Hugo Kornelis is an established SQL Server community expert who spends a lot of time at various conferences. He is also a blogger, technical editor of a variety of books, and Pluralsight author. He was awarded SQL Server MVP and Data Platform MVP 17 times (2006 - 2016 / 2019 - now).

When not working for the community, he is busy at his day job: freelance database developer/consultant.

Hugo has over 25 years of SQL Server experience in various roles. Starting from a strong database design background, he has spent the last ten years specializing in execution plans and query performance tuning.

Hugo Kornelis is an established SQL Server community expert who spends a lot of time at various conferences. He is also a blogger, technical editor of a variety of books, and Pluralsight author. He was awarded SQL Server MVP and Data Platform MVP 17 ... Show more

Lian always wanted to save the world. After leaving law school, she decided to work with computers instead.
While in Web Dev, she started attending tech events, and soon fell in love with the community. In her roles as Consultant and DevRel, Lian combined technical knowledge with a focus on the human side.
Currently, Lian works as freelance Platform Engineer in Amsterdam and is the Chief Karaoke Officer for Kuberoke, the first and only Kubernetes Karaoke Community. She also enjoys performing in musical improvisation theatre and standup comedy shows.

Lian always wanted to save the world. After leaving law school, she decided to work with computers instead. While in Web Dev, she started attending tech events, and soon fell in love with the community. In her roles as Consultant and DevRel, Lian c... Show more

Keren is a senior software developer with over a decade of experience in the industry. She holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science and is passionate about React and learning new technologies. Keren volunteers as a program manager at Baot, a community that supports women in R&D in their professional growth. She instructs and inspires people to write blogs in her tech blogging workshops. Keren has experience as a dev community leader and a co-organizer of meetups and events. And in her not-so-spare time, she studies psychology. Her hobbies include drawing, photography, and singing.

Keren is a senior software developer with over a decade of experience in the industry. She holds an M.Sc. in Computer Science and is passionate about React and learning new technologies. Keren volunteers as a program manager at Baot, a community that... Show more

Jan Ketil is an Microsoft MVP since 2016 and are working as a COO and Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay in Norway. He has been working in the industry for Microsoft Partners and Microsoft for more than 20 years. He loves to speak about anything around Endpoint Management, Identity, Security and Automation. He is also the lead for both community conferences Workplace Ninjas Norway and Nordic Virtual Summit. Jan Ketil has presented at large industry conferences like Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Inspire, MMS, TechMentor HQ, Experts Live Europe, WPNinja and NIC Conference in Oslo. He is also a regular speaker at various User Group events across Europe.

Jan Ketil is an Microsoft MVP since 2016 and are working as a COO and Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay in Norway. He has been working in the industry for Microsoft Partners and Microsoft for more than 20 years. He loves to speak about anything a... Show more

Rie Merritt has been working with SQL Server since 1999, when she started as a data analyst for a non-profit. She has worked in many industries over the years including pharmaceutical, e-commerce, legal, financial, education and both federal & state government. She is currently Principal PM Manager with Microsoft Azure Data, serving as the Influencers, Community & Events lead. She is liaison between the product group and Influencers, User Groups, MVPs & Super Users, and her team owns the FabCon workstream for Engineering. She is based out of Redmond, but works remotely from her home near Atlanta.

Since 2010, Rie has done extensive work with the SQL Community. She was an MVP in the Data Platform for three years, speaking frequently at conferences across the US and moderating webinars, WIT panels and career panels. She has also served co-leader of the Women in Technology Virtual Group and Executive Director of SQL Saturday Atlanta. Currently, Rie helps run the Atlanta Azure Data User Group heading up Microsoft’s efforts for the Azure Data Community.

Rie Merritt has been working with SQL Server since 1999, when she started as a data analyst for a non-profit. She has worked in many industries over the years including pharmaceutical, e-commerce, legal, financial, education and both federal & state ... Show more

Your friendly neighbourhood Data Engineer. My background is in Finance, but I have had the pleasure to be working in IT for the past 8 or so years. In my daily life, I design and build scalable data solutions in the Azure cloud.

Your friendly neighbourhood Data Engineer. My background is in Finance, but I have had the pleasure to be working in IT for the past 8 or so years. In my daily life, I design and build scalable data solutions in the Azure cloud. Show more

I am Vivek Yadav. I am an Enterprise Solutions Architect at FlutterFlow. I am a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart. I have more than 7 years of experience in Mobile Development. I have also worked with enterprises, startups, and mid-size companies. My last published app on AppStore got more than 20 million downloads on AppStore and PlayStore.

