Deb Heed is fired up about helping set an ambitious sustainability agenda for North America’s auto industry to better align with industry counterparts on a global level. The co-chair of AIAG’s Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee (CRSC) also serves as the supply chain sustainability manager for responsible materials sourcing for Ford Motor Company. However, she wasn’t always in sustainability. Here, Heed shares with AIAG about her unique career journey — from her start in the entertainment industry to her year abroad that inspired her career change — as well as her industry outlook, vision, goals, and plans to tackle emerging issues in her current leadership roles.

The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) was recently recognized as one of the 2023 Best Places to Work in Southeast Michigan — a distinction awarded by Best Companies Group in partnership with Crain’s Detroit Business.

Did you miss our August 24 and September 12 Future Automotive Expert (FAE) events? Well, you’re in luck because the recordings just hit the Available Now Webinars section of the AIAG Store, and they’re free for members. Here’s more information about why you’ll want to watch both of these hour-long gems.

Have you heard that Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) reporting at the part and material level is being added to the next version of IMDS? As the IMDS Steering Committee works with Catena-X to develop the rulebook on these new reporting requirements, this year’s Hybrid IMDS & Product Chemical Compliance Conference is more critical than ever.

Registration is now open for our 2023 IMDS & Product Chemical Compliance Conference at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan! This year's hybrid event will explore, "Transitioning IMDS from Materials Compliance to the Circular Economy," with two full days of presentations from industry and subject matter experts. 

Emeline King’s Historic Accomplishments

Join us on August 24, 2023, to hear from Emeline King — the first African American woman to work as a transportation designer for Ford Motor Company —  during this unique webinar event based on her autobiography, What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can't Design Cars? Emeline King, She Did It!

The science is clear: Companies need to halve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. For some years, companies have had the chance to commit to these targets via the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and directly contribute to reaching the goals of The Paris Agreement. Thankfully, the number of commitments from business has risen exponentially. 

The IMDS conference has added a new topic to this year’s event on October 17–18, 2023: We are including sustainability, and this year's focus is on greenhouse gas reporting.

Ready for even more FAE – Future Automotive Expert – content? Check out details for our August and September events below, and be sure to visit the AIAG Event Store to learn more! 

Featuring Ford Motor Company's Head of Supplier Diversity & Warranty Recovery, Travis Spencer, this webinar focuses on how an effective supplier diversity program can provide economic benefits to corporations, diverse businesses, and communities.