2026 Honorees
he AWAF Awards are designed to celebrate and honor the achievements of women and change champions who live the AWAF mission of advancing and empowering women in the automotive industry.
The Individual Achievement Award is presented to a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to the automotive industry for at least ten years, while also making a meaningful difference by supporting other women in achieving their own automotive career aspirations. With more than 25 years of automotive technology leadership, Lara Lane, exemplifies the leadership, innovation, and commitment to advancing women in the automotive industry that the award celebrates.
As Chief Information Officer for Ford Energy, Lara leads technology strategy and initiatives that align business objectives with innovation and operational excellence. Her career at Ford has spanned enterprise architecture, advanced infrastructure and cybersecurity, product management, and electric vehicle manufacturing. She has played a significant role in enterprise modernization and technology capabilities supporting the launch of electric vehicle manufacturing, helping shape the future of the automotive industry.
Equally impactful is Lara’s dedication to developing and empowering others. Through her longstanding leadership within Women of Ford, she has helped advance women across the organization, fostering professional growth and creating pathways to leadership. As a member of Ford’s College Graduation Program IT Leadership Team, she has also mentored and developed emerging technology leaders, helping them navigate their careers and build the skills and confidence to succeed. Her commitment extends beyond Ford through her service on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Council of Women in Technology Foundation (MCWT), where she supported opportunities for women and girls pursuing careers in STEM and technology.
Lara’s leadership reflects a powerful combination of technical expertise, strategic vision, and genuine investment in people. Through mentorship, sponsorship, coaching, and advocacy, she has made a meaningful difference in the careers of women throughout the automotive and technology communities. Her achievements demonstrate that exceptional leadership is measured not only by business results, but also by the doors opened for others.
The Emerging Leader Award is presented to a woman in the first ten years of her career who has demonstrated outstanding performance, leadership, and a commitment to to community. The 2026 honoree, Sana Jafri, embodies all of these qualities and more.
As a Senior UX Designer in SDS Advanced Development at Mitsubishi Electric, Sana leads the evolution of critical design systems, shaping how teams create complex enterprise and in-vehicle experiences. She currently drives the development of Athena, an enterprise AI platform, including the design of its AI agent and leadership of cross-regional collaboration to introduce the platform across Mitsubishi’s European companies. Her contributions extend to strategic business initiatives, where she has partnered with senior executives to advance a major enterprise partnership opportunity.
Sana’s achievements reflect both innovation and industry impact. Her FLEXConnect in-cabin human-machine interface work earned Best UX at CAR.HMI 2022, and she is a named inventor on three pending patents addressing driver distraction, focus, and vehicle interaction. She has also received Mitsubishi Electric’s Group Vice President’s Engineering Encouragement Award and shared her expertise as a speaker at leading automotive technology events.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Sana demonstrates a meaningful commitment to giving back. She mentors children, particularly girls from underprivileged and low-income households in India, both personally and through SOS Children’s Villages India. She also mentors fellow UX designers through ADPList, helping emerging professionals strengthen their skills and advance their careers. Following her internship with the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, Sana remains engaged in initiatives supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The Group Achievement Award honors a group of women who have done something exceptional within the industry. The 2026 honoree Riley’s Rebuilds embodies the innovation, determination, and collaborative spirit this award. Founded by Riley, a former AWAF scholarship recipient, this remarkable business began with a young woman’s dream and grew into an exceptional example of women making their mark in a traditionally male-dominated automotive field.
At just 13, Riley began refurbishing carburetors sourced through Facebook Marketplace to help fund her first vehicle. Working alongside her father, Dane, she developed a passion for automotive restoration and the technical expertise that would become the foundation of her business. When a single social media post went viral, bringing more than 300 carburetors to her doorstep, Riley recognized an opportunity to grow. She invited four close friends to join her, transforming a personal passion into a thriving enterprise built on shared commitment, craftsmanship, and teamwork.
Together, the Riley’s Rebuilds team has established a reputation for quality carburetor restoration and performance. Their achievement is especially inspiring given their youth and the determination required to succeed in an industry where women remain underrepresented. Riley’s leadership has also created opportunities for others to gain hands-on automotive experience, develop technical skills, and discover their own potential.
Now 19, Riley continues to lead the business while pursuing degrees in physics, mathematics, and mechanical engineering in Connecticut. She has expanded her automotive presence as co-host of Hemmings’ Repair 2 Rev with her father and through her pursuit of professional racing, including earning her Pro Comp license. Her brother and a new generation of apprentices are also becoming part of the business’s continued growth.
Riley’s Rebuilds is more than a successful business; it is a testament to what young women can accomplish together. Their collective achievement is opening doors, challenging expectations, and inspiring the next generation of women in automotive.
Join us in honoring these honorees on December 2nd at our annual holiday event.
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