Aug ’26: F1 Data Delivery & AI for Developers Panel

Discover what Formula 1 can teach data teams about faster delivery, then hear how AI is changing day-to-day development in Fabric and Power BI. This second-anniversary meetup takes place on Thursday 20 August 2026, from 5:45pm to 8:45pm BST, at Ecosurety in Bristol. Hosted by the Fabric & Power BI – Bristol User Group, the evening combines a practical data-delivery talk with a developer panel focused on the reality of using AI,not simply the marketing hype. Arrive from 5:45pm; the talks begin promptly at 6pm. ## What F1 taught me about delivery speed In “What F1 Taught Me About Delivery Speed: How Data Teams Can Move at Lightspeed,” Ed Ritchie will explain why capable, busy teams can still struggle to ship work quickly. Drawing on two years supporting a Formula 1 team, Ed argues that project time often disappears in gaps and handovers rather than in the work itself. The session will explore: - Why “everyone’s flat out” and “nothing’s shipping” can describe the same problem - How missing data, competing priorities and system constraints create delays - Why fast-moving people often look beyond formal job titles - Why technical skill alone does not determine delivery speed - How teams can remove waiting and improve delivery without introducing new technology Ed runs Ritchie BI, helping manufacturers use data to improve performance and profitability. Alongside his Formula 1 work, he has supported manufacturers including luxury yacht builder Sunseeker International. His approach connects data solutions with better upstream data quality and the downstream operational changes needed to create value. ## AI for developers: panel discussion The second session examines how AI is affecting hands-on developers working with Fabric and Power BI. Moderated by Ash Warren, Senior Analytics Consultant at Advancing Analytics and group co-organiser, the panel will consider what is genuinely changing in developers’ working lives and how practitioners are using AI beyond the hype. Panel members include: - Ant Couzens , Data Consultant, owner of Halo Data and group co-organiser - Mark Endicott , Principal Analyst at Aberdeen and group co-founder - Guest panellist , to be confirmed… Register for this event