OXFORDSHIRE, UK, Feb 16, 2023 – WAE Technologies has announced Claire Williams OBE, former Williams F1 Deputy Team Principal, as its first ever brand ambassador.
Formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering, WAE Technologies was established in 2010 to commercialize ground-breaking technology developed by Williams F1 – the very team Claire Williams led between 2013 and 2020 – and apply it to multiple sectors.
Having held a top tier position in one of the world’s most competitive environments, F1, Claire Williams is a role model for female leadership in a male-dominated sport, being one of only two women to have ever managed teams in F1.
In her previous role, Claire Williams has always been hugely aware of the impact of motorsport on the planet and played a key role in the development of F1’s Sustainability Strategy. As a Brand Ambassador, she will promote WAE Technologies and Fortescue worldwide and join them on their mission to help decarbonize the heavy transport industry and create a sustainable future.
From the inception of WAE, Claire Williams has watched the business grow and prosper to where it is today. Claire’s unique perspective means she understands the value of technology transfer to sectors outside F1 for the greater good.
As WAE Technologies enters a new era under Fortescue’s ownership, Claire Williams is the perfect Brand Ambassador, bringing her unique past experience to the company, while espousing the family values of the Williams name – values shared by Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest – and continuing Sir Frank Williams’ engineering-led legacy.
WAE Technologies brand ambassador, Claire Williams OBE, said: “I am hugely honored to be taking up this new role with WAE Technologies. What Craig and the team have achieved in a relatively short time frame has been phenomenal; using race-bred technology to revolutionize industries across the world. Sustainability has always been at the core of the business, and for me personally, I am committed to maximizing technology for the benefit of all to create a greener tomorrow. I fully share the vision of Fortescue and Andrew Forrest’s global green strategy and am excited to join at this very important time.”
WAE Technologies CEO, Craig Wilson, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Claire Williams as Brand Ambassador for WAE Technologies. Claire’s experience in motorsport, combined with her understanding of the benefits of race-bred technology transfer make her very well placed to support our future plans. As we enter an exciting new phase under Fortescue’s ownership, she will bring enormous value in raising the profile of our collective goal of making the world a greener place through the application of winning technology to decarbonize industry. Given our longstanding connection to the Williams family, combined with the shared values we have, there’s no one better placed to help represent WAE Technologies globally.”
About WAE Technologies
WAE Technologies is a world-leading technology and engineering services business delivering pioneering innovation to improve performance, efficiency and sustainability to a global customer base.
Combining cutting-edge technological advances and the industry’s best engineers with precision and speed to market derived from the ultra-competitive environment of motorsport, WAE’s capabilities cover a wide range of disciplines. The company provides ground-breaking innovation covering advanced battery and electrification technologies and product development; aided by advanced simulation, testing, rapid prototyping and volume manufacturing. Working in close collaboration with our customers, WAE remains committed to meeting the continued sustainability challenges of the 21st Century.
The company can trace its foundations back to 2010 when Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited began diversifying its operations; a division which later became Williams Advanced Engineering. WAE has grown from an embryonic business in 2010 to a company which employs approximately 600 people engaged in leading-edge and transformative technologies for a growing list of Tier 1 clients. Following the acquisition by Fortescue, which completed in March 2022, WAE will continue to service its existing customers and commercialize new technology opportunities, in addition to playing a key role in supporting Fortescue’s decarbonization strategy.
The company was honored with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation 2018.
For more information, see www.wae.com
About Fortescue
Established in 2003, Fortescue (FMG) is a proud West Australian company, recognized for our culture, Values, innovation and industry leading development of infrastructure and mining assets. As one of the world’s lowest cost iron ore producers, Fortescue is now shipping at an annual rate of over 180 million tons with more than 1.7 billion tons of iron ore delivered to our customers since 2008. Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), a subsidiary of Fortescue, is a global green energy company committed to producing green hydrogen, containing zero carbon, from 100 percent renewable sources. FFI is leading the green industrial revolution, developing technology solutions for hard-to-decarbonize industries, while building a global portfolio of renewable energy, green hydrogen and green ammonia projects. FFI is also leading the world effort to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and is responsible for the proposed decarbonization of one of the biggest resources companies in the world by 2030 – its parent company Fortescue Metals Group.
For more information, visit www.fortescue.com.
