Dinner & Tradeshows then roll on to the other states and New Zealand, giving Members like yourself a wonderful and much needed opportunity to get together, swap war stories and let your air down.

These will be the last of the celebrations I will attend as Group CEO before I step down in December 2024 and hand over the reins to Brad Gannon. As you can imagine, I’m really looking forward to getting along to each of these events and catching up with a lot of friends and familiar faces from my 18 years with Capricorn and my long and enjoyable career in the auto industry. I hope you’ll come along to the Gala Dinner & Tradeshow nearest you. If you do, please come up and say hello.

While we’re celebrating, let me say a huge congratulations to the 2024 Capricorn Rising Stars Overall Winner, Megan Toia. The 21-yearold second-year apprentice from regional Western Australia beat an inspirational shortlist of five finalists, impressing judges with her commitment to her trade and her passion for the industry.

Megan comes from the wheat and sheep farming community of Moora, 200km north of Perth, and travels 60km to work at Badginarra Motors each morning. As I come to the end of my career it’s both reassuring and pleasing to see how enthusiastic and driven the young people just starting their careers are about the automotive industry. And I’m very proud of the role Capricorn has played in finding our future leaders, through the Capricorn Rising Stars Award.

Finally, next month is our Annual General Meeting, this year taking place on 26 October. The meeting will be hosted as a hybrid event allowing Members throughout Australia and New Zealand to vote and attend online. If you happen to be in the area (perhaps attending the WA Gala Dinner & Tradeshow) it’s a good opportunity to come in and see the our Head Office for yourself. Towards the end of September, all eligible Members will be sent an email providing further information, including where you can vote in advance, register to attend the AGM in person or virtually on the day.

I hope to see you very soon at one of Capricorn’s celebrations.

David Fraser

Group CEO