Meet Tania Lawrence, President of Motorcycling Australia
Recently Tania Lawrence was elected as President of Motorcycling Australia and become the first Western Australian elected to the role of President, and also is the first woman to fill the position.
Currently working at Woodside Energy Ltd, in Business Development & Growth, Tania has over the years has been an active contributor to motorcycle safety initiatives with the State Government through the Office of Road Safety. Importantly, Tania has 16 years senior level experience in strategy, risk and governance, having also held a senior position in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
She has a passion for motorcycles having been an avid rider for 25 years and has held her motorcycle race license competing in local road race competitions at Barbagallo Raceway. She also supported her partner for 10 years with organising and leading rides for the Western Australian chapter of the Honda Rider’s Club.
Tania continues to ride on track at Eastern Creek and Philip Island, and also rides recreationally both on road and off-road, sometimes also participating in Trail and Enduro Club events.
This passion, coupled with Tania’s professional expertise in business and governance, is exactly what Motorcycling Australia has decided they need in order to move onwards and upwards during what may be a turbulent 12 months as the organisation restructures.
Tania’s husband also exhibits a shared passion for all forms of motorcycling and his desire to support Tania in her new role.
Get to know your new President of Motorcycling Australia
What are the challenges you see ahead of you and how will you deal with these?
It is incumbent upon as all to ensure that risks to rider safety that can be prevented, are prevented. We need every club, across all disciplines and in all jurisdictions to be aligned to this same objective. Riders and their supporters must have our confidence that tracks, venues, officials and volunteers, are all applying the same risk management standards.
We will work with the MA Council to agree a standard, national approach to risk management. The challenge will be to roll this out to every club. Hopefully the clubs themselves won’t see this as a challenge, but as an opportunity to adopt a single, standard approach that will make training, reporting and preventing risks that much easier irrespective of discipline and size.
What growth would you like to see when taking on your position, and what is the strategy will you adopt in order to get there?
MA represents all motorcyclists – not just high performance racers – but this hasn’t been case for some time. We are working on a strategy to create value for a broader member base and through meetings and events, we are working to re-establish relationships with the states, industry, sponsors and government to promote and advance motorcycling.
The Whole of Sport Review (WoSR), was initiated by Motorcycling Australia (MA) and the States – have you had a chance to read the outcome and how do you intend to implement any changes required?
Yes, I’ve read it very closely. This is a ‘watch this space’ though, as MA is shifting up a gear and will, together with the MA Council, drive many national reforms identified through the WoSR and many more again to create world-class opportunities for all our members.
Being a female in such a male dominated sport isn’t easy and doesn’t come without objection or criticism-how do you propose to overcome any such issues and have you had to deal with in the past?
MA has a strong position on sexual harassment, equal opportunity and equity in motorcycling. Whilst, I personally haven’t experienced these issues in any significant way, I know how it can feel to be at the end of a condescending comment and I know how intimidating it can be to join events where you may be the only female on the track. I also know men can feel similarly under pressure and criticised if they aren’t seen to be as competitive or as a talented as their peers. Our approach is definitely to be inclusive. We want everyone to feel welcomed and excited to be a part of our sport and recreation – riding motorcycles is not just for high performance racers.
It has been mentioned that you have a bike and that you ride. What sort of bike and is motorcycling a passion? If so for how long has it been?
I have always been around bikes – thanks to my Dad also loving bikes. Dad bought me my first bike when I was 14 or 15. I didn’t have it long though as I fell off it in front of my mum which freaked her out. None the less, I was hooked. These days I’m spoilt for choice for bikes – with a 2010 Husqvarna TE250, 1995 Ducati 900 Superlight, and the original 2010 BMW S1000RR to select from depending on the occasion and the weather! I just need more weekend time to make the most of them.
Motorcycling Australia are continuing to strengthen and grow opportunities for girls and women to be involved in motorcycling-not just as an official or volunteer but by competing in girls only events-do you have any suggestions on how this can be done better?
Personally, I wish I had had the opportunity to start as a peewee. Focusing on coaching and riding opportunities for young girls, even if they move in and out of the sport as they grow older, will still be a good investment (who can’t resist a return to riding!). When I first looked into getting my race licence in the 90s, accessing a suitable track bike, maintaining it and setting it up for racing was completely beyond my skill level and budget. In the mid-2000s I got a lucky break when I happened to be out on a ‘sporty’ road ride, and was asked by one of the other riders if I was interested to ride on a sponsor bike. I also had a very supportive partner and friends who were as much into the sport as me, so were happy to be up early and get me up to the track and be my pit crew. Without that break though, I probably would have felt there were too many barriers to even trying to get a race licence. Now I know otherwise, and I hope to ensure it is as simple and cost effective for everyone to give it a go.
