Dr Cristiana Pace, MEng CEng IMechE
Cristiana has more than 20 years’ experience in Motorsport both in the engineering and management side. She graduated in engineering at Universita’ Degli Studi in Bologna, Italy, and subsequently, she completed an MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management at Cranfield University, where she currently sits on the advisory board. In her early career, Cristiana was involved in Motorsport trackside, as a deputy technical delegate for FIA Euro3000 and as a performance engineer in GT and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2002. Cristiana was also the first woman to work alongside the FIA technical department in F1 as a data analyst (2004-2009) where she acts as the main innovator with products such as the FIA marshalling systems, electronic flags, virtual safety car etc. From 2009 till 2015 she covered the role of Research Consultant for the FIA Institute for Motorsport Sustainability, contributing in building the FIA legacy on safety, and from 2016 till 2017 she consulted for the FIA Safety Department being actively deployed in championships such as Formula E, Cross Country Rally, World Endurance Championship and contributing in writing the strategy for the wider deployment of safety devices in FIA championships. In 2012 Cristiana focused in technology transfer and innovation, joining Williams Advanced Engineering, a division of Williams F1 as Business Development Manager. During those years in Williams, she worked closely with the CEO and the Commercial department writing the strategy for the newly created Williams Advanced engineering and winning multimillion pounds projects including the supply of batteries to FIA Formula E, project that Cristiana lead from 2013 till 2015. In 2015, after leaving Williams. Cristiana started a PhD in Sustainability, Business and Strategic Management at Coventry University, exploring low-carbon sustainable transitions in the Motorsport industry, which she successfully concluded in September 2019. In 2018 Cristiana Founded Enovation Consulting, concentrating on sustainability and projects involving environmental sustainability and education (STEM-related project). Enovation is currently consulting for several stakeholders in the motorsport ecosystem and automotive sector included championships, teams, suppliers, national regulators and international federations.
In 2019, in recognition for the work done on sustainability in the motorsport industry, Cristiana was appointed from the FIA World Council to represent Motorsport UK in the FIA Environmental and sustainability Commission. In the same year, she also joined with a Short term Contract, the research arm of The Wolrd Bank, as one of their EV specialists.
In 2020 Cristiana was appointed Visiting Fellow at Coventry University and visiting scholar at Bologna Business School. She is also a keynote speaker on innovation, sustainability, socio-technical transition and diversity.
Cristiana is an ambassador for Silverstone Technology Cluster and Dare to Be different, a joint initiative from the Motorsport UK and Susie Wolf. She is one of the founders of the Full Steam Ahead program, together with Silverstone Innovation Park and Hexagon Intelligence and the Vice President of the Turo High School for girls' Motorsport Club.