Ash: The UAE’s First Certified Female Automotive Technician
Often, I share the stories of women who were doing incredible things in automotive and motorsport decades ago, women who became the first to break through barriers that had never been broken before. But while Belinda Automotive: The Road is Ours often looks back at those stories, this time I’m bringing you a first from the 21st century. Ash is the UAE’s first certified female automotive technician.
A Mechanical Engineer by profession, Ash has spent more than eight years working across the automotive industry, building experience across a variety of roles and departments. She also became the first female vehicle inspector in the local used-car industry, making her career one filled with achievements that have helped challenge the idea of what an automotive professional looks like. And she certainly hasn’t stopped there.
Today, Ash is a certified Workshop Technical Trainer, working with more than 30 apprentices and helping to train the next generation of automotive technicians. She also runs automotive workshops for women, supports young people through STEM education and has built an impressive career in motorsport.
Her story is one of breaking barriers, gaining experience, sharing knowledge and creating opportunities for the people who come next.
Becoming the UAE’s first certified female automotive technician
Being the first person to do something can come with a huge amount of pressure. For Ash, becoming the UAE’s first certified female automotive technician meant stepping into a technical environment where women were still very much in the minority.
Working in automotive requires knowledge, practical ability and confidence. It also requires you to be willing to get your hands dirty, solve problems and keep learning. Ash’s career has given her the opportunity to do exactly that.
Rather than staying within one particular area of the industry, she has moved between different roles and departments. Each experience has added another layer to her technical knowledge and understanding of how the automotive industry works. That experience eventually led to another significant milestone.
Ash became the first female vehicle inspector in the local used-car industry.Being a trailblazer is not simply about having "first" next to your name. It can mean entering spaces where there isn't already a clear path for you to follow. But every woman who takes that step can make the path a little easier for the next person.
Building a career through experience
One of the things that stands out about Ash’s career is the variety of experience she has gained.
Moving between different roles and departments has allowed her to see automotive from different perspectives, rather than becoming defined by a single job title.
That exposure has been particularly valuable in developing her technical expertise. Experience doesn't just come from qualifications. It comes from being willing to ask questions, work through problems, try something new and learn from the people around you. For Ash, that philosophy has become an important part of her career and is something she now passes on to others.
From technician to workshop technical trainer
Today, Ash works as a certified Workshop Technical Trainer, helping to prepare the next generation of automotive technicians. She works with more than 30 apprentices at a vocational institute that has adopted the German apprenticeship model.
The focus is heavily based on practical learning, giving students the opportunity to develop skills through hands-on experience rather than relying solely on classroom-based theory.
That approach is particularly relevant to automotive.
You can learn how a system works from a textbook, but there is something completely different about being able to work on a vehicle yourself, understand what you are seeing and use that knowledge to solve a real problem.
Ash is passionate about giving her apprentices that experience. Her own career has shown her how valuable practical experience can be, and she is now helping others build their own technical foundations.
Helping women feel more confident around cars
Ash’s passion for education goes beyond her work with apprentices. She has also hosted all-female automotive basics workshops designed to help women feel more confident around their cars.
For many women, the technical side of automotive can feel intimidating. It can be difficult to ask questions if you are worried about being judged for not knowing the answer. There can also be a perception that you need to already understand cars before you can start learning about them.
Ash is helping to challenge that.
Her workshops create an environment where women can ask questions, learn the basics and develop their confidence without feeling like they need to prove themselves first. Understanding your car can give you greater confidence when speaking to a mechanic, buying a vehicle or simply dealing with something that goes wrong. More importantly, it can help women realise that automotive knowledge isn't something that belongs exclusively to men.
Inspiring young people through STEM
Ash also supports a STEM programme that introduces young people to real-world trades and practical skills. As the automotive instructor within the programme, she helps children understand what working in a technical career can actually look like. That kind of exposure can be incredibly important.
Not every young person is going to discover their passion through traditional academic education. Some people learn by doing. They need to pick something up, take it apart, understand how it works and experience the satisfaction of solving a problem. Introducing children to those possibilities early can help them see careers they may never previously have considered. It can also help challenge the idea that practical and vocational careers are somehow less valuable.
A career that reaches into motorsport
Automotive isn't the only part of the industry where Ash has made her mark. She has also built an impressive career in motorsport, working as an Assistant Race Engineer, Pit Crew member and Technical Scrutineer with the Emirates Motorsports Organization. She has worked at major events including the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Dubai International Baja and Asian Le Mans.
Her motorsport career is a story in its own right, which is why we'll be exploring that side of her journey in Part 2 of Belinda Automotive: The Road is Ours. From the pressure of working within a race team to the precision required as a Technical Scrutineer, Ash has experienced several different sides of motorsport.
Cars, passion and the person behind the career
Of course, no conversation with a passionate petrolhead would be complete without talking about cars. Ash has an appreciation for high-horsepower cars and has her own very rare 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS.
We also talked about the emotional connection people can have with their cars. For many enthusiasts, a vehicle is about far more than getting from A to B. Cars can represent freedom, achievement, memories, identity and sometimes simply the thing that makes you smile every time you walk towards it.
And then there is Ash's emotional support plushie. A Miata. Because apparently even the most accomplished automotive professionals need a little four-wheeled emotional support.
Listen to the podcast
Ash joined me on Belinda Automotive: The Road is Ours to talk about her automotive career, becoming the UAE's first certified female technician, technical training, supporting women and inspiring the next generation.
In Part 2, we'll be talking about her motorsport career, including her experience as a race engineer, Pit Crew member and Technical Scrutineer.
Because the stories of women in automotive and motorsport deserve to be heard.
The road is ours.
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