Johan Ludvig Brattås leads Data & AI Solutions at Tower NewCo, and a dedicated community guy. He has worked with MS SQL server since late 1999, mostly with BI in one form or another. Since 2015, most of his work has been in the cloud working on data platform services such as Snowflake, Databricks and Fabric.

Combining his passion for MS SQL Server with his passion for sharing knowledge, he started speaking at various events in the SQL Community. This is also a way to give back to the community for all the things he has learned over the years. When not working, Johan Ludvig either spends his time with his kids, playing with new technology or teaching coeliacs how to bake glutenfree food.

Johan Ludvig Brattås leads Data & AI Solutions at Tower NewCo, and a dedicated community guy. He has worked with MS SQL server since late 1999, mostly with BI in one form or another. Since 2015, most of his work has been in the cloud working on data ... Show more

With a lifelong passion for the weirdness of the internet and a day job as a development lead for whoever hired him, Lemon spends his professional time making websites for money and his free time making websites for no money.

He's created a number of stupid things for the internet, like all the games on kinda.fun, the wikiHow guessing game damn.dog, the Google Autocomplete game idiots.win, and a bunch of other things of questionable use. He also hosts a podcast that looks at some of the internet's weirder subcultures. It is not safe for your work, unless you work somewhere really cool.

With a lifelong passion for the weirdness of the internet and a day job as a development lead for whoever hired him, Lemon spends his professional time making websites for money and his free time making websites for no money. He's created a number... Show more

Paul is a Solution Architect for P3 Adaptive, and a 16-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs at SqlServerBI.blog about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He works with companies around the world to model data at enterprise scale, visualize and deliver critical information to make informed decisions using the Microsoft data platform. He is a user group leader in the Portland/Vancouver metro area. As a published author on Power BI, Fabric, TSQL, SSAS & SSRS, he holds several Data Platform credentials and all current Fabric & Power BI certifications.

Paul is a Solution Architect for P3 Adaptive, and a 16-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs at SqlServerBI.blog about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He works with companies around the world to... Show more

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Proprietor of Catallaxy Services, LLC, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608) and Finding Ghosts in Your Data (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-8870-2). When not traveling around for presentations, Kevin lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Proprietor of Catallaxy Services, LLC, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand... Show more

Kanwal Khipple is the CEO and Founder of 2toLead, a trailblazing consulting firm dedicated to innovative digital workplace transformations. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a trusted authority in creating engaging, award-winning employee experiences that seamlessly blend design, technology, and human-centric thinking. Recognized by the Nielsen Norman Group for designing two Top 10 Intranets, Kanwal continues to influence how modern organizations enhance collaboration, learning, and performance.

As AI reshapes how employees interact with information and one another, Kanwal focuses on leveraging cutting-edge tools—like personalization engines, intelligent chatbots, and workplace analytics—to drive meaningful, future-ready workplaces. A long-standing Microsoft 365 community contributor and Microsoft and Business Applications MVP since 2009, he frequently speaks on the value of embracing emerging technologies to amplify rather than replace human connection. His mission is to ensure that as we evolve our workplaces with AI, we do so ethically, responsibly, and with enduring human value at the core.

Kanwal Khipple is the CEO and Founder of 2toLead, a trailblazing consulting firm dedicated to innovative digital workplace transformations. Over the past decade, he has established himself as a trusted authority in creating engaging, award-winning em... Show more

Sasha is CTO at Brainform.ai with over 20 years of experience architecting scalable enterprise systems. With a strong engineering background, his expertise spans frontend, backend, cloud infrastructure, mobile development, and AI — from cloud-based generative AI to on-device solutions. He specializes in building robust, production-ready products using a variety of technologies and frameworks. Sasha has delivered solutions across fintech, digital media, and entertainment. He is a Google Developer Expert for Cloud, AI, Firebase, Flutter, and Dart, co-organizes the Flutter Berlin Community, and is a recognized international speaker and writer, having presented at 30+ conferences worldwide.

Sasha is CTO at Brainform.ai with over 20 years of experience architecting scalable enterprise systems. With a strong engineering background, his expertise spans frontend, backend, cloud infrastructure, mobile development, and AI — from cloud-based g... Show more

Christian is a Microsoft MVP, Oracle ACE in Java and Fullstack engineer with over 15 years of experience as an engineer. He started with Java and since 9 years works also in the frontend with Angular, TypeScript and JavaScript. Besides his daily work he enjoys giving talks, creating YouTube videos for his over 8000 subscribers, works on his open source projects. If there is time left he gives workshops giving trainings regarding the successful usage of AI in software engineering and writes articles.

Christian is a Microsoft MVP, Oracle ACE in Java and Fullstack engineer with over 15 years of experience as an engineer. He started with Java and since 9 years works also in the frontend with Angular, TypeScript and JavaScript. Besides his daily work... Show more

Joseph is a leading voice in AI and cyber, developing software and content that shape how millions of developers build. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain AI and security skills. His videos, with 2.8M+ views, simplify complex technical topics and deliver actionable tips to a global audience. As a speaker, Joseph has delivered 80 talks across 25 countries over the past 5 years, captivating audiences with his insights and energetic stage presence.

