As Jersey’s STEM Racing teams gear up for the Regional Finals on Monday, 10th March, a panel of expert judges will evaluate their engineering, creativity, and teamwork.
Digital Jersey, in partnership with Skills Jersey, is proud to support this global competition, helping students develop hands-on skills in design, aerodynamics, and marketing. Teams have worked hard to refine their miniature CO2-powered F1 cars, and now it’s time to put them to the test.
Meet the judges who will decide which team advances to the national UK Finals—and one step closer to the World Finals later this year.
Ben Brown
Professional journey
I was born in the UK but lived in Jersey from the age of 2 until I left the island to go to University at 18. I attended Grouville School, Les Landes, St Georges and Victoria College on the island. I then studied Automotive Engineering at Oxford Brookes. I worked at Jersey Karting (at the Living Legend) during my summers back in Jersey and very much miss being able to go surfing after work in the evenings!
After I graduated from University, I worked at Nitron Racing designing shock absorbers for road and race cars and motorcycles for 2 years before moving to Nissan’s European Technical Centre as a Cost Engineer within the Chassis Team.
Passion for F1
In 2014, I began working at Williams F1 where I have now been for 11 years. I started off there as a Hydraulics Development Technician, assembling hydraulic assemblies, designing test rigs and working on development hardware such as Brake-By-Wire. I was fortunate enough to do some travelling with the test and race team before moving into the Design Office in 2016. There, I worked on Pit Equipment design (wheel guns, car jacks, garage cooling fans etc.) for 3 years before moving into the Power Unit Integration Team. I have since been responsible for design, layout and overall architecture of the car’s fuel system and am now a Senior Design Engineer within the PUI Team.
Chloe Marriott
Professional journey
I started my Mechanical Engineering degree in 2019, as part of this I completed a year in industry with Cadent Gas. In my final two years at university I worked part time for Cadent as I completed my masters in Mechanical Engineering in 2024. I am now working full time for Cadent as a Design Analyst. I am responsible for producing the design, plan and quotation for various work types.
Passion for F1
F1 is the pinnacle of automotive engineering and technology. I enjoy watching F1 for the speed and excitement, as well as the innovation, F1 is a showcase for cutting-edge technology.
I’m excited to be a judge for the F1 in Schools competition as I took part in the IMechE’s Formula Student competition whilst at university. In my second year on the team I had the role of head of business. I’m looking forward to seeing how the students have worked as a team to design and build their cars.
Alexander Salmon
Professional journey
Starting my career as a media student at Highlands College, I moved into marketing as an officer for a local retailer, running campaigns and managing sponsorships for various charity organisations and events in the Channel Islands. After four years, I returned to Highlands in 2023 as the Stakeholder Relationship Coordinator, where I manage sponsorships and partnerships with local businesses.
Beyond my professional role, I’m actively involved in motorsport, racing in Jersey’s sprint and hillclimb events. With my Westfield SEI, affectionately known as “Custard Cream,” I hold class records on the 5-mile road sprint and the Bouley Bay Hillclimb, often finishing as the fastest road-going car. When I’m not competing, I help organise motorsport events, including Jersey’s biggest motoring event, the Jersey International Motoring Festival.
Passion for F1
My love for Formula 1 goes back as far as I can remember. Growing up in a motorsport family, I started karting at eight years old and vividly recall watching former kart racer Lewis Hamilton win his first World Championship, which cemented my passion for the sport. That passion evolved into a deep interest in race cars and their engineering.
In 2025, I’ll be racing a high-downforce single-seater on the hillclimb circuit, so my knowledge of aerodynamics and performance will be put to the test! I’m excited to see how the teams approach their car designs and engineering solutions, and I look forward to being part of an event that nurtures the next generation of motorsport talent.
Michelle Holley-Price
Professional journey
After university I joined a graduate scheme in the Aerospace industry, working in programme management and customer support with customers from all over the world. Following this, I went on to work in the Rail industry on a variety of research, standards, innovation, and sustainability projects. I’ve since moved back to Jersey and have been working as a Consultant for Prosperity 24/7, where I’ve worked with a mix of clients, supporting them in delivering their change initiatives. Throughout my career so far, I’ve greatly enjoyed working with engineers and developers to solve business problems and deliver sustainable change.
Passion for F1
Innovation and continuous improvement are at the heart of Formula 1, making it an exciting environment for teams to come together and deliver. We can map how the technology that’s being developed by F1 teams, supports the development of exciting commercial products. I’m really looking forward to seeing how each team has approached the challenge and seeing their hard work come to fruition.
Ian Rhodes
Professional journey
During a thirty-year career in technology commercialisation, Ian has held a number of leadership positions in blue chip organisations, most recently as CEO of McLaren Applied Technologies. Prior to this he was a Senior Partner at PA Consulting Group, where he led the company’s healthcare and life sciences business and was instrumental in the highly successful PA Venture portfolio. In those roles, Ian delivered significant growth in both revenue and profitability, while achieving widespread respect for his forward-thinking approach to healthcare delivery. Ian now has a portfolio of investments and chair roles in the life sciences and healthcare sector.