I am passionate about Ed-Tech. I have already built two products for my startup in Ed-Tech. Still, I am working on that. To boost my passion for Ed-Tech, I have started coding BootCamp for Flutter.

I have been mentoring startups, students, and employees for 4 years. I have connected with many startups, where I have talked about growth, scaling, app development, team formation, interviews, architecture, UX, business, and many more. I have connected with more than 50+ individuals. I have mentored them on flutter technology, shared what they can do in the future to make them better in Technology they are working on, and we have talked about many more topics.

I am Vivek Yadav. I am an Enterprise Solutions Architect at FlutterFlow. I am a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart. I have more than 7 years of experience in Mobile Development. I have also worked with enterprises, startups, and mid-size co... Show more

Anja Schröder is a Microsoft MVP and Modern Workplace Architect at Skaylink. She designs and builds Microsoft 365 architectures and leads their technical implementation from initial concept to rollout. Her approach ensures that solutions are not only secure and reliable but also improve the day-to-day work experience. Her expertise lies in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Copilot. In her sessions, she combines deep technical knowledge with practical examples to show how organizations can unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365.

Anja Schröder is a Microsoft MVP and Modern Workplace Architect at Skaylink. She designs and builds Microsoft 365 architectures and leads their technical implementation from initial concept to rollout. Her approach ensures that solutions are not only... Show more

I am a Global Microsoft 365 Architect. with over 12+ years of experience in the field of unified communications. I have a deep understanding of the entire unified communications lifecycle, from presales to deployment and user adoption. I am also a Microsoft MVP for Microsoft Teams, which means that I am a recognized expert in the platform.

I have worked with a variety of businesses of all sizes, helping them to implement unified communications solutions that meet their specific needs. I have a proven track record of success in delivering innovative solutions that help businesses to improve their communication and collaboration capabilities.

In addition to my technical skills, I also have strong telecom expertise. I have a deep understanding of the telecom regulations around the world and I can help businesses to comply with these regulations.

I am a highly motivated and results-oriented individual with a passion for helping businesses to communicate and collaborate more effectively. I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to your team and help you to achieve your business goals.

I am a Global Microsoft 365 Architect. with over 12+ years of experience in the field of unified communications. I have a deep understanding of the entire unified communications lifecycle, from presales to deployment and user adoption. I am also a Mi... Show more

Saeid Dahl, Microsoft Azure MVP, is honored to be a Community Leader for the Microsoft Zero to Hero and MSFarsi Community, fostering a vibrant network of over 7000 members. With more than 17 years of dedicated experience in the IT industry, Saeid holds the roles of Senior Solution Architect and Technical Leader at Upheads, where his focus lies in Microsoft solutions, particularly Azure.

Recognized for his proficiency in PowerShell, Saeid specializes in automation, integration, and maximizing Azure's capabilities. With a genuine passion for knowledge-sharing, he engages audiences as a public speaker and is committed to mentoring individuals, aiming to inspire through shared insights.

Saeid's expertise encompasses Azure design, offering a deep understanding of Azure Cloud adoption, solution architecture, and navigating Hybrid Cloud environments. His strategic guidance assists organizations on their cloud journey, leveraging his comprehensive knowledge of Azure.

As an active participant in the Azure community, Saeid Dahl humbly embodies a commitment to excellence, innovation, and the empowerment of others through his continuous learning and dedication.

Saeid Dahl, Microsoft Azure MVP, is honored to be a Community Leader for the Microsoft Zero to Hero and MSFarsi Community, fostering a vibrant network of over 7000 members. With more than 17 years of dedicated experience in the IT industry, Saeid hol... Show more

Benni is a Principal Program Manager in the Fabric Customer Advisory Team (Fabric CAT) at Microsoft. Aspiring to be top notch in his field, through continuous personal development, on both technical and soft skills. He strives for maximum results in his tasks using team play, communication, thinking outside of the box, and (endless) motivation. Benni is always ready to tackle the unknown, or pick up fresh ideas to broaden his range. Building on past experiences, he continuously tries to find new, more efficient ways of obtaining results, and improving the process along the way.

Loving (almost) every day of it, he’s fascinated by the value of data, sometimes flabbergasted by the lack of awareness, and intrigued by the endless possibilities whilst discovering new ways of looking at data. He thrives on unfolding new insights for customers whilst using an open and transparent communication.

On a daily basis he turns (large amounts of) coffee into insights for customers, and references witty British comedy, lame dad jokes, and obscure facts way too often. Overly enthusiastic about anything data related, he’s trying hard to keep up with all things new and shiny.

