From Spanners to Secure Gateways: Matt Douglass Takes the Helm at Repairify Australia

When Matt Douglass talks about diagnostics, it’s not the dry language of circuits and scan tools. It’s a story of family, grit, and a trade that’s transformed from multimeters and test lights to cloud platforms and remote diagnostics. 

“My father started as a mobile mechanic, then opened his own workshop. My brothers and I all grew up in it,” Douglass recalls. “I just got hooked.” 

From that small family business in the UK, Douglass went on to Jaguar, Land Rover, and Autologic — the people workshops called when they were stuck on a job they couldn’t crack. “Every day was different. BMW in the morning, Land Rover in the afternoon. You had to be on your toes,” he says. 

Riding the wave of complexity 

In the mid-1990s, when the Range Rover P38 rolled out with real electronic systems, Douglass saw the shift first-hand. “Back then it was cartridges — one for BMW, one for JLR. It was rudimentary, but it was cutting edge,” he says. “Now cars are computers. Secure gateways are like firewalls in a PC. Remote diagnostics isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s a lifeline.” 

Today, those secure gateways define the modern diagnostic landscape. They’re essential in protecting vehicles, but they also mean workshops need smarter tools and expert backup. For Douglass, making secure gateways simple to navigate is a key part of Repairify’s value. 

Working for CoolDrive, a family business he describes as “fantastic,” allowed him to approach challenges differently. “It let me pivot into strategy — targeting the right products and customers rather than taking a blanket approach,” he explains. “And when the opportunity came to lead a team of Automotive Technicians and Diagnosticians, I couldn’t resist. It’s the challenge of today’s vehicles that attracts me, and the challenge of running an automotive business in this field.” 

“Diagnostics has always been my passion,” he says. “I enjoyed every minute at CoolDrive and had a broader spectrum of workshop equipment to deal with. But Repairify gives me the chance to get back to the core of what I love — and to help workshops across Australia and New Zealand keep the hard jobs in-house.” 

Repairify’s next chapter 

As of September 2025, Douglass is the new General Manager of Repairify Australia. His remit: drive growth, strengthen partnerships, and expand the company’s world-leading remote diagnostic and ADAS calibration services. 

“The Repairify solution is unique: a single diagnostic platform, backed by highly trained remote technicians. It’s like having an expert team on call inside your workshop,” Douglass explains. 

That confidence is echoed by Philip Peace, Repairify Inc.’s Managing Director (International). “Matt brings a balance of technical expertise and commercial acumen,” Peace says. “His focus will be on strengthening our thought leadership and making sure our proposition remains straightforward and effective for customers. With Repairify’s patented technology expanding our remote services, Matt will play a key role in driving growth in Australia.” 

For Douglass, that proposition is about giving workshops across Australia and New Zealand the tools and the backup to keep complex jobs in-house. “General repair shops, auto electricians, collision repairers — they all need broad coverage. Especially here, where there are more brands on the road than almost anywhere else.” 

Big picture, grounded roots 

Douglass doesn’t just talk tools. He’s been a steady hand in shaping the industry, from the AAAA and ARCA councils to the AUSMASA skills alliance, working on everything from the ADAS Code of Conduct to training pathways. For him, ensuring the right ADAS calibration standards are applied is critical to vehicle safety and customer trust. 

But ask him about his proudest career moment, and it isn’t a product launch or a strategic plan. “It’s the relationships. The people in the AU/NZ industry who’ve become lifelong friends — that’s what matters most.” 

From Coventry to the bush 

The move to Australia wasn’t his idea. “My wife pushed for it,” Douglass laughs. He was at Triumph Motorcycles in the UK when the chance to set up in Australia came along. Fifteen years later, the family’s still here. “Australia feels like a hybrid of the US and UK. The kids grew up Aussie.” 

And outside of the workshop? He’s all about 4WD trips, mountain biking, and dirt bikes. “Basically, all the things in Australia that try to kill you,” he grins. 

Service-first culture 

Inside Repairify Australia, Douglass is clear about the culture he wants to foster: “Service-first. Customers should feel backed up every time.” 

With remote diagnostics and ADAS calibration becoming standard, his vision for the next five years is simple: “Skilled techs logging in remotely will just be normal. Workshops won’t think twice. Jobs will stay in-house, and workshops will be more profitable.” For Douglass, helping workshops tackle ADAS calibration and remote challenges with confidence is the future of the trade. 

It’s a long way from his dad’s spanners and multimeters. But for Douglass, the through-line is obvious: supporting workshops so they never feel like they’re on their own. 

Book a demo with Repairify AU to see how remote ADAS calibration and vehicle safety technology can help your workshop say yes to more jobs — without the overhead.