Data Platform Microsoft MVP
Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that.

Data Platform Microsoft MVP Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that. Show more

Barry (he/him) is a Software Engineer who has been creating business solutions for enterprise customers for more than 30 years. Barry is also an Microsoft .NET MVP, an Election Integrity Activist, baseball and hockey fan, husband of one genius and father of another, and a 40+ year resident of Phoenix Arizona USA. When Barry is not traveling around the world to speak at Conferences, Code Camps and User Groups or to participate in GiveCamps, he spends his days as a Solution Architect for enterprise customers and his nights thinking about the next Arizona GiveCamp, an annual event where software developers come together to build websites and apps for some great non-profit organizations.

Barry (he/him) is a Software Engineer who has been creating business solutions for enterprise customers for more than 30 years. Barry is also an Microsoft .NET MVP, an Election Integrity Activist, baseball and hockey fan, husband of one genius and fa... Show more

Taiob Ali is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with 20+ years of experience with SQL Server and Azure data services. While SQL Server remains his primary focus, he is currently learning, using, and teaching PostgreSQL, often describing himself as an accidental PostgreSQL DBA.
He is also exploring practical applications of AI in data platforms, including GitHub Copilot, Copilot agent development, and built‑in AI capabilities in SQL Server. Taiob is a frequent international speaker and an active community organizer.

Taiob Ali is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with 20+ years of experience with SQL Server and Azure data services. While SQL Server remains his primary focus, he is currently learning, using, and teaching PostgreSQL, often describing himself as an acci... Show more

Håkan holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational behavior. He has also taken courses on university level in psychology, interaction design and human-computer interaction. He has 25 years’ experience of software development in various positions such as developer, tester, architect, project manager, scrum master, practice manager and team lead.

Håkan is Chairman of the Norwegian .NET User Group Oslo (NNUG) and is active as an Ambassador for Oslo AI, the local chapter for the global City.AI community. In addition, he is the co-founder of AI42, an online school for learning about AI and Data Science and the Azure User Group Sweden, a meetup focused on Azure.

Håkan is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in AI, a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and a MCT Community Lead.

Currently Håkan is working as an Senior AI Architect at Sopra Steria.

Håkan holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational behavior. He has also taken courses on university level in psychology, interaction design and human-computer interaction. He has 2... Show more

Laila Bougria is a Solutions Architect and Engineer with over two decades of industry experience. She's a keynote speaker, a Microsoft MVP in Azure and Developer Technologies, and frequently shares her knowledge and insights at conferences worldwide. Currently, Laila is busy building NServiceBus at Particular Software and solving distributed riddles. She specializes in event-driven systems and is passionate about critical thinking. When she's not immersed in complex problems or code, Laila enjoys indulging in her favorite pastime - knitting! She finds that tangling the yarn into beautiful patterns helps untangle her thoughts.

Laila Bougria is a Solutions Architect and Engineer with over two decades of industry experience. She's a keynote speaker, a Microsoft MVP in Azure and Developer Technologies, and frequently shares her knowledge and insights at conferences worldwide.... Show more

Yves Habersaat is a Business Applications Consultant and AI Tech Lead at Sword Group in Switzerland, specializing in building applications and solutions with Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and the Power Platform.

With a strong passion for modern development technologies and application lifecycles, Yves focuses on Microsoft 365 services such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Microsoft Viva, and Microsoft Copilot. He possesses expertise in modern development tools including SharePoint Framework (SPFx), Teams SDK, Microsoft Graph, Git, TypeScript, React, Visual Studio, and Azure DevOps.

He actively shares his knowledge and experience through speaking engagements and his blog at www.yhabersaat.ch, always ready to support and assist the community.

Yves Habersaat is a Business Applications Consultant and AI Tech Lead at Sword Group in Switzerland, specializing in building applications and solutions with Microsoft 365, Azure, Dynamics 365, and the Power Platform. With a strong passion for mod... Show more

Thomas Naunheim is a Cyber Security Architect at glueckkanja AG and a Microsoft MVP from Koblenz, Germany, specializing in cloud-native identity and security solutions in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Entra. With a deep focus on privileged identity management, identity security, and Zero Trust architecture, he designs and implements security solutions for real-world enterprise environments.