When not working, blogging or reading, you’ll likely find him out and about being his weird self. Rumour has it that he’s also involved with a ragtag band of data enthusiasts, enjoying themselves whilst organising cool community things.
They go by the name of .. dataMinds!

Benni is a Principal Program Manager in the Fabric Customer Advisory Team (Fabric CAT) at Microsoft. Aspiring to be top notch in his field, through continuous personal development, on both technical and soft skills. He strives for maximum results in ... Show more

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with SQL Server since 2000. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's an IDERA ACE alumnus and Redgate Ambassador. His original data professional role was in database development, which quickly evolved into query tuning work that further evolved into being a DBA in the healthcare realm. He has supported several critical systems utilizing SQL Server and Azure SQL and managed dozens of 24/7/365 SQL Server implementations. As a consultant, he works with customers large, medium, and small to migrate to the cloud, make their data estate operate efficiently, and find the right tools and solutions within the Microsoft Data Platform.

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with SQL Server since 2000. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's an IDERA ACE alumnus and Redgate Ambassador... Show more

Brendan O'Leary is a Developer Relations Engineer at Kilo Code (kilocode.ai), on a mission to help people leverage AI effectively in their workflows, and is an advisor to various startups. Having worked in software his entire career, Brendan has had the privilege of working with many customers. Previously at Prefect, GitLab and a board member of the CNCF – it is clear, every company is a software company. That means every company needs software and AI operational excellence. Outside of work, you'll find Brendan with 1 to 4 kids hanging off of him at any given time or occasionally finding a moment alone to build something in his workshop.

Brendan O'Leary is a Developer Relations Engineer at Kilo Code (kilocode.ai), on a mission to help people leverage AI effectively in their workflows, and is an advisor to various startups. Having worked in software his entire career, Brendan has had ... Show more

Christian Decker has been inextricably linked with Microsoft and the optimal use of tools for more than 20 years. After 9 years at Microsoft and over 12 years of experience with the best Microsoft Gold Partners, he is very familiar with Office 365 and Microsoft in general.
Christian is double MVP: Security and Teams - which reflects perfectly his passion

Christian Decker has been inextricably linked with Microsoft and the optimal use of tools for more than 20 years. After 9 years at Microsoft and over 12 years of experience with the best Microsoft Gold Partners, he is very familiar with Office 365 an... Show more

David is an Associate Director with Protiviti Canada and a 9-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For over 15 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 20 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 9-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For over 15 years, David has assisted organizations to collaborate efficiently and effec... Show more

Power Platform Solution Architect, Microsoft MVP for Business Applications, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), 11x Microsoft certified, published LinkedIn Learning instructor, public speaker, Power Platform Community High Five user group founder, On Air in the Cloud podcast host, blogger, and mentor.

Versatile solution architect with over 25 years' international experience of leading and developing software solutions in permanent and contract roles for sectors including finance, legal, manufacturing, construction, game development, retail, healthcare, travel, and charity.

Find me online: https://linktr.ee/keithatherton

Power Platform Solution Architect, Microsoft MVP for Business Applications, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), 11x Microsoft certified, published LinkedIn Learning instructor, public speaker, Power Platform Community High Five user group founder, On ... Show more

I'm Taiob Ali, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 19 years of experience designing and implementing data solutions across finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. My expertise includes the Microsoft Data Platform, MongoDB, Azure AI, and Python for data-driven innovation.

As a dedicated community advocate, I've presented at over 100 events worldwide, including SQL Saturdays, Data Saturdays, and international conferences. I founded the Database Professionals Virtual Meetup Group, serve on the New England SQL Server User Group and SQL Saturday boards, and contribute regularly to Microsoft Learn, where my work is featured in the Contributor Stories.

I'm Taiob Ali, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 19 years of experience designing and implementing data solutions across finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. My expertise includes the Microsoft Data Platform, MongoDB, Azure AI, and Python for d... Show more

Saurav Jain, Apify's Developer Community Manager, excels in community building and devrel. With a history of growing Amplication's community to 40K, he now enhances Apify's developer engagement. An international speaker, he has contributed to PyCon Ireland, PyCon Italy, and more. His work bridges developers globally, fostering innovation and collaboration within the tech ecosystem. His expertise and passion for technology make him a pivotal figure in nurturing tech communities.

Saurav Jain, Apify's Developer Community Manager, excels in community building and devrel. With a history of growing Amplication's community to 40K, he now enhances Apify's developer engagement. An international speaker, he has contributed to PyCon I... Show more

Wesley is a Customer Success Engineer at Duende Software, helping Duende's customers to be successful by assisting developers with issues, documenting common problems and teaching about security / identity.