During my time as the CEO of McLaren Applied Technologies, our motorsports division was a key provider of products and services to all the F1 teams, including the FIA and for the Indycar, NASCAR and WEC race series. We played a fundamental role in founding and launching FormulaE. We had over 600 scientists and engineers, included a team of 20 track support engineers who travelled the world supporting every race event. We were at the forefront of capturing vast quantities of data and helping teams make real-time decisions and predictions from the data. We built capability in modelling, simulation, and decision support algorithms in Formula1 and then pivoted this capability into other industries such as healthcare.
I began my career as an engineer with a sponsored graduate training program at Roll-Royce aero engines and built on this with an MBA from London Business School whilst at PA Consulting.
Passion for F1
My interest in Formula1 is rooted in having seen what goes on behind the scenes, the intensity of the rivalry and competition combined with the leaps in science and engineering required to be competitive. All of which can be prototyped and advanced and then put to good use ‘in the real world’. Sharing this fusion of sport and engineering with young people so we can get the best brains from the next generation passionate about advancing society.
Saskia Childe
Professional journey
I am an experienced engineer and project manager with almost 10 years in mechanical
design, product development, and CAD-driven innovation. My career has spanned multiple industries, including automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, and renewable energy. I have worked on multi-million-pound product development projects, designing complex mechanical systems and optimising workflows to improve efficiency.
Throughout my career, I have contributed to projects such as high-precision laser systems, next-generation wind sensors, and automotive radar technology, applying my expertise in CAD, prototyping, and manufacturing processes. My ability to bridge technical expertise with practical problem-solving has allowed me to deliver innovative products while streamlining development.
After years in engineering, I transitioned into coaching and consulting, helping solopreneurs and small businesses streamline operations, attract high-quality clients, and build scalable online businesses. Now, I apply my expertise in systems, automation, and strategic problem-solving to help others work smarter and grow sustainably.
Passion for F1
Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of engineering and innovation, where precision design and cutting-edge technology drive success. As a judge for F1 in Schools, I’m excited to support students in developing skills in CAD, aerodynamics, and product development, just as I did throughout my career.
I’m also passionate about encouraging more young people to pursue STEM careers, and I look forward to seeing how students approach real engineering challenges with ingenuity and precision.
Nick Perchard-Rees
Professional journey
Transport has always been an integral part of my career, weaving through various aspects of business strategy, fleet leasing, management, electrification, and the adoption of emerging technologies. My focus has always been on driving meaningful change—improving the way we move, how we power our transport, and ultimately, how we reduce waste. Whether through electrifying fleets or embracing smarter, more sustainable solutions, I’ve always been passionate about transformation. In many ways, I see my role as “Transforming Transport”—bringing innovation and sustainability together to shape the future of mobility.
Passion for F1
F1 has been a life passion for me. Growing up, F1 Sundays were almost a religion in our home, one of the few times my father, an incredibly busy man, would pause everything, and we’d spend the afternoon together. Our ritual started long before the race, discussing qualifying, drivers, and strategies, especially in the era when refuelling played a pivotal role in tactical decision-making. Watching legends like Senna, Prost, Mansell, Hill, and the all-dominating Schumacher battle it out made for an unforgettable era of the sport.
Beyond the racing itself, what has always fascinated me is the relentless pursuit of innovation, the way teams push aerodynamics, strategy, and regulations to the absolute limit. That same spirit of ingenuity and problem-solving is what makes F1 in Schools such an exciting initiative. It’s exciting to see how these young minds apply engineering, design, and teamwork to create something remarkable, and I’m thrilled to play a role in supporting that innovation. Huge credit to Seb, the Digital Jersey team, and all collaborators for making this happen, it’s a privilege to be involved.
Nikki Anderson
Professional journey
I’m a consultant specialising in user research and digital transformation, helping businesses bridge the gap between customer needs and strategic decision-making. With a background in customer experience, I work with organisations to refine their digital products, optimise service delivery, and enhance user engagement. My expertise spans industries, from financial services to government, where I focus on improving processes, reducing friction, and driving measurable impact through research-driven insights. I also support businesses in leveraging customer feedback to inform innovation and long-term growth. Currently, I’m serving as a judge for the CXTech programme for Impact Jersey, assessing technology-driven solutions that enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
Passion for F1
I’ve always admired Formula 1 for its relentless pursuit of innovation and precision. The level of strategy, teamwork, and technological advancements in the sport is fascinating, and I’m excited to bring that same analytical mindset to the judging process for F1 in Schools.
Chris Price
Your professional journey
I started in accident repair when I finished school and after completing my apprenticeship made the decision to move into the finance industry. The combination of a passion for all things automotive and corporate experience within data, analytics and marketing lead to the creation of Hammer Price, which has grown into Jersey’s largest online auction platform.
Your passion for F1
I had a passion for motorsport from an early age and competed in sand racing and motor-cross from 7 years old. This then progressed into driving in Rallies, hill climbs and sprints both locally and, in the UK, but Formula 1 has always been the pinnacle of motorsport and everything from the design, technology to raw driver talent has kept me as a passionate fan! I’m very excited to see the same passion the participants in F1 in School.