Thomas actively gives back to the community as a blogger at cloud-architekt.net, where he publishes in-depth research and practical insights on Microsoft Security. He is a speaker at international conferences and meetups, co-author of the open-source Entra ID Attack & Defense Playbook, and the creator of EntraOps - a community tool for privilege classification based on the Enterprise Access Model.

Beyond content creation, Thomas co-hosts the podcast Cloud Inspires and is actively involved in community organization as a member of the Azure Meetup Bonn and Cloud Identity Summit organizing teams. His long-standing contributions across blogging, speaking, and open-source development earned him the Microsoft MVP award in the Identity & Access and Cloud Security category.

Thomas Naunheim is a Cyber Security Architect at glueckkanja AG and a Microsoft MVP from Koblenz, Germany, specializing in cloud-native identity and security solutions in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Entra. With a deep focus on privileged identity m... Show more

Nikki Chapple is a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay and a dual Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 and Security, specialising in data security, governance, compliance, and Copilot readiness across Microsoft 365.

With over 35 years of experience across IT and business, Nikki helps organisations design and implement secure, risk-based approaches to Microsoft 365, with data security and governance as the foundation for AI workloads and Copilot-based experiences.

Nikki works hands-on with enterprise clients to deploy data security and compliance controls using Microsoft Purview - including DLP, sensitivity labels, information protection, insider risk, records management, and Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). She leads Copilot readiness assessments that identify and remediate oversharing risk, implement container sensitivity labels and Restricted Content Discoverability (RCD), and establish secure-by-default configurations.

An international speaker, blogger (nikkichapple.com, 3.4M+ impressions), and co-host of the “All Things M365 Compliance” video and podcast show (with Ryan Murphy), Nikki is co-author of “The Microsoft 365 Maturity Model - Governance, Risk, and Compliance Competency.”

Awards and recognition:
🏆 Dual Microsoft MVP - Microsoft 365 and Security (5th year)
🏆 People of Purview - featured by Microsoft’s Purview product team (2025)
🏆 UK Community Award - Security and Compliance Evangelist (2023)

Nikki delivers practical, actionable sessions grounded in real-world enterprise experience. Her talks equip IT architects, security teams, and compliance managers with frameworks and techniques they can implement immediately.

Nikki Chapple is a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay and a dual Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 and Security, specialising in data security, governance, compliance, and Copilot readiness across Microsoft 365. With over 35 years of experience ac... Show more

Maxim Salnikov is a tech community enthusiast based in Oslo. With more than two decades of experience as a developer, he shares his expertise in the web platform, cloud computing, and AI by speaking at and delivering training for developer audiences worldwide.

By day, Maxim supports developer teams across Europe as a Senior Solution Engineer at Microsoft, focusing on AI-native developer tools and platforms. He is also an active builder of developer tooling, creating and maintaining AI agent assets that help engineers adopt AI-assisted development more effectively.

In the evenings, Maxim runs events for some of Norway’s largest web, AI, and cloud developer communities. He is passionate about exploring the possibilities of Generative AI, with a strong focus on developer productivity. To share insights and connect with practitioners globally, he founded and organized the Prompt Engineering Conference, the key global event dedicated entirely to prompting from the engineering discipline perspective.

Maxim Salnikov is a tech community enthusiast based in Oslo. With more than two decades of experience as a developer, he shares his expertise in the web platform, cloud computing, and AI by speaking at and delivering training for developer audiences ... Show more

Baruch Sadogursky (@jbaruch) did Java before it had generics, DevOps before there was Docker, and DevRel before it had a name. He built DevRel at JFrog from a ten-person company through IPO, co-authored "Liquid Software" and "DevOps Tools for Java Developers," and is a Java Champion, Microsoft MVP, and CNCF Ambassador alumni.

Today, he's obsessed with how AI agents actually write code. At Tessl, an AI agent enablement platform, Baruch focuses on context engineering, management, and sharing. On top of sharing context with AI agents, Baruch also shares knowledge with developers through blog posts, meetups, and conferences like DevNexus, QCon, Kubecon, and Devoxx, mostly about why vibecoding doesn't scale.

Baruch Sadogursky (@jbaruch) did Java before it had generics, DevOps before there was Docker, and DevRel before it had a name. He built DevRel at JFrog from a ten-person company through IPO, co-authored "Liquid Software" and "DevOps Tools for Java De... Show more

Jonah Andersson is a tech entrepreneur, Principal Cloud Engineer Architect and published book author.
She works as a IT Consultant with different tech hats. With a background in Computer Science and System Development, Jonah specializes in .NET technologies and excels in cloud development, particularly within Microsoft Azure. Passionate about solving complex problems and crafting modern applications, Jonah works with cloud platforms like Azure, and her expertise in cloud computing and development has earned her international recognition. She is recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and Microsoft Certified Trainer for her contributions to the tech industry.