He's also a Microsoft MVP, board member of the VISUG meetup in Belgium and speaker at meetups and conferences, such as NDC London and Sydney, Copenhagen Developer Festival, WeAreDevelopers Berlin, Update Conference, TechDays, DevConf, DeveloperDays and Techorama.

Wesley is a Customer Success Engineer at Duende Software, helping Duende's customers to be successful by assisting developers with issues, documenting common problems and teaching about security / identity. He's also a Microsoft MVP, board member ... 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

With over 20 years of diverse experience across various roles and companies, Marit is passionate about building awesome software in collaboration with amazing people, and making developers’ lives better.
She is committed to continuous learning and actively shares her expertise in programming, software development, testing, and test automation. Marit regularly presents at international conferences, participates in webinars, and appears on podcasts. Additionally, she writes blog posts and tutorials, creates videos, and is a contributor to the book "97 Things Every Java Programmer Should Know" (O’Reilly Media).

With over 20 years of diverse experience across various roles and companies, Marit is passionate about building awesome software in collaboration with amazing people, and making developers’ lives better. She is committed to continuous learning and a... Show more

Richard Harbridge is an Ecosystem Collaboration & Alliances Lead, author, internationally recognized speaker, and a Microsoft MVP. With a wealth of experience, Richard has led and operated multiple thriving businesses and currently serves as a trusted advisor to hundreds of organizations. He specializes in helping businesses understand their current and future needs, guiding them to take strategic actions that drive growth and achieve their ambitious goals.

Richard is known for his hands-on approach, having led, architected, and implemented countless business and technology solutions that have catalyzed digital and organizational transformations. His passion lies in empowering organizations to achieve more, whether through creating award winning experiences that enhance employee and technology strategies or by leveraging emerging technologies to improve the value they deliver to their customers, partners, and communities.

As sought-after speaker and leader, Richard frequently shares his expertise on employee experience, AI, the digital workplace, technology adoption, and Microsoft technologies at industry events worldwide. Richard is proud to work at Workleap, makers of ShareGate and also contributes to several committees, research teams, leads CIO think tanks, and facilitates employee experience and technology groups.

Richard Harbridge is an Ecosystem Collaboration & Alliances Lead, author, internationally recognized speaker, and a Microsoft MVP. With a wealth of experience, Richard has led and operated multiple thriving businesses and currently serves as a truste... Show more

Kevin Dubois is often featured as a (keynote) speaker at conferences around the world, where he shares his passion and knowledge about developer experience, open source, cloud native development and Java. He is also an author, java Champion, and an accomplished software architect and platform engineer. Kevin currently works as a Senior Principal Developer Advocate at IBM, and is also Technical Lead for the CNCF Developer Experience Technical Advisory Group.

Kevin contributes to projects like Quarkus, LangChain4j, Knative, Apache Camel, and Podman (Desktop).

Multilingual and multicultural, Kevin speaks English, Dutch, French, and Italian fluently. Currently based in Switzerland, he has also lived in Belgium, Italy, Montana and Utah.
When he’s not coding or speaking at conferences, you’ll likely find Kevin exploring the great outdoors—whether he's hiking rugged trails, gravel biking through scenic routes, snowboarding down epic mountain slopes, or packrafting on untamed waters.

Kevin Dubois is often featured as a (keynote) speaker at conferences around the world, where he shares his passion and knowledge about developer experience, open source, cloud native development and Java. He is also an author, java Champion, and an a... Show more

Ixchel Ruiz has been developing software applications and tools since 2000. Her research interests include Java, dynamic languages, client-side technologies, and testing. As a Java Champion, Oracle ACE Pro, Testcontainers Community Champion, CDF Ambassador, Hackergarten enthusiast, Open Source advocate, public speaker, and mentor, Ixchel is deeply committed to fostering inclusive and collaborative tech communities. She actively mentors aspiring developers and champions initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and accessibility in the technology sector.

Ixchel’s work is characterised by a relentless pursuit of innovation, a deep understanding of user needs, and an unwavering commitment to ethical technology development.

Ixchel Ruiz has been developing software applications and tools since 2000. Her research interests include Java, dynamic languages, client-side technologies, and testing. As a Java Champion, Oracle ACE Pro, Testcontainers Community Champion, CDF Amba... Show more

Marco Minerva has been using .NET since its first introduction. Today he proudly lives in Taggia, Italy, works as a freelance consultant and is involved in designing and developing solutions for the Microsoft ecosystem. His greatest expertise is backend development as a software architect. He holds training courses. He is a speaker at technical events, writes books and articles about developing and regularly makes live streaming about coding on Twitch. He is a Microsoft MVP since 2013.

