James Dornor

James Dornor is a passionate advocate for racial equality, using his extensive experience in the automotive and motorsport industries to drive meaningful change. As the Founder & CEO of Driven By Us, he has created a platform dedicated to empowering ethnic minorities and underrepresented communities in motorsport. His lived experiences navigating these industries have fuelled his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In addition to his leadership role, he serves as a Principal Systems Engineer at Leonardo, where he continues to champion inclusivity. As a speaker, he addresses topics such as leadership, innovation, and the importance of representation in STEM and motorsport.

James began his career in the automotive sector in 2011 as a Vehicle Engineer at McLaren Automotive, later transitioning into motorsport as a GT Customer Support Engineer at McLaren GT. His expertise led him to roles with prestigious Formula 1 teams, including Haas F1 Team, where he worked as a Trackside Systems Engineer for Kevin Magnussen, and McLaren Racing, where he served as a Systems Support Engineer. His tenure at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team as an Electronics Support Engineer further solidified his reputation in the industry. These experiences provided him with first-hand insight into the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in motorsport, inspiring his advocacy work.

His dedication to DEI has earned him significant recognition. In 2023, he was honoured with the Point of Light award by the UK Prime Minister and was included in the Empower Top 100 Future Leader Role Models list by INvolve. He was also invited to 10 Downing Street for the Black History Month Reception and met with the Prime Minister to discuss DEI in the automotive industry. His influence extends beyond motorsport, as demonstrated by his Executive Board Member role at the Association for Black & Minority Ethnic Engineers and his contributions to The Hamilton Commission Report.

James is a sought-after speaker due to his ability to connect personal experience with actionable insights. His keynote addresses, including his Closing Keynote at the Institute of Civil Engineers, highlight the importance of diversity in STEM and motorsport. His expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to racial equality make him an invaluable speaker for organisations looking to foster inclusivity and drive meaningful change.