Her book, 'Learning Microsoft Azure: Cloud Computing and Development Fundamentals' (O'Reilly), further highlights her expertise and the depth of her technical knowledge.

She actively engages in tech communities and international events such as Microsoft Ignite. She values genuine inspiration and connections, and shares insights with fellow developers. Jonah's leadership extends beyond her technical expertise. As the founder and leader of the Azure User Group Sweden, she guides, inspires, and leads others in tech. She is also an MCT Community Lead from Sweden, helping and supporting fellow Microsoft Certified Trainers in the community.

Her advocacy for gender equality and inclusion in tech, recognized by her Developer of the Year awards in 2023 at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards and in 2024 at Developers Day, is a testament to her commitment to making the tech industry a more inclusive space. She actively mentors aspiring women in tech careers and co-hosts the Extend Women In Tech Podcast, to inspire inclusive tech for all.

Jonah Andersson is a tech entrepreneur, Principal Cloud Engineer Architect and published book author. She works as a IT Consultant with different tech hats. With a background in Computer Science and System Development, Jonah specializes in .NET te... Show more

Part technologist, part educator, part community organizer—Karinne Bessette operates at the intersection of enterprise security, hands-on learning, and human connection.
In their role as Technical Storyteller in Veeam's Office of the CTO, they specialize in Microsoft 365 security and backup strategy, develop thought leadership content, and present at conferences worldwide. Their speaking portfolio spans M365 administration, Power Automate, Copilot, AI agents, Adaptive Cards, adoption strategy, and workplace culture—with live demos, because they believe the best way to learn is by doing.
A Microsoft MVP, MCT Alumni, and Object First Ace with 10+ certifications, they also teach courses at Knox Technical Center and participate in Education Advisory Boards. They run the Women in M365 Book club and co-organize the Columbus Microsoft Teams User Group—because building community is as important as building solutions.
(See more: https://linktr.ee/rinbytes).

Part technologist, part educator, part community organizer—Karinne Bessette operates at the intersection of enterprise security, hands-on learning, and human connection. In their role as Technical Storyteller in Veeam's Office of the CTO, they speci... Show more

Future Work | AI | Speaker | Blogger | Futurist | Microsoft MVP

Vesa “Vesku” Nopanen is Principal Consultant for AI-Native Future Work at Sulava MEA, the leading Microsoft Copilot and AI enablement partner in the Middle East and Africa. A Microsoft MVP (AI & Microsoft 365) since 2019, Vesku helps organizations become Frontier Firms where people and AI agents collaborate and co-create together.

With 30+ years in enterprise IT, Vesku specializes in transforming workplaces through Microsoft AI and cloud technologies: Copilot, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, and beyond. He pairs deep technical expertise with a passion for better worklife — enabling co-creation between humans and AI.

Vesku writes at futurework.blog, speaks at global conferences, and organizes community events that accelerate the shift toward an AI-Native future.

🔗 linktr.ee/vesanopanen

Future Work | AI | Speaker | Blogger | Futurist | Microsoft MVP Vesa “Vesku” Nopanen is Principal Consultant for AI-Native Future Work at Sulava MEA, the leading Microsoft Copilot and AI enablement partner in the Middle East and Africa. A Microsof... Show more

Geert van der Cruijsen is the CEO of Zure Netherlands, helping companies improve how they build software by combining strong engineering culture with modern technology. He focuses on DevOps, cloud-native development, architecture and AI, enabling teams to work more autonomously and deliver faster through smart platforms and better ways of working. Geert is a long-time Microsoft MVP and an active member of the tech community, frequently sharing knowledge through talks, content and mentorship.

Geert van der Cruijsen is the CEO of Zure Netherlands, helping companies improve how they build software by combining strong engineering culture with modern technology. He focuses on DevOps, cloud-native development, architecture and AI, enabling tea... Show more

Hasan is a recognized Microsoft Data Platform MVP and an expert in Azure data products, bringing over 20 years of experience in software development, architecture, and management. As the owner of SavranWeb Consulting and the Senior Business Intelligence Manager at Progressive Insurance, he specializes in designing innovative business solutions leveraging the latest web and database technologies. A passionate global conference speaker, Hasan enjoys sharing his insights through blogging about Azure Data services, C#, and front-end development.

