The Wesley College Foundation Breakfast at the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025, held on Thursday 13 March at the Albert Park race track, brought members of the Wesley community together to celebrate innovation, leadership and the role of education in shaping future careers.
Guests had the opportunity to hear from two remarkable Old Wesley Collegians who have forged successful careers in the global motorsport industry - Andrew Westacott (OW1982) and Krystina Emmanouilides (OW2008).
As the former CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott reflected on his career highlights and his passion for creating opportunities for young people to engage with motorsport. Under his leadership, the Melbourne Grand Prix introduced programs such as Pit Lane Walks, STEM pathways into the Grand Prix and Grid Kids - all designed to inspire the next generation of motorsport fans and professionals. His contribution to the industry was recently recognised with the 2024 Community Changemaker Award.
Joining Andrew in conversation was Krystina Emmanouilides, Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer at Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, who shared her extraordinary journey into the world of Formula 1. As one of the few female engineers working at this level of international motorsport, Krystina spoke candidly about her path from Wesley student to engineer, her passion for problem-solving and the challenges and opportunities of working in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Host Pete Lazer (OW1995) led the discussion with an engaging and insightful conversation on innovation, career pathways and the future of motorsport, including a compelling segment with renowned German motorsport journalist and broadcaster, Inga Stracke.
With many current students and young alumni in the room - including a strong representation of young women - the Wesley Foundation Breakfast reinforced the College’s commitment to creating an environment where students are encouraged to pursue their passions, embrace new challenges and shape their own futures, wherever they may lead.
Seasoned German motorsport journalist and broadcaster Inga Stracke (pictured above) shared behind-the-scenes stories and expert insights from her time in Formula 1 with Andrew Westacott (OW1982) and event host, Peter Lazer (OW1995).
