When people ask Kimberly Hughes how to get involved in motorsport, the answer is simple. Become a volunteer official.

In what Hughes describes as a crazy, rewarding, educational and challenging career, it’s the community spirit of the 11,000+ Motorsport Australia officials that bring her the most joy.

Mount Panorama is where many motorsport stories begin, and it was the 2011 Bathurst 1000 where it started for Hughes.

What began as a weekend volunteering has blossomed into a remarkable career for Hughes, whose passion for motorsport has taken her from the grandstands as a spectator to being a regular fixture at Australia’s biggest motorsport events.

With a family deeply embedded in motorsport from racing to serving as volunteer officials, motorsport volunteering was a natural fit for Hughes.

“I started as a volunteer, just helping out, but over the years I took on more responsibility,” Hughes said.

Her progression from supervisor to controller saw her coordinating every operational detail, from ticketing and grandstands to corporate suites and information booths.

In 2016, Repco Supercars saw Hughes’ potential and offered her an opportunity to transition into event administration.

“My first event was daunting!” Hughes laughed.

But working alongside her mentor and experienced administrator Hannah Holloway, she quickly learnt the ropes.

“She taught more everything.”

By 2022, her expertise earned her a full-time position at Motorsport Australia, where she would oversee operations for major events, including the Shannons SpeedSeries, Supercars and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

It was her early days as a volunteer that set the foundation for understanding how the volunteer community works and how best to meet their needs.

Hughes background as a library manager provided crucial organisational and document management skills, but Hughes says time management is the key to success in a high-performance environment.

“Officials volunteer their time around their full-time jobs and family commitments, they do it for love of the sport,” Hughes said.

“While the role doesn’t ask for it, I’m always part of sign-on to get to know each volunteer’s name and say good morning.

“These people are more than just an email address, I know some of them on a personal level – it’s the least I can do.”

When asked about the traits of successfully managing a volunteer workforce Hughes notes compassion, patience, flexibility, and being welcoming.

“Many volunteer officials don’t have another community where they feel comfortable” said Hughes.

“Motorsport Australia also does a lot to promote participation and development pathways through frameworks like the Senior Officials Development Program.”

These type of initiatives have borne great results, including bringing Tasmanian officials to mainland events to broaden their volunteering experience.

For Hughes, the greatest satisfaction comes post-event, when you get to reflect on the teamwork that makes any event a success. In addition, seeing the community support each other is hugely satisfying, and speaks volumes to the character of volunteer officials.

Hughes’ journey underscores motorsport’s unique spirit, where passion, community, and dedication form the sport’s backbone.

Motorsport Australia extends its appreciation to all volunteers – this sport wouldn’t be possible without their commitment to safe, fair and fun participation at every motorsport event.

Whether you’re a seasoned fan or a newcomer, become a Motorsport Australia volunteer official to help shape the future of motorsport.