Hasan is a recognized Microsoft Data Platform MVP and an expert in Azure data products, bringing over 20 years of experience in software development, architecture, and management. As the owner of SavranWeb Consulting and the Senior Business Intellige... Show more

Johnny Hooyberghs is a managing partner and consultant for Involved NV, part of the Cronos group, since 2014 focusing on software architecture, backend development and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for Azure and Developer Technologies since 2020. Prior to joining Involved as a consultant, he has had experience developing software for the health-care sector since 2008. Johnny has been passionate about software development using the .NET stack, cloud native development using the Microsoft Azure cloud stack and quantum computing. Johnny has spent 10 years of his free time teaching software development courses for the adult education institute CVO Antwerpen and has been enjoying public speaking these past 6 years. When Johnny is not working, he likes to spend his time on self-education, quantum computing, some casual video gaming, travelling the world and visiting as many theme parks as possible.

Johnny Hooyberghs is a managing partner and consultant for Involved NV, part of the Cronos group, since 2014 focusing on software architecture, backend development and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for Azure and Developer Technologies since ... Show more

Meet Gerald Versluis, software engineer at Microsoft, who wields the power of .NET to conquer any project that comes his way. With a career spanning over a decade, he's tackled it all, from frontend to backend and everything in between, using .NET MAUI, Azure, ASP.NET, and all the other .NET goodies. And these days of course; AI and Copilot.

But it wasn't until he discovered the magic of Xamarin that he truly fell in love with mobile and cross-platform development, becoming an active community member and sharing his knowledge through writing, tweeting, and presentations. When he's not saving the world of software, you can find him on Twitter @jfversluis, blogging at https://blog.verslu.is, or making videos on his YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/GeraldVersluis.

Meet Gerald Versluis, software engineer at Microsoft, who wields the power of .NET to conquer any project that comes his way. With a career spanning over a decade, he's tackled it all, from frontend to backend and everything in between, using .NET MA... Show more

Data Platform MVP, Microsoft Fabric advocate, public speaker, and passionate about everything that transforms data into action.

Currently working at Macaw as Architect & Technical Advocate – Microsoft Fabric, where I help organizations design modern Data & AI solutions on Microsoft technologies, with a strong focus on Microsoft Fabric. Over the years, my role has evolved from technical evangelism into a stronger advisory and architecture-focused position. Today, I combine strategic advisory, pre-sales, and solution architecture to help customers make realistic technology decisions and build scalable, future-proof platforms.

What I enjoy most? Sharing knowledge, experiences, best practices, and enthusiasm around the Microsoft data & AI space. I actively contribute to the community through conferences, user groups, customer presentations, technical sessions, end-user training, and community initiatives focused on Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and AI.

Besides public speaking and community work, I also share insights and experiences on my personal blog: data-marc.com

Data Platform MVP, Microsoft Fabric advocate, public speaker, and passionate about everything that transforms data into action. Currently working at Macaw as Architect & Technical Advocate – Microsoft Fabric, where I help organizations design mode... Show more

Sara has over 25 years’ experience, has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for over 15 years and is also a MCT Community Lead and Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for Microsoft 365.

Sara has been working with Microsoft 365 since the preview in April 2011 and holds over 50 Microsoft Certifications. Sara’s company still use the same Microsoft 365 Tenant opened back in 2011.

As a trainer Sara’s professional aim is to help make technology more accessible by increasing knowledge and decreasing fear. In her own words “I love helping others advance their own skills and use of technology, whilst challenging myself to advance my own skills and expertise.”

Sara delivers training across Microsoft 365 from beginner to admin level, specialising in productivity, data security, and compliance. She is a recognised expert in Microsoft 365 Copilot, having authored multiple courses and supported organisations with adoption strategies and governance planning.

Sara has over 25 years’ experience, has been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for over 15 years and is also a MCT Community Lead and Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) for Microsoft 365. Sara has been working with Microsoft 365 since th... Show more

Erwin de Kreuk is an experienced Technology Lead for Data at InSpark, a Microsoft partner recognized as Global Partner of the Year for Identity and Dutch Partner of the Year for Data & AI.
With 16 years of experience on the Microsoft Data Platform, including 8 years focused on Azure and Microsoft Fabric, Erwin helps organizations define and execute their data and AI strategy. His focus is on building scalable, secure, and future‑proof data platforms that enable analytics, operational excellence, and AI‑driven innovation.

