THE FIA WORLD COUNCIL FOR AUTOMOBILE MOBILITY AND TOURISM ENDORSES NEW SECRETARY GENERAL AND APPROVES FIA MOBILITY STRATEGY 2022-2025

Today the FIA World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism has endorsed the appointment of Willem Groenewald as the new Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism. Willem joins from the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) where he has been CEO since 2019. Willem’s appointment from one of the FIA’s Clubs is representative of the new Presidential Team’s focus on member empowerment. Under the new structure he will report directly to the CEO Natalie Robyn.  

The FIA thanks Interim Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, Onika Miller who will continue in role into Q1 of 2023. Her new role will be communicated at a future date.   

Commenting on Onika Miller’s time as Interim Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, FIA Deputy President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism Tim Shearman said: 

“Onika has made an invaluable contribution as Interim Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism during a time of significant transition for the organisation. Her hard work on our new Mobility Strategy is a testament to her leadership and knowledge.” 

Commenting CEO Natalie Robyn said: 

‘‘Willem’s experience will be a big benefit to our Federation, and exemplifies our Club focussed mentality. I look forward to working with him to implement our ambitious strategy to make mobility safe, affordable, sustainable and accessible for all.” 

Commenting on his endorsement as Secretary General for Automobile Mobility and Tourism at the FIA, Willem Groenewald said: 

“To be involved in an organisation such as the FIA is a rare opportunity.  I see my role as serving the FIA, its Members, and the wider community of citizens throughout the world that benefit from the FIA’s continued dedication to improving mobility and tourism. I am also proud to represent Africa and South Africa at the highest echelons in the FIA and believe this is indicative of the FIA’s commitment to reflect the composition of the Clubs its serves, and which again underscores the FIA’s goal of improving mobility and tourism on a global scale.”

Today’s meeting was also marked by the adoption of the new Member-focused FIA Mobility Strategy 2022-2025 by the FIA World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism.

A guiding framework for the programmes and activities of the FIA Mobility Division over the next three years, the Strategy consists of four objectives: to be a global voice for safe, sustainable and affordable mobility; to develop stronger Regions and Clubs; to transform the FIA into a knowledge-led federation and to be a diverse, inclusive and socially responsible federation.

The Strategy was the result of an unprecedented worldwide consultation process embodying the FIA Senior Leadership Team’s commitment to empower FIA Members and Regions, bring them together and build on their strength and diversity.

It was built around the commitments made by the FIA Senior Leadership Team in its FIA for Members Manifesto along with seven key topics reflecting the priorities of FIA Mobility Members in the 2021 FIA Membership Survey. The essential goals were then enriched via regional consultations and through integration of the inputs on regional challenges and opportunities identified in the Regional Growth Plans of all four Mobility Regions. 

Placing democracy, transparency and collaboration at its heart, the process involved the World Council at each step of the drafting process along with FIA Members and Mobility Regions, as well as the FIA Senior Leadership Team, the FIA Mobility Programmes Committee and the FIA Mobility and joint Commissions. 

Following the voluntary retirement of Gottfried Wanitschek and the election of a new FIA Region I President, Jorge Delgado Mendoza from the Real Automóvil Club de España (RACE, Spain), the WCAMT welcomed two new Members: Andrej Brglez from the Avto-Moto Zveza Slovenije (AMZS, Slovenia) and Günter Thumser from the Österreichischer Automobil- Motorrad – und Touring Club (ÖAMTC, Austria). 

The World Council also elected new Chairs for the two Mobility Commissions: Ian Jack from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA, Canada) for the Mobility Policy Commission and David Gabarró from the Reial Automobil Club de Catalunya (RACC, Spain) for the Mobility Services Commission.