Kate Presnell

Women in Automotive Spotlight: Kate Presnell, Managing Director, Kate Presnell Bodyworks

At Women in Automotive, we love showcasing leaders who are not only excelling in their field but also reshaping what the industry can look like. Kate Presnell is one of those leaders. As the Managing Director of Kate Presnell Bodyworks in Launceston, Tasmania, Kate is driving cultural change in an industry traditionally dominated by men — proving that leadership, innovation, and integrity are genderless qualities.

From taking over her family’s collision repair business to challenging outdated industry norms and advocating for safer, fairer, and more customer-focused repair practices, Kate’s journey is one of courage, vision, and impact. In this interview, she shares how she built her career, the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership, and why the automotive industry is an exciting place for women to thrive.

Please explain your job to us?

I’m the Managing Director of Kate Presnell Bodyworks — a collision repair business in Launceston, Tasmania, originally founded by my parents in 1981. While I lead the overall strategy and growth of the business, my role goes far beyond the day-to-day operations.

Kate Presnell Bodyworks is deliberately different. I’m responsible for shaping the direction of our organisation, developing our leadership team, and ensuring every part of our business reflects the high standards we stand for — from the technical work through to customer experience. I spend a lot of my time on strategic planning, operational oversight, people development, and driving cultural change within the business.

I’m also passionate about challenging outdated norms in the automotive industry — advocating for fairer, safer, and more customer-centric repair practices across the board. At the end of the day, my role is about building a business that leads with integrity, empowers its people, and sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in our industry.

Why does this job/industry get you out of bed in the morning? Where did this passion come from?

I’m deeply passionate about the automotive repair industry — not just the craft of what we do, but the potential to reshape the system around it. I grew up watching my parents build our family business through sheer determination, despite what I could see were incredibly unfair and often harsh conditions imposed by an industry that’s too often broken and biased. That lit a fire in me. I’m motivated every day to challenge the status quo and create a better, fairer model. Change the way things have always been done and create a future where Australians — as consumers — have access to a fair, transparent, and safe repair process they can genuinely trust.

What is the pathway to a role like yours? 

If someone were looking to grow into a role like mine, the most important thing they would need is to be coached and developed by a strong leader — someone who can help them become a strategic thinker, build high-level emotional intelligence, and learn to lead with influence. Those are the qualities that underpin your ability to run a successful organisation. Of course, you also need to understand finances, marketing, operations, and structure — but without the ability to bring people with you, those skills won’t take you far.

I didn’t come into the business through the workshop — my background is in HR and business operations, which gave me a solid foundation in leadership and organisational structure. But I’ve also spent years gaining technical knowledge through hands-on learning, formal training, and by taking ownership of key operational areas — especially when I was responsible for production earlier in my career. That technical understanding is vital if you’re going to lead an organisation like ours with clarity, credibility, and confidence.

It also builds respect. I make a point of learning what my team does and how involved and skilled their work truly is — and I make it clear to them that I see it. They’re exceptionally capable at what they do, and I’d never pretend I could do their job day in and day out — just like I don’t expect they’d want to do mine. That mutual respect is what keeps everything running.

What does a typical work day look like?

No two days are ever quite the same — but at this stage of the business, my time is mostly spent working on the business, not in it. I focus on strategic planning, analysing systems, building team capability, and aligning every part of the organisation with our long-term vision.

Right now, I’m in the process of preparing for maternity leave, which means systemising key processes, mentoring my leadership team, and ensuring the business can continue running smoothly without me in the day-to-day. That handover has only reinforced how important structure, culture, and clarity are to sustainable success.

My “typical day” might include reviewing KPIs, working on marketing or advocacy campaigns, developing leaders, or resolving the occasional roadblock — but above all, it’s about keeping the business aligned to our values and vision.

We operate on a 4-day work week and have deliberately created a culture that’s high-performing but people-first. A big part of my role is protecting that — making sure the way we work stays aligned with what we stand for.

What skills are critical in your job?  

Emotional intelligence is the most critical skill I use daily — it’s what allows everything else to work cohesively. Strategic thinking, empathy, adaptability, and communication all rely on your ability to read the room, understand people, and lead with awareness. It’s what enables you to make decisions that consider the bigger picture and bring your team into alignment with your vision.