Erwin is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and a frequent speaker at national and international conferences, where he shares strategic insights on modern data platforms, platform engineering, and the role of data foundations in successful AI initiatives.
As a member of the Technology Board at InSpark, Erwin provides technical leadership across the data domain, guiding senior consultants and shaping the company’s data platform vision. He is closely involved in translating Microsoft’s roadmap into practical, enterprise‑ready solutions and advising customers on modernizing complex analytics landscapes.
Erwin is also a key stakeholder in InSpark’s managed data platform offerings, including Oxygen (Modern Data Platform as‑a‑Service) and the ISV Solution Nitrogen Control Center, a Microsoft Fabric–native solution focused on scalable data integration and processing.
His core belief: AI success is driven by strong leadership decisions and a solid data foundation, not by models alone.

Erwin de Kreuk is an experienced Technology Lead for Data at InSpark, a Microsoft partner recognized as Global Partner of the Year for Identity and Dutch Partner of the Year for Data & AI. With 16 years of experience on the Microsoft Data Platform, ... Show more

Dr. Joe Perez is a game-changing professional who has made an impressive impact on the world of IT, health & human services, and higher education. With advanced degrees in education, Joe started his career as an educator and continued to further his education by earning a doctorate in education with a double minor in computers and theology. His career focus changed to IT in the early 1990’s when he started working as a Computer Consultant at NC State University. Three promotions later, Dr. Perez ended his successful 25-year career at NC State as Business Intelligence Specialist when he took another promotion to become Senior Business Analyst at the NC Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) in the fall of 2017.

Notably, Dr. Perez has been featured on multiple billboards in the iconic Times Square, a testament to his remarkable achievements and influence worldwide. This recognition, along with his Top 10 Global Thought Leader Rankings in IT Strategy & Big Data on Thinkers360 for four consecutive years (2023 through 2026) and Gartner Peer Community Ambassador of the Year (2023-2024), reflect his dedication and impact in the industry.

Having achieved significant success throughout his career, Dr. Perez's accomplishments include being promoted to Senior Systems Specialist and Team Leader, a position he has excelled in while showcasing his expertise and leadership skills. In addition to his full-time analytics/BI leadership role at DHHS, Joe was named fractional Chief Technology Officer at a North Carolina firm in October 2020 and Strategy Director at InnovoraMind in March 2026. A prolific, Amazon bestselling author with multiple #1 new releases, more than 21,000 followers on LinkedIn, and several professional certifications, he has consistently proven to be a much sought-after resource, highly-recommended international keynote speaker, data analytics & visualization expert, and specialist in efficiency and process improvement.

Perez, a recipient of the IOT Industry Insights 2021 Thought Leader of the Year award, speaks at numerous conferences each year, and continues to be in high demand to this day, expanding his reach into dozens of countries around the globe, impacting thousands. Thanks to these outstanding accomplishments and influential presence as a leading expert in the industry, Dr. Perez has been welcomed into several prestigious Thought Leader communities. He was recently inducted into the United Nations Global Network of Data Officers and Statisticians and was selected to be a Distinguished Fellow in the Public Sector Network's Future Government Institute.

Dr. Perez's passion for teaching has never waned, whether as a speaker, workshop facilitator, podcast guest, conference emcee, or team leader; inspiring countless individuals to strive for excellence. He cherishes spending time with his wife and children, who he considers to be the "best things that ever happened to me." Besides being a gifted musician, singer, pianist, and composer, Joe serves in his church's Hispanic ministry. He even manages to publish a monthly military newsletter, The Patriot News, which has gained widespread recognition. His unwavering commitment to his community is an inspiration to all. To stay in shape, Perez hits the gym, and he loves watching Star Trek reruns to relax. "I'm a firm believer that if I'm not innovating, then I'm stagnating," says Joe. His devotion to innovation, his boundless energy, and his constant drive for excellence are the hallmarks of a truly exceptional individual, thus making Dr. Joe a perfect fit to inspire and engage your audience, leaving a lasting impact on your event.

Dr. Joe Perez is a game-changing professional who has made an impressive impact on the world of IT, health & human services, and higher education. With advanced degrees in education, Joe started his career as an educator and continued to further his ... Show more

Federico Porceddu is a Microsoft MVP in the Microsoft 365 category, recognized for his contributions to Microsoft 365 Development and Copilot Extensibility. With 15+ years of experience, he works as a Modern Workplace Solution Architect at Avanade Italy, where he designs and delivers enterprise solutions built on Microsoft 365, SharePoint, and Copilot, blending Microsoft and open-source technologies. He is also co-host of the Copilot Espresso podcast and an active contributor to the Microsoft 365 PnP (Patterns & Practices) community. An engaged community leader, Federico is an international speaker, technical writer, blogger, and podcaster, passionate about making technology accessible and empowering developers. After several years working abroad, he now lives in Sardinia, where he brings innovation closer to home. When he’s not speaking about tech, he can be found trekking, with a great cup of coffee never too far away.

Federico Porceddu is a Microsoft MVP in the Microsoft 365 category, recognized for his contributions to Microsoft 365 Development and Copilot Extensibility. With 15+ years of experience, he works as a Modern Workplace Solution Architect at Avanade It... Show more

Vivian Voss is a Microsoft Business Applications and M365 MVP who loves to help organizations transform their processes with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. Vivian has around 10 years of experience in creating solutions within the Dynamics 365 suite and extending it with the tools from the Power Platform. She is also a co-organizer of various user groups and a frequent speaker at community events.

Vivian Voss is a Microsoft Business Applications and M365 MVP who loves to help organizations transform their processes with Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. Vivian has around 10 years of experience in creating solutions within the Dynamics 365 suite... Show more

I am a Chief Level Microsoft 365 Architect and recognized Microsoft MVP for Teams and Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing 12+ years of leadership in architecting, securing, and deploying complex Microsoft 365 solutions for Federal, State, and Local Government agencies and large Enterprise Customers. My core mandate is solving technically intricate Microsoft requirements involving compliance and cross-platform integration.

My expertise spans the entire solution lifecycle, from rigorous presales TCO analysis and high-assurance security design to global deployment and measurable user adoption. I specialize in environments requiring stringent security and compliance postures (e.g., GCC, GCC High, DoD requirements).

Core Technical & Domain Leadership:
• Advanced UC Architecture: Expertise in solving complex PSTN requirements globally, utilizing Operator Connect, Direct Routing (SBC/SIP trunk configuration, media bypass), and migration strategies from legacy voice platforms. I specialize in integrating Zoom and Cisco Experience (CUCM, Webex) environments with Teams via CVI and interop gateways.
• AI and Custom Development: Leading the technical implementation of Generative AI productivity tools. This includes leveraging Copilot Studio for low-code/no-code custom bot creation, sophisticated data connection configuration, and architecting the secure deployment of Copilot Chat across restricted tenants.
• Compliance & Telecom Expertise: Deep-dive technical knowledge of global telecom regulations, including E.164 normalization, emergency calling (E911/NextGen 911), and Lawful Intercept requirements. This expertise ensures technical compliance and de-risks deployment across diverse regulatory jurisdictions for both government and enterprise clients.
• M365 Security & Governance: Architecting security and compliance baselines using Purview, Entra ID (conditional access, MFA), and Defender to meet specific governmental and highly regulated industry standards while maintaining user productivity.

I serve as a high-impact technical leader, driving innovation, securing mission-critical communications, and translating complex architectural diagrams into successful, compliant business outcomes for the world's most demanding organizations.

I am a Chief Level Microsoft 365 Architect and recognized Microsoft MVP for Teams and Microsoft 365 Copilot, bringing 12+ years of leadership in architecting, securing, and deploying complex Microsoft 365 solutions for Federal, State, and Local Gover... Show more

Richard Harbridge is a Principal Industry Advisor on Microsoft 365 and ShareGate as well as a long-standing Microsoft MVP. Renowned for simplifying the complex, Richard equips IT, executives, and business leaders with three essentials: clarity about Microsoft 365’s evolving capabilities, confidence in responsibly implementing and governing new technologies, and the connections that amplify success across partners, customer communities and Microsoft itself.