Joseph is a leading voice in AI and cyber, developing software and content that shape how millions of developers build. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain AI and security skills. His videos, with 2.8M+ views, simplify comp... Show more

Three decades of shipping software across industries gives Stacy stories worth hearing.

She takes the stage to share what actually works — live code, hard-won lessons, and a genuine passion for helping teams build better.

Recognised with a Microsoft MVP Award for Developer Technologies since 2020, she is also the author of Beginning Azure Static Web Apps, helping developers build dynamic applications using C#, Azure Functions, and Azure Static Web Apps.

Three decades of shipping software across industries gives Stacy stories worth hearing. She takes the stage to share what actually works — live code, hard-won lessons, and a genuine passion for helping teams build better. Recognised with a Micr... Show more

Security consultant with a focus on Microsoft Security either on-prem or in the cloud, and a blueteamer at heart. Viktor has worked within IT for the past 10 years always within Cyber Security. Working for public sector in Sweden for years but now as a specialist at Truesec AB focusing on proactive security measures, DFIR and advises on all things cyber.

Security consultant with a focus on Microsoft Security either on-prem or in the cloud, and a blueteamer at heart. Viktor has worked within IT for the past 10 years always within Cyber Security. Working for public sector in Sweden for years but now as... Show more

Creo firmemente en el poder de los datos para cambiar realidades y en la importancia de seguir explorando nuevas formas de maximizar su impacto. Si quieres conectar o saber más sobre mi trabajo, puedes visitar mi blog en Medium https://medium.com/@akanemar

I firmly believe in the power of data to transform realities and in the importance of continuously exploring new ways to maximize its impact. If you'd like to connect or learn more about my work, feel free to visit my blog on Medium: https://medium.com/@akanemar

Creo firmemente en el poder de los datos para cambiar realidades y en la importancia de seguir explorando nuevas formas de maximizar su impacto. Si quieres conectar o saber más sobre mi trabajo, puedes visitar mi blog en Medium https://medium.com/@ak... 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

Marco Dal Pino is working in IT for more than 30 years as Developer, Team Leader, PM and Cloud Architect.
He mostly experienced Microsoft dev Platforms around .NET, for LOB, Desktop, Mobile and embedded apps.
He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and a Speaker at the main technical conferences all around the world.
He is part of the staff of DotNetToscana a community focused on Microsoft technologies.
He received many awards from IT companies as independent Advisor like:
Microsoft MVP, Intel BlackBelt & Innovator, Nokia DevChamp, Hackster Live Ambassador
He works in Microsoft as a Senior Technical Consultant.

Marco Dal Pino is working in IT for more than 30 years as Developer, Team Leader, PM and Cloud Architect. He mostly experienced Microsoft dev Platforms around .NET, for LOB, Desktop, Mobile and embedded apps. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and... Show more

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with Microsoft data technology since 2000 and Azure AI since 2017. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's a Redgate Community Ambassador and an author of two books. His original data professional role was in database development, which quickly evolved into query tuning work as a DBA in the healthcare realm. He has supported several critical systems utilizing SQL Server, Azure SQL, and Microsoft Fabric and managed dozens of 24/7/365 data estates. 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 & AI ecosystem.

Matt is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and has worked with Microsoft data technology since 2000 and Azure AI since 2017. He is the leader of the Lexington, KY Data Technology Group and a frequent domestic and international community speaker. He's a Re... Show more

As Head of Developer —and Agent— Relations at QuestDB, I help developers make the most of their (fast) data. These days that increasingly means AI agents: I make QuestDB easy for an agent to use through skills, MCP servers, machine-legible docs, standard interfaces like SQL, REST, and Parquet, and a cookbook of ready-made recipes, so agents produce correct, fast results with as few tokens as possible. I also make sure the core team behind QuestDB listens to absolutely every piece of feedback I get, and I facilitate collaboration in our open source repository.

I love data, big and small, and I enjoy processing it with streaming engines, ML models, SQL, NoSQL, graph, in-memory, and time-series databases. I prefer distributed, scalable, always-on systems.

Before working at QuestDB I spent over 20 years developing software professionally and sharing what I learnt with the community, including three years as a Developer Advocate at AWS and five years as a Google Developer Expert in Cloud. I've spoken at events in over 25 countries, mentored dozens of start-ups, taught for 6 years at different universities, and trained hundreds of professionals on cloud and data engineering.

As Head of Developer —and Agent— Relations at QuestDB, I help developers make the most of their (fast) data. These days that increasingly means AI agents: I make QuestDB easy for an agent to use through skills, MCP servers, machine-legible docs, stan... Show more

Piotr Prus is a Google Developer Expert for Android and a regular Droidcon/DevFest speaker. His talks and workshops focus on the craft of visual UI on Android: Jetpack Compose, canvas, animations, particle emitters, AGSL shaders, and fluid screen transitions.

Piotr Prus is a Google Developer Expert for Android and a regular Droidcon/DevFest speaker. His talks and workshops focus on the craft of visual UI on Android: Jetpack Compose, canvas, animations, particle emitters, AGSL shaders, and fluid screen tra... Show more

Saeid Dahl is a Microsoft Azure and AI MVP, Microsoft Learn Learning Expert, Microsoft Certified Trainer, international speaker, and community leader with more than 18 years of experience in the IT industry.

He is currently Head of Public Cloud and AI at Upheads, where he leads cloud and AