AVIA Welcomes Director of Government Affairs

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA) is excited to announce that Renée Gibson is joining the organization as Director of Government Affairs. With 15 years of experience in transportation safety advocacy and trade associations, Gibson will play a crucial role in advancing AVIA’s goals of increased road safety, enhanced accessibility, and optimized supply chains. 

“We’re thrilled to have Renée join AVIA as Director of Government Affairs,” said Jeff Farrah, Executive Director. “Renée’s expertise in transportation policy and her strong relationships with policymakers and stakeholders will be invaluable as AVIA continues to advance the safe and responsible deployment of autonomous vehicles.”

In the role, Gibson will be responsible for promoting AVIA’s policy priorities, representing the AV industry before Congress, administrative agencies, and state and local governments.

Before joining AVIA, Gibson led the American Traffic Safety Services Association’s (ATSSA) state advocacy program, in pursuit of the shared goal of achieving zero fatalities on our roadways. During her time at ATSSA, she successfully advocated on behalf of roadway safety device manufacturers and installers for industry advancements on infrastructure funding, work zone safety, and roadway technology innovation. Gibson also spent nine years representing the world’s automakers before American policymakers through her work at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (now Auto Innovators), including work on some of the earliest negotiations on AV legislation. She started her career in the California State Legislature, with additional experience at the American Institute of Architects and Stateside Associates.

AVIA works with lawmakers, regulators, and the public to realize the safety and societal benefits of autonomous vehicles. As the unified voice of the AV industry, the association is comprised of companies with diverse technical expertise and experience in the technology, automobile, ridehail, trucking, and logistics sectors. Bringing together their varied backgrounds, the companies formed AVIA to advance AVs’ tremendous safety, mobility and economic benefits to consumers in the safest and swiftest manner possible.