Victorian repair pioneer takes out top award

The repair industry’s top honorary award in 2025 has been revealed.

Former AMA Group leader and industry pioneer Phil Munday has taken out the prestigious NCR Lifetime Achievement Award for 2025 for his work over five decades both within his business and the wider repair community.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the industry’s most prestigious awards and celebrates those involved in the sector for more than 20 years who have made outstanding contributions to the wider industry.

Phil Munday celebrates with the AMA Group team after winning the award. Image PCM

Phil has had more than 50 years in the automotive industry. A true entrepreneur, he has built and led successful businesses from panel to motorsport.

Phil’s legacy includes building successful businesses, pioneering the PCM model and Repair Management Australia (RMA,).

He also developed a program for improving productivity within shops named OPS. Between 1996 and 2000 Phil was the co-founder and Chairman of the Victorian Accident Towing Association which was at the forefront of industry relationships and advocacy.

Phil Munday and his wife are congratulated by NCR Editor Eugene Duffy at the awards. Image PCM

Phil was thrilled to accept the honour and said he was delighted to receive the accolade before a crowd of so many high profile leaders in the industry.

“The industry has been fantastic. I’ve loved, and still love the panel industry and automotive industry,” he said. “I’ve made some great mates and good friends and acquaintances along the way. It’s been a great experience.”

Phil amused the audience with stories from his past and some long gone practices from the 1970’s

“I opened my first panel shop when I was 19 and back then, as you know, too, you could do whatever you wanted,” he joked.

“But by the 80s, they came in and they said, this is progress you can’t do that, and we’d say we have been doing that forever. That change was a bit of shock for the old school, but you know you have to move on.”

Phil noted how far he industry had come how important recruitment was for its future.

“The future of the industry is the young people that we get into the industry,” he said. “How do we attract apprentices and retain them?

For Phil, sharing what he has learnt with the industry has always been a big part of his role and as always he likes to do that with a story or two.

“Having 31 grandkids, I feel like I have a bit of an idea about kids and how they think,” he says.

“I heard a story the other day, it was about a kid who goes into a panel shop to get a job. The boss says I will give you $10 an hour now and I’ll give you 15 bucks an hour in six months. The kid says; ‘I’ll be back in six months'”.

“So understanding kids, in general is important. Today, it’s so different from when we were young. But I think today it’s our biggest issue, retaining apprentices to continue through the trade. And that’s why nights like this are so important, that recognise people in our industry.”

A long history of innovations and contributions

Phil commenced his career more than five decades ago as an Apprentice Panel Beater Lacey Panels in Burwood.

At the age of only 19, he completed a fair trade of his Mazda 808 for a factory in Elsum Avenue, Bayswater North – it was 1977 and Phil’s journey as a repair entrepreneur had begun.

In 1992 Phil was one of the founding members of Panelcare, opening Panelcare Kilsyth and Phil Munday’s Panelcare, the first of a group of shops he owned and operated including RMA Dandenong, RMA Bayswater and Phil Munday’s Panel Works in Kilsyth.

During this time he remained committed to investing in local industry and developing modern world class facilities including a complete redevelopment of the Kilsyth workshop in 2005.

“Phil has always led by example. Over the years he invested time in each and every team member he employed,” the submission to the award judges read.

“He would visit most sites in Melbourne each week to check in on managers and see how the week was progressing. Phil would also walk the floor, checking in with each team member to see how things were going. Through this, Phil was able to make sure that each person in the team was working to the best of their capability and if they had potential to develop and move further. He has always taken time to offer business advice to people within the industry, or to anyone wanting to further themselves in their own business.”

NEXT STEPS

In 2014, Phil sold his panel shops to AMA Group and then spent next three years working with AMA Group acquiring further sites, including panel shops across Australia and even one in New Zealand.

His contributions have helped build the AMA Group to the business it is today with Kilsyth store still part of the Group within AMA Collision.

“Phil is a true pioneer of the collision repair industry in Australia,” AMA Group, , Managing Director Ray Smith-Roberts says. “His impact and legacy across the collision repair industry, as well as motorsport and the community more widely, is still felt today. know many people in our industry who aspire to be like Phil.

“To this day, Phil is recognised and remembered for the input he has given Australia’s collision repair industry and his extensive contribution to motorsport and the community.”

Giving Back

Phil has also demonstrated a long history of support for the wider industry to build skills and attract tradespeople, attending local schools promoting the trade, providing work experience opportunities and recruiting and developing apprentices.

Phil has also championed his local community as major sponsor of local sporting clubs, including basketball, cricket and football, along with an organisation supporting young mothers. From 2006 until 2010 Phil was Chairman of the Peter Brock Foundation, which had been established by Brock in 1997 to support individuals in crisis.

Lifelong passion

Throughout his extensive career, Phil has been heavily involved in and passionate about motorsport. In 2006 his friend, Peter Brock, raced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the United Kingdom in a 1953 Holden 48-215 (better known as an FX) that Phil had rebuilt. In 2012 Phil sponsored Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport with RMA branding, ultimately leading Phil to purchase Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport in 2017. Milwaukee Racing was founded with Will Davison as the driver for the next three years.

Repairing vehicles and restoring beauties is, and always will be, Phil’s passion. He is a collector of cars and has an extensive collection.

Exciting night

About one hundred and fifty peers and leaders from across the industry cheered the 2025 winner at a special gala night at the Glass House in Melbourne’s Sports and Events Precinct.

Phil edged out a range of high-profile and esteemed finalists that included Jason Trewin, chief Operating Officer for I-CAR Australia Martin Dickinson, general manager of the Wales Heavy Vehicle Repairs, in the AMA Group, Greg Tunks – MVP Business Solutions Manager for Australia and New Zealand at ANZ at PPG, Bev Williams Automotive Industry Placement Coordinator at Kangan Institute and John Barry owner of Flagstaff Autobody in Kensington, Victoria.

Phil Munday will also join a high-profile list of inductees that represent the best in the collision repair industry over the last few decades and represent thousands of years of experience and contributions.