Chief People Officer Fiona Murphy on career curiosity, blue hair, and building the next generation of automotive talent

mycar Chief People Officer Fiona Murphy has built a career defined by curiosity, courage, and a deep commitment to people – qualities that now sit at the heart of mycar’s culture.
Born in the UK and raised in Penrith in western Sydney, she reflects fondly on the place where she went to Kingswood High, made lifelong friends, and became the diehard Panthers fan she is today.
Like many, she didn’t have a fixed career plan when she finished school.
“When I was seven, I wanted to be an astronaut – so that didn’t work out! But in truth, I’ve always been curious and willing to try new things, and my career reflects that,” Fiona said.
Cars were always part of her life. Her first was a bright metallic blue Holden Kingswood HQ.
“It was possibly the most impractical yet most lovable car ever built,” she laughs. “Steel body, no power steering, a front bench seat, column shift, and vinyl seats that practically fused to your legs on hot days.
“I adored it, and regret selling it to this day.”
She admits she has always chosen cars based on looks, much to the amusement of the mycar team, who teased her Jeep Wrangler for years.
Her working life began behind a supermarket checkout, long before scanners and tap and go.
“We price tagged items manually and keyed in every amount. Everything was cash. It taught me speed, accuracy, patience, and how to talk to absolutely anyone,” Fiona reflects.
After high school she studied Psychology at UNSW, drawn to understanding people and behaviour.
That interest carried her into recruitment and HR, before she joined the many young Australians who head overseas in search of adventure.
In the UK she worked across HR roles, experimented with new directions – including a short-lived law degree inspired by too many TV dramas – and even joined the police.
“That experience taught me more about communication and human behaviour than any textbook ever could,” she says.
Those varied experiences eventually led her back to HR with a broader perspective and a clearer sense of purpose.
“I’ve worked across diverse industries, and HR is one of those fields that takes you right across the industrial landscape. But I’ve always been happiest and most successful in roles where the end product is tangible and customer-facing, and where the culture is open, honest, and inclusive. Automotive ticks every box,” Fiona notes.
Joining mycar, she says, was absolutely the right call.
“People who don’t work in automotive only see the spanners and the oil changes. They don’t see the technical challenges, the problem-solving, the team spirit, and the opportunities to really help people. It’s a great business in a great industry,” Fiona said.
Fiona is generous with advice for those entering the sector.
“Firstly, don’t lock yourself in. Try different roles to see what fits you best. Really understand what you’re great at and where you could improve. Ask people around you for specific feedback and listen openly,” she says.
She also encourages people to embrace mentoring in all its forms and highlights the power of “career sponsorship.”
“A mentor doesn’t have to be more senior than you. It can be someone you work with in a mutual mentoring relationship where you can share your thoughts and challenges,” Fiona said.
“People get opportunities and get considered for projects and new challenges because someone in the organisation is sponsoring them – officially or unofficially. Actively share where you’d like to go and what you’re interested in doing; otherwise, people won’t know.”
When it comes to the missteps of her career, Fiona is philosophical.
“I’ve made career moves that weren’t perfect fits, but even those taught me something valuable. The only real mistake is not learning from your experiences,” she says.
“If we were talking life decisions though, selling my Kingswood was a crime. I sold it for $500 and bought a Ford Meteor. I still don’t know what I was thinking.”
When asked whether skill or attitude matters more, Fiona doesn’t hesitate. “A positive, curious, open attitude gives you access to other people’s skills and knowledge. If you’re willing to learn, to listen, and to ask questions, you can grow incredibly quickly. Skills can be taught. A great attitude unlocks everything else.”
Outside of work, Fiona plays banjo in a local band, bakes for her team, and listens to everything from country music to Parkway Drive. And then there’s the blue hair – something that has become a signature part of her identity at mycar.
“It was actually a COVID coping strategy. When we were all locked down and trying to build team spirit via Teams, and we did all sorts of crazy things to get people to smile. I dyed my hair ‘mycar blue’ in a fit of company loyalty and pride, and then I decided to keep it that way,” she explains.
“It has been nearly 6 years now! I’m always a bit disappointed that not many members of team mycar have followed my lead, but I live in hope,” she smiled.
Fiona is also deeply engaged in one of the industry’s most urgent challenges: the national shortage of apprentices and qualified technicians.
“The industry is short of more than 13,500 apprentices and 27,000 qualified technicians. Nearly one in two workshops is currently recruiting for apprentice roles,” Fiona says.
“As the sector’s largest employer of apprentices, at mycar we embrace our responsibility to lead the solution, and in 2025, we piloted a revamped apprenticeship program designed around technical training and holistic support.
“We’ve centralised onboarding, pastoral care, and coaching. Apprentices now have a consistent, structured learning experience across all stores. And critically, we’ve built clearer pathways into leadership roles, so young people can see a future in our industry.
“The results have been extremely promising. In pilot regions, engagement jumped to 92.5 percent, and retention reached up to 100 percent at the three-month mark. Those early months are where most apprentices typically drop out, so this is really meaningful progress.
“We are so proud of the program. Apprenticeships are a gateway to stable, respected careers. Giving young people the right support from day one helps them succeed, and it strengthens the whole industry.
For Fiona, the apprenticeship program is what she is most proud of.
“It is the most impactful work I’ve ever been part of. We are helping develop the next generation of technicians, team leaders, store managers, and industry innovators. We are creating a place where young people feel supported, valued, and excited about their future. And we’re proving that with the right culture and structure, this industry can attract and retain incredible talent.”

As a member of the AAAAWomen Steering Committee, Fiona is equally passionate about accelerating gender diversity across the sector.
“For a long time, automotive wasn’t seen as a place where women could build long, rewarding careers – and even today, women make up just 20 percent of the sector,” she explains.
“At mycar, we’re seeing more women come through in technical roles, customer-facing positions, and leadership pathways. This really matters.
“The more women who enter the industry, the more others see themselves reflected in it and feel confident taking that step too.
“Focusing on recruitment and retention has been a big priority for us at mycar, and one I’ve been looking at from an industry perspective as part of the AAAAWomen Steering Committee.
“From rolling out women’s networking events to launching the Connecting Circles program – where women share their experiences and connect – we can drive forward diversity in our industry’s workforce and begin to accelerate progress.
“This feels a really exciting time to be in automotive, and I can’t wait to see how the next generation shape its future.”
With more than 275 locations, a growing mobile fleet, and over 1,600 team members, mycar Tyre and Auto remains one of Australia’s largest automotive service networks.
Under leaders like Fiona Murphy, the company continues to invest in people, culture, and capability, ensuring it can meet customer needs today while building the workforce of tomorrow.

To learn more about mycar, visit www.mycar.com.au