Marco Minerva has been using .NET since its first introduction. Today he proudly lives in Taggia, Italy, works as a freelance consultant and is involved in designing and developing solutions for the Microsoft ecosystem. His greatest expertise is back... Show more

Eberhard Wolff has 20+ years of experience as an architect and consultant - often on the intersection of business and technology. He is Head of Architecture at SWAGLab. As a speaker, he has given talks at international conferences and as an author, he has written more than 100 articles and books e.g. about Microservices and Continuous Delivery. His technological focus is on modern architectures – often involving Cloud, Domain-driven Design, and Microservices..

Eberhard Wolff has 20+ years of experience as an architect and consultant - often on the intersection of business and technology. He is Head of Architecture at SWAGLab. As a speaker, he has given talks at international conferences and as an author, h... Show more

Michael Johnson is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and co-lead of the Johannesburg Data Platform User Group. Professionally, he is the owner and principal consultant at Cobalt Analytics, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Michael regularly presents at many local and international user groups and conferences on topics including data engineering and analytics.

Michael Johnson is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and co-lead of the Johannesburg Data Platform User Group. Professionally, he is the owner and principal consultant at Cobalt Analytics, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Michael regularly presents a... Show more

I am a data lover, especially in the ecosystem of Microsoft tools. I primarily focus on Power BI, Azure Synapse, and Azure SQL. In general, I follow a very simple motto.

"Don´t say it cannot be done, or someone who doesn´t know it will come and do it."

I am a co-founder and a Lead Technical Consultant at DataBrothers. We are Power BI experts and consultants with a focus on data analysis, reporting, and training in Power BI. We work with our clients across the globe on developing custom solutions and training their users on all levels (from business to development).

I am a data lover, especially in the ecosystem of Microsoft tools. I primarily focus on Power BI, Azure Synapse, and Azure SQL. In general, I follow a very simple motto. "Don´t say it cannot be done, or someone who doesn´t know it will come and do... Show more

John P White is the CTO of tyGraph and Evangelist at AvePoint. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Guelph and has been a Microsoft MVP since 2010 and a dual MVP since 2018 in both Microsoft Apps and Services and Data Platform.  He has spent far too long (since 1990) in the Information Technology space, and possesses a skill set that spans both architecture and development. He has been instrumental in delivering projects and applications that have been recognized with both local and global awards from Microsoft and IBM.
 John has accumulated a plethora of legacy technologies over the years like Novell, Lotus Notes and Java, and of course Microsoft technologies. This experience has proven invaluable when architecting systems. Over the past decade, he has been focused on the Microsoft collaborative and data platforms and is a frequent speaker on these topics.
 He blogs as actively as possible at the White Pages and is the co-host of the weekly https://bifocal.show/ which covers the Microsoft business intelligence space. John lives in the country just outside of Guelph, Canada. He is a father to 5, is an avid scuba diver, gardener, and photographer, both under and above the water (but mostly under).

John P White is the CTO of tyGraph and Evangelist at AvePoint. He holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Guelph and has been a Microsoft MVP since 2010 and a dual MVP since 2018 in both Microsoft Apps and Services and Data Plat... Show more

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results.
For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex migrations, and performance optimization—combining deep technical expertise with a calm, collaborative style that keeps teams focused and projects on track.

My work includes:

- (Enterprise) cloud adoption & migration – ensuring smooth transitions with minimal risk
- Cost optimization & performance tuning – making Azure investments more efficient
- Security & compliance – protecting business-critical systems and data
- Platform engineering & landing zones – building robust foundations for innovation

I’ve been honored with nine consecutive Microsoft MVP awards for my contributions to the global Azure and .NET community. Outside client projects, I speak at international conferences and run workshops that turn complex cloud concepts into actionable insights.
Recent events include VS Live, NDC London, Oslo & Porto; SDD London; Copenhagen Developers Festival; Techorama Netherlands & Belgium; DevSum Sweden, Update Confs, and Developer Week Germany.

Now, as founder of LoekD Consultancy BV, I partner with organizations ready to accelerate their Azure journey—whether that means starting fresh in the cloud or unlocking more value from what you already have, accelerated with the power of AI.

Contact me for full projects, workshops or sparring sessions.

📬 Let’s connect:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/loekd
- GitHub: github.com/loekd
- BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/loekd.com

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results. For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex mig... Show more