Barbara Cox Awards 2022
nominees: Emma Loveday
of AA DriveTech
Brief biography of you and your career
Emma Loveday works at DriveTech (part of The AA) as their UK Commercial Development Manager, specialising in fleet and driver risk consultancy. She works with DriveTech’s larger commercial clients to recommend relevant and effective driver risk management programmes. Prior to her time at DriveTech, Emma spent 8 years working in fleet operations for two of the largest and diverse fleets in the UK – Thames Water Utilities and Mitie. At both organisations she was responsible for the management of the business occupational road risk – looking after the road safety of more than 3,000 employees for Thames Water and 8,000 employees for Mitie, driving a diverse range of vehicles including 4×4s, tankers, plant machinery and LCVs. During her tenure at Thames Water, she achieved a 20% reduction in vehicle incidents, resulting in significant reduction of incident and insurance premium costs, improving road safety awareness and the overall road safety culture of the business. For her work at Mitie, the organisation was awarded two Brake Fleet Safety awards.
Emma is a member of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFF) and acts as Deputy Chair for their Risk and Compliance Committee and will shortly be joining their newly formed Training, Education & Leadership committee – headed up by Lorna McAtear. The AFP is the fleet industry’s premier membership organisation providing advice and guidance regarding the key issues of the day within the fleet and transport industry that are impacting on efficiency and effectiveness of vehicle operations and also offers personal development and career prospects via its highly acknowledged education and training programmes. She is a member of the Deloitte’s Women at the Wheel working group, having been invited to the inaugural event in 2018, and is also a member of Women in Transport (an independent professional network showcasing the diversity of careers in transport, providing access to senior decision makers and supporting the professional development of women working in transport).
As well as being passionate about the inclusion, advancement and recognition of women in the fleet and transport industry, Emma is also committed to the progression of sustainability in our sector, with specific focus on electric vehicle transition and adoption, having recently been recognised as an ‘EV Champion’ in 2021 for her work around highlighting the importance of driver education, training and positive mindsets of drivers when transitioning fleets to electric vehicles. Driver mental health and wellbeing, and its importance in being able to drive safety is another topic that Emma champions and is passionate about, having had her own experiences with mental health in the past.
Outside of work Emma is an active member of the performing arts community, directing, choreographing and performing with the esteemed and award winning Tring Theatre Company. Having most recently co-directed and choreographed Calendar Girls the Musical, she will shortly be performing on stage, taking the lead female role in the hit musical ‘Kinky Boots’.