Speakers

Based in Cologne, Julia leads advanced product development and product strategy for Ford’s European passenger vehicle portfolio. Having navigated R&D and business leadership roles at BMW, Stellantis and the EV startup Lucid Motors, she has developed a broad 360° point of view that combines legacy industrial excellence with the disruptive agility of EV startups. A Texas native who has lived and worked across the US and Europe, Julia leverages her deep cross-cultural experience to align global strategy and innovations with specific regional market needs. Her deep background in motorsports, both in and out of the cockpit, infuses her strategic vision with a performance-driven focus on real-world results. Recognized as a 2025 Automotive News Europe Rising Star in Engineering, Julia is an emerging voice on the technologies and leadership skills required for the European automotive industry to navigate through this era of disruption.