The challenges of Formula One

Alex Burns, Chief Executive Officer of Williams F1, will talk about the world-leading motorsport industry cluster in the UK and Formula One in particular. He will describe how the changing regulations drive innovation, Williams F1's business model and the extraordinary pace of development that this delivers.

As the team's CEO, Alex Burns is responsible for implementing the Group's diversification strategy and plays a vital role in the operational management of the Formula 1 team, focusing on making improvements in all areas of development and production. He is the Chairman of Williams Hybrid Power, based on site with Williams F1 in Oxfordshire, and the executive responsible for the Williams Technology Centre in Qatar.

He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and gained an MBA at Cranfield University.

Williams F1 is one of the world's leading Formula One teams – and the Williams name has been synonymous with top-level motor racing since the 1960s. The company employs about 500 personnel at its technology campus in Oxfordshire, UK where it designs and manufactures Formula One racing cars that compete in every grand prix. To date, it has won 16 FIA Formula One World Championships