But to succeed in this industry, you also need to be incredibly strong and clear on your purpose. Automotive is a massive, global sector — and there are powerful forces within it, including OEMs and insurers, that often dictate how things should be done. But just because that’s their view doesn’t mean it’s right for our business. You have to know what you stand for — in our case, putting the consumer first, prioritising safety, and upholding repair quality standards — and have the conviction to hold that line, even when it means going against the grain. That clarity is what protects our integrity and defines our business.

Pivotal moment in your career? 

There have been several pivotal moments that shaped the leader I am today. Early in my career, working in HR gave me insight into how organisations function from every angle — people, compliance, operations, and leadership. That foundation became even stronger when I stepped outside of Tasmania and took on roles in Western Australia’s mining sector and then into Papua New Guinea. Each experience stretched my understanding of people, business, and resilience — and that knowledge now underpins everything I do.

But the most defining moment in my automotive career was when I purchased the business from my parents. That was the shift. It gave me complete clarity, direction, and a renewed level of dedication to pursue the change I’d always wanted to see in the industry. No longer just supporting someone else’s vision — I had full responsibility and the freedom to build something of my own. Since that moment, I’ve led with intention and created a business that reflects my values, my standards, and my belief in what’s possible when you back yourself.

One thing the industry can do to make itself more appealing to women?

To be honest, I don’t believe any industry belongs more to one gender than another. If a woman wants to do something — in automotive or anywhere else — she absolutely should. I believe, wholeheartedly, that women can do anything they set their mind to.

That said, my business is deliberately different — and I’m aware not every workplace in our industry fosters the same level of respect or opportunity. I think there’s a greater opportunity for leadership to set the tone. We need more people willing to influence — who are pushing for higher standards, and creating organisations where professionalism, respect, and capability matter most.

The goal shouldn’t be to chase statistics just to look good. It should be about building genuinely inclusive workplaces where the best person gets the job based on merit — their skills, values, and contribution — not because of their gender.

Do people understand what you do?

Sometimes I feel a bit like Chandler from Friends — no one’s entirely sure what I do, and I’m not convinced they’re all that interested in finding out! I was talking to my husband recently about how our kids love watching him build things — he’s got tools, noise, and action. Meanwhile, I’m leading a business, solving big-picture problems, building systems and strategy… but from the outside, it’s not exactly something they can “see.” No hammers, no drills.

That said, I’m not too concerned about assumptions. What matters to me is what our customers experience — and the recognition we get through our reviews and community reputation speaks volumes. As long as our customers feel respected, safe, and well looked after, I know the work I’m doing (even if it’s invisible to some) is making an impact.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

What’s stood out to me most isn’t one specific piece — it’s the mindset around how to use advice. Someone once told me to think of every strategy, system, insight, lesson, or experience as a tool in a toolbox. You don’t need to use every tool all the time. The key is knowing which one to pick out for the situation in front of you.

Just because someone successful hands you a tool doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you — or for that situation. The wisdom is in choosing the right tool for the job, not in collecting the biggest set.

So, pick the tool that you want to use from your toolbox for the job you need to do.

What is your advice to young women considering a career in the automotive industry?

The automotive industry is full of opportunity — there’s so much room to grow, learn, and carve out a career that truly excites you. But the most important thing is to understand why you want to be part of it. To really succeed, you need a genuine interest in the industry — a passion that fuels you.

For me, I not only grew up with parents who ran an automotive business, but I’m a rev head at heart. If money were no object, I’d have the biggest shed imaginable, filled with every type of car under the sun. That love for cars and the industry gives my work energy and purpose.

So be clear on what draws you in, and what you want to achieve. There’s absolutely a place for you — and it’s 100% worth pursuing. The industry has a real buzz about it, and thanks to communities like Women in Automotive and Women in Collision, there’s an incredible network of support and encouragement that makes you feel part of something bigger.

And honestly — there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing a vehicle go through our shop. Watching it transform, witnessing the craftsmanship at every stage — from the structural repair to the flawless paint finish and that final detailed presentation — it’s something to be genuinely proud of. The skill and care that goes into every step is incredible. If you love the idea of being part of something that takes real talent, precision, and teamwork, this industry will absolutely reward you.