MTA Queensland names 25 finalists for 2026 Industry Awards

Finalists named across five award categories

MTA Queensland has named 25 finalists for its 2026 Industry Awards, spreading the shortlist across five categories and setting the winners to be announced at a gala on Saturday 28 November at The Star Brisbane, Queen’s Wharf. The association says it represents employers across Queensland’s automotive retail, service and repair sectors, which frames the awards as an industry-wide recognition program rather than a single-segment honour. ²¹

Who made the shortlist

The Small Business Award for Excellence finalists are Accelerate Automotive, Empire Auto Garage, Exclusive Auto Centre, Hi-Mech Auto Solutions and Ja-Max Industries. The Large Business Award for Excellence shortlist comprises ASR Collision Specialists, Bundaberg Motor Group, DMH Group, Q Automotive Group and Sommerville Smash Repairs. ²

The Women in Industry category finalists are Ange Thornton of Ultra Tune Macgregor, Bec Marsh of Varsity Lakes Mechanical, Caitlyn Hayes of Komatsu, Jessica Colucci of Isuzu and Taylor Deeth of MLG. The Community Award finalists are B&B Fibreglass, Bill Robertson Toyota, BMAS Biloela, Pearson Automotive and Toowoomba Steering & Suspension. ²

The Innovation Award finalists are BodyShop Solutions, Foton Mobility Distribution, Premium Diagnostic Equipment, Track Back Auto and Vesta Workwear. In its reporting, AutoTalk noted that collision repair has a strong presence on the list, with ASR Collision Specialists and Sommerville Smash Repairs in large business, BodyShop Solutions in innovation and B&B Fibreglass in community; it also noted franchised retail representation through Bundaberg Motor Group, Q Automotive Group, DMH Group and Bill Robertson Toyota. ²

Format, sponsors and timing

MTA Queensland chief executive Rod Camm said the finalists reflect innovation, commitment and leadership across the industry, from family-owned workshops and large automotive groups to apprentices beginning their careers and individuals driving positive change in their communities. The same AutoTalk report said gala sponsors include Care Super, Tanda, Busy at Work, SP Tools, Penrite Oil, the Australian Automotive Dealer Association and MAS National, and that early bird ticket pricing runs until Friday 30 October. ²

Industry context from MTA Queensland

MTA Queensland says the state’s automotive retail, repair and service sectors comprise about 17,500 businesses, employ around 90,000 people and contribute an estimated $10.2 billion a year to the Queensland economy. That scale helps explain why the awards are positioned as a broad recognition of businesses and individuals across the sector rather than a narrow specialist competition. ²