Rene Wolf has been Director Manufacturing Vehicle Operations at Ford of Europe since 2017 and a member of the Management Board of Ford-Werke GmbH since October 2021, responsible for the Manufacturing division1. His career at Ford began in 1991 in the Quality department at Ford of Europe1.

Born in Thuringia, he studied electrical engineering/electronics at the Technical University of Dresden. Over the course of his career, he has worked in various areas of manufacturing, quality and production start-ups at the Ford plants in Cologne, Saarlouis, Kocaeli (Turkey), Craiova (Romania), England and South Africa2. From 2015 to 2017, he was Vice President Manufacturing at Ford Sollers in Russia before returning to Cologne.

René Honcak is currently the Head of Digital Twin in the Electrified Powertrain Technology division at ZF Group, a position he has held since January 2024. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of Digital Twins for e-mobility. Prior to this, from September 2022 to December 2023, he served as the Manager for Digital Twin for E-Drives at ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

René began his professional career as a research associate at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich, where he worked from September 2011 to May 2015. He then joined ASAP Engineering GmbH, initially as a development engineer and later as a technical project leader and technical project manager.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Scientific Computing and a Master’s degree in Stochastical Engineering. His expertise includes technical project management, modeling and simulation, data analysis and machine learning, agile development and DevOps, as well as system and simulation architecture.

With extensive experience in the automotive and manufacturing industries, René Honcak has significantly contributed to optimizing development processes and integrating new technologies to enhance efficiency and sustainability. His leadership skills and ability to coordinate teams make him a valuable expert in his field.

As Chief Digital Officer at Bühler, Stuart Bashford is responsible for setting and delivering the company’s digitalization strategy. He began his career at Bühler in 2013 in London, as Head of Software and Hardware Development. Prior to joining Bühler, he worked at a high-tech start-up company for ten years designing control systems for lasers used in the solar panel and display industry. Prior to this he worked in the semiconductor industry for Applied Materials. He is MBA qualified and has a background in hardware and software design and a passion for technology and innovation.

We don't just make history -- we make the future. Ford put the world on wheels over a century ago, and our teams are re-inventing icons and creating groundbreaking connected and electric vehicles for the next century. We believe in serving our customers, our communities, and the world. If you do, too, come move the world and make the future with us. Ford is a global company with shared ideals and a deep sense of family. From our earliest days as a pioneer of modern transportation, we have sought to make the world a better place – one that benefits lives, communities and the planet. We are here to provide the means for every person to move and pursue their dreams, serving as a bridge between personal freedom and the future of mobility. In that pursuit, our 186,000 employees around the world help to set the pace of innovation every day.

ZF is a global technology company supplying advanced mobility products and systems for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and industrial technology. Its comprehensive product range is primarily aimed at vehicle manufacturers, mobility providers and start-up companies in the fields of transportation and mobility. ZF electrifies a wide range of vehicle types. With its products, the company contributes to reducing emissions, protecting the climate as well as enhancing safe mobility. Alongside the automotive sector – passenger cars and commercial vehicles – ZF also serves market segments such as construction and agricultural machinery, wind power, marine propulsion, rail drives and test systems. With some 168,700 employees worldwide, ZF reported sales of €46.6 billion in fiscal year 2023. The company operates 162 production locations in 31 countries.

The Bühler Group is a global technology company providing innovative solutions for food processing, chemical engineering, and die casting. With a rich history spanning over 160 years, Bühler has established itself as a leader in its field, delivering cutting-edge technologies and services to customers worldwide. Their diverse portfolio includes equipment and systems for the production of flour, pasta, chocolate, and animal feed, as well as solutions for advanced materials processing and industrial die casting.