Over the past decades he has:
• Advised 200+ enterprises on Microsoft 365 strategy, AI governance and employee experience.
• Delivered 450 + keynotes, workshops and conference sessions across five continents.
• Empowered millions of employees with simpler, more secure Microsoft 365 experiences, while helping partners unlock $300+ million in new revenue.
• Leads CIO think tanks and employee-experience forums while serving on research and community leadership councils shaping the future of work.

Whether architecting AI rollouts, moderating executive roundtables, or writing practical frameworks, Richard’s focus is unwavering: turn technology potential into lasting business impact.

Richard Harbridge is a Principal Industry Advisor on Microsoft 365 and ShareGate as well as a long-standing Microsoft MVP. Renowned for simplifying the complex, Richard equips IT, executives, and business leaders with three essentials: clarity about ... Show more

David is an Associate Director with Protiviti Canada and a 10-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For 20 years, David has assisted organizations to collaborate efficiently and effectively within SharePoint and Microsoft 365. David assists companies to understand their compliance needs and how to protect their data. He has helped organizations build data protection programs to safeguard their most sensitive information while ensuring the business can collaborate and work with their content. Over the past 25 years, David has built a great deal of experience in a wide variety of areas in IT, ranging from Desktop\Server support to development in C++ and .NET technologies. He has added value to many clients in several sectors, including utilities, government, banking, and agriculture.

David is a knowledgeable and sought-after international speaker within IT circles and is consulted regularly by companies formulating their digital workplace strategies and compliance platforms.

David blogs at http://daviddrever.com

David is an Associate Director with Protiviti Canada and a 10-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For 20 years, David has assisted organizations to collaborate efficiently and effective... Show more

Microsoft MVP (M365 and AI Platform), MCT

A results oriented consultant with experience in Microsoft Technologies especially with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Experienced in design, implementation, configuration, and maintenance of several large-scale projects.

Author of books:
➟ Mastering SharePoint Framework (BPB Publications), Amazon bestseller
➟ Understanding Hybrid Environments in SharePoint 2019 (Apress)
➟ Up and Running on Microsoft Viva Connections (Apress)

Organizer of Pune Tech Community (https://www.meetup.com/pune-tech-community/)

Microsoft MVP (M365 and AI Platform), MCT A results oriented consultant with experience in Microsoft Technologies especially with Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and Microsoft Azure. Experienced in design, implementation, configuration, and mainten... Show more

Inspired by those in the community that have gone before me, I try to share what I learn by looking at what the services from Microsoft can offer, understanding challenges people have and bringing those two things together. Having learned from 13 years in Financial Services, I moved into the world of consulting, currently acting as Director, owning Copilot and Agents within the UK at Avanade.

I am lucky enough to have been awarded as a Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 for Copilot and Copilot Extensibility and co-host the award winning Copilot Connection podcast as well as blogging and sharing videos.

Inspired by those in the community that have gone before me, I try to share what I learn by looking at what the services from Microsoft can offer, understanding challenges people have and bringing those two things together. Having learned from 13 yea... Show more

Hannes is a developer, a coach and a father of 3.

In software development, he has always had a passion for performance, databases, distributed systems and large scale applications. He's always weighing every solution's benefits against its drawbacks, reducing friction where possible.

As a coach, he is enthusiastic about knowledge sharing, personal growth and building careers. Building a company culture around learning is what gets him out of bed.

In his free time, when he’s not building LEGO® castles with his kids, he likes to spend time building guitars, playing chess, mountain biking and doing all round geeky stuff.

You can often find him on stage at the conference afterparty, especially as the guitarist of Dylan Beattie & the Linebreakers.

Hannes is a developer, a coach and a father of 3. In software development, he has always had a passion for performance, databases, distributed systems and large scale applications. He's always weighing every solution's benefits against its drawbac... Show more

Alexander is the Lead Data Transformation Architect at Advania in Sweden, where he spends his days helping clients of all shapes and sizes to take better care of - and make more sense of - their data.
He has spent the last 29 years poking around with data, databases, and related infrastructure services such as storage, networking, and virtualization, occasionally emerging from the technical darkness to attend a Star Wars convention somewhere in the world.
He is a long-time Data Platform MVP, frequent international speaker, podcaster, Pluralsight author, blogger, and a Microsoft Certified Trainer, focusing on the Microsoft data platform stack.

Alexander is the Lead Data Transformation Architect at Advania in Sweden, where he spends his days helping clients of all shapes and sizes to take better care of - and make more sense of - their data. He has spent the last 29 years poking around wit... Show more