Ace Parking strengthens its commitment to Women in Parking

Ace Parking has strengthened its support for women across the parking industry through its sponsorship of Parking Australia’s Women in Parking initiative for 2026.

Ace Parking General Manager Steven Whitford announced the company’s support at the Women in Parking networking event at Darling Quarter in Sydney on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

Speaking at the event, Steven made clear that Ace sees the sponsorship as part of a broader commitment to creating opportunities for women within both Ace Parking and the wider parking industry.

This isn’t just about sponsorship. It’s about commitment.

Steven reflected on how significantly the parking industry has changed over the past decade. Historically perceived as an operational, asset-heavy and predominantly male industry, parking is increasingly being shaped by technology, automation, customer experience, data and innovation.

That change is creating broader career opportunities and changing the skills and perspectives the industry needs.

At Ace, we recognised that saying we support women in parking isn’t enough. Support must be visible, structured, measurable and lived daily.

Ace Parking’s approach includes more inclusive recruitment practices, encouraging applicants from outside traditional parking backgrounds, creating clearer career and leadership pathways, providing flexibility around family and caring responsibilities, and supporting women into visible leadership roles.

The company is also encouraging greater industry participation through events, panels and initiatives such as Women in Parking.

Steven told attendees that these actions are not simply about representation. Ace believes a broader range of perspectives strengthens organisations and the industry itself.

Diverse teams solve problems better, innovate faster and connect with customers more effectively.

For Ace, those capabilities are particularly relevant as parking continues to become more technology-enabled, customer-focused and data-driven.

Ace Parking’s connection with Women in Parking is also reflected within its own team. Client Relationship Manager Natalie Allsop was a finalist in the Women in Parking category at the 2025 Parking Industry Awards before ultimately being named the 2025 Emerging Leader of the Year.

Natalie has since taken on an industry leadership role as Vice Chair of Parking Australia’s Women in Parking Subcommittee, extending her contribution beyond her role at Ace Parking.

For Steven, attracting more women into parking requires deliberate action rather than waiting for change to occur organically.

It requires intention. It requires structure. It requires cultural change.

He also challenged the industry to consider the broader question of how parking can create clearer entry pathways, remove outdated perceptions, develop visible role models and better communicate the range of careers now available across technology, operations, customer experience and leadership.

Ace Parking’s sponsorship of Women in Parking forms part of that commitment.

By supporting initiatives that create opportunities for professional development, industry connection and greater participation, Ace aims to contribute to a parking sector in which more people can see a pathway to build their careers and progress into leadership.

As Steven concluded at the Sydney event:

The future of parking isn’t male or female. It’s inclusive, innovative and intelligent.

Ace Parking is proud to support Women in Parking and the ongoing work of Parking Australia’s Women in Parking Subcommittee.