Dami Manage - CMV Truck Centre

Dami joined the CMV Group as a Store Person in the Parts Warehouse at CMV Truck Centre. His desire to learn and grow his career saw him move to the Pre-Delivery Department as a Trades Assistant in 2023. Having immigrated to Australia from Sri Lanka with his family, we encourage you to watch this short video and learn more about Dami's journey with the CMV Group and why it’s important for him to share his culture and love for food with his colleagues.

Linh Nguyen - CMV Truck Centre

Linh joined the CMV Truck Centre team in early 2025, initially as an intern following an intern networking event. Her skills, attitude and eagerness shone through and Linh was offered a role as Business Improvement Analyst in February, which she eagerly accepted. Watch this short video to learn more about why Linh chose to come to Australia and why she believes it’s important to have cultural diversity in a workplace.

Hadi Karami - CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga

Hadi joined the service team at CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga just over two years ago as a skilled migrant. Joined by his family, Hadi wanted to make the move to Australia to join his wife's family and provide more opportunities for his son. 

Tell us a bit about your background: I was born in Tehran, the capital of Iran. I am 47 years old, married and have a 13-year-old son named Kian. About two years ago, I immigrated to Australia to work at CMV Truck & Bus Albury/Wodonga.

How is living in Australia different? One of the best differences is the work-life balance in Australia. Very beautiful nature and good weather with kind people who love to help. High psychological peace of mind and high security are other advantages of living in Australia.

How do you share your culture with your co-workers? At first I couldn't communicate well with them because of the language, but they helped me patiently. I talk to them about the culture of my country on different occasions and they listen eagerly. For example, during lunch I talk about my food and how I cook it.

What does it mean to you to know that there are over 50 different countries represented across the CMV Group? This means that the CMV Group thinks globally and believes that different experiences from all over the world can create synergy and strength to achieve the company's ultimate goals. Bringing together all these different experiences from different countries is a smart and purposeful strategy, and it is also a different and beneficial and fruitful experience for the employees themselves in the long run. A successful win-win relationship. 

Are there significant differences in how workshops are set up in Iran vs Australia? The important difference is the orderliness and great importance placed on customer satisfaction and the use of personal protective equipment in Australia. There is also the rapid and prompt supply of needed parts and a healthy and respectful workplace environment.

We brought together mother-daughter duo, Mary-Anne Butler (Gen X) and Emma Butler (Millennial) from CMV Group Administration, as well as Mentor and Technician, Michael Battaglia (Gen X) and 2nd Year Apprentice, Lachlan Caldicott (Gen Z) from Mercedes-Benz Adelaide to have a bit of fun and test their knowledge about each other’s generations, as well as chatting about why it’s important to have generational diversity across the CMV Group.

Chantale Millard

Linh joined the CMV Truck Centre team in early 2025, initially as an intern following an intern networking event. Her skills, attitude and eagerness shone through and Linh was offered a role as Business Improvement Analyst in February, which she eagerly accepted. Watch this short video to learn more about why Linh chose to come to Australia and why she believes it’s important to have cultural diversity in a workplace.

Roseanne Healy

Linh joined the CMV Truck Centre team in early 2025, initially as an intern following an intern networking event. Her skills, attitude and eagerness shone through and Linh was offered a role as Business Improvement Analyst in February, which she eagerly accepted. Watch this short video to learn more about why Linh chose to come to Australia and why she believes it’s important to have cultural diversity in a workplace.

Jess Cufone & Jack Bennett - CMI Toyota Adelaide

Jess Cufone is a 4^th Year apprentice at CMI Toyota Adelaide and as a female in a typically male dominated industry, she understands the importance of gender diversity within a workshop and not treating anyone differently due to their gender. We speak with Jess and Service Manager, Jack Bennett, as they highlight the benefits of a gender diverse workplace and Jess’s achievements in the industry to date.

Marta Gawlik - CMI Hino Melbourne

Marta’s journey with the CMV Group began over 25 years ago, and at the start of 2025, she was deservingly appointed General Manager of CMI Hino Melbourne. Read more about Marta’s inspiring story and why she believes gender diversity is so important, particularly in a male dominated industry.

Tell us about your journey with the CMV Group and career progression: I commenced my role as Assistant Accountant at CMV Truck and Bus in 2000. I'd never worked in a dealership before and loved the variety of the work and the many opportunities the business had for expansion. The CMV Group were very supportive once I had children and their flexible approach to my family commitments ensured that I remained engaged with the business and I was so grateful for that. I was appointed as the Management Accountant on a part-time basis until the children started school. 

In 2017, CMI Hino Melbourne was launched as a standalone business, an exciting time and an opportunity for me to step into the Financial Controller position and lead the administration department. From humble beginnings, the business thrived, and I continued to be mentored by Mark for the next 7 years. Following the announcement of Mark's retirement, I considered the possibility of becoming the next General Manager. They gave me the job!!

What does it mean to you to be the CMV Group’s first female General Manager? I am so proud and grateful to be the first CMV Group female GM, I hope that seeing a female in this role inspires other females to pursue their career goals. I feel responsible for setting a precedent and shaping culture. I hope that my presence challenges norms and opens doors for others.

What advice would you give to females working in male dominated industries like ours? Remember that you have your own unique perspective and it is valid and it is crucial that it is shared. My experience working in a male dominated industry has been positive, I have always felt supported by my male colleagues, they have shared knowledge and have gone out of their way to help me. I am thankful for that. Honestly, I came up with so many reasons why I wasn't enough for this role, that typical negative self-talk that we subject ourselves to and believe. 

How do you hope to inspire others as a leader? I hope through visibility and presence that I inspire others to pursue their career dreams. I want to empower people to see their potential and celebrate their wins, so they too can reach their goals. I want to make people safe to be uncomfortable so that they can develop - we don't know everything and that's okay, admitting that takes courage and strength but it opens the door to learn and be open to different perspectives. That's what transforms culture.