SPEAKER BIOS
DREW SCHNEHAGE
CEO, Solvd Group
Innovation Group Australia( a Solvd Group Company), CEO, Drew Schnehage believes in people, her passion for what she does is contagious, and people easily buy into her vision. She is an entrepreneur and creator at the core of her being.
With over 34 years’ experience in the insurance and fleet industry, Drew is a seasoned professional with a strong background in leadership, strategy development and business growth. Drew joined Innovation Group in July 2017 to head up the commercial division of the South African operation. In April 2019, Drew was appointed Managing Director to oversee the Australian operation and lead their strategic direction. Prior to joining the group, Drew was the CEO of Aquarius Underwriting Managers, a specialist UMA and multiple industry award recipient in South Africa. Following on an acquisition by Hollard in 2014, Drew took on the responsibility of General Manager for personal lines and distribution.
Over the last almost 6 years, Drew has steered Innovation Group Australia through a large scale of change from both a business and staffing perspective and is focussed on setting the business up for future success.
Her family is the centre of her world, her eldest daughter is following in her footsteps and started her career at Innovation Group. Her youngest daughter is a full-time dancer and she is aiming to become a professional in the performing arts.
CHRIS SHAW
General Manager – Motor Vehicles, Pickles
Chris Shaw is the General Manager of Motor Vehicles at Pickles, with over 17 years of experience across the business. He leads all relationships with Pickles’ motor vehicle customers nationally, ensuring strategic alignment and value delivery. Chris has held senior roles including Head of Stock Management, Regional Manager, and Branch Manager. He has driven key national initiatives across fleet strategy, operational efficiency, and remarketing. Most recently, Chris was instrumental in the rollout of Pickles’ EV battery health testing program, supporting the evolving electric vehicle market.
EDEN SHIRLEY
Founder and CEO, AutoGuru
Eden Shirley is an accomplished entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of AutoGuru, Australia’ s leading provider of automotive maintenance quoting and booking solutions.
In 2022, Eden launched FleetGuru to streamline fleet maintenance by digitising approvals and repairer payments for some of Australia’ s largest fleet operators. In just two years, FleetGuru has scaled to manage over 250,000 vehicles, authorising hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs across a network of 12,000 repairers in Australia and New Zealand.
Purpose built for FMOs and their customers, FleetGuru enhances operational efficiency, cost control, and transparency across the entire maintenance lifecycle.
AutoGuru has been recognised in the Deloitte Tech Fast 50 and the Australian Financial Review’ s Most Innovative Companies, reflecting its commitment to digitally transforming how fleet maintenance is managed through smart and scalable technology.
JASON SMITH
Program Director – Real-World Testing, Australian Automobile Association( AAA)
Jason is the Program Director at the Australian Automobile Association’ s Real- World Testing Program. An engineer, he has spent the last four years with the AAA working in technical policy development and advocacy on issues such as vehicle standards, vehicle emissions, fuel quality and consumer interests. Prior to this, he spent 7 years as a test and policy engineer testing vehicles with the ANCAP Safety rating program.
SAM STREET
Editor, Australian Paint & Panel Magazine
Sam Street has been an automotive journalist and editor for over 35 years working on consumer, custom and B2B magazines. She edited Ford ' s customer magazine which was sent to nearly a million people and was one of the first personalised and versionalised magazines. Since moving to Australia in 2010 she has been editor of Paint & Panel, a brand which now encompasses a weekly e-newsletter, conferences, podcasts and awards as well as a bi-monthly magazine. She was instrumental in founding the Women in Collision Awards over 10 years ago an event that is strongly supported by the industry.
48 AUSTRALASIAN FLEET EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MAY 21-22 2024