The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has revealed the latest speaker to join the roster for its annual conference, being held on Thursday 7 December 2023 at Double Tree by Hilton, Milton Keynes.
Claire Lomas has been added to the line-up at the event, where the theme this year discusses resilience, and focuses on how the aftermarket continues to evolve in the ever-changing world.
Claire has overcome her fair share of adversity, after being paralysed from the chest down after a horseriding accident, she says it shattered “all my dreams and goals as well as losing my identity, but I have found many new paths by focusing on my ability rather than my disability and I have learnt some valuable life lessons.”
She reportedly spends her time raising money for charity, taking on various challenges including, in 2012, walking the London Marathon which took 17 days, using a robotic suit. It is said that Claire has raised over £850,000 over the years, on top of being a mum of two, qualifying as a pilot and learning to ride a motorbike.
During the IAAF conference, Claire will take to the stage to discuss how she has triumphed over adversity, pushed boundaries and unlocked new potential.
Claire has also gifted a 30 minute ‘fright of a lifetime’, flight with herself including video footage of the flight, in Northamptonshire for charity at the event. IAAF’s charity is BEN, the automotive mental health charity, with funds raised on the night said to be going directly to the charity to help support its initiatives.
The IAAF conference speaker line-up so far also includes Nick Leeson, the original “rogue trader” whose unchecked risk-taking caused the collapse of Barings Bank, and whose story was turned into a Hollywood movie starring Ewan McGregor.
Comedian Tom Allen will apparently be entertaining guests in the evening, along with the IAAF hosting its annual aftermarket awards prize-giving.
Mark Field, chief executive of IAAF, said: “We’re delighted Claire is joining us at the IAAF conference this year to talk about her life and the challenges she’s faced over the years – a true example of our theme ‘brilliance of resilience’!”
Registration for the event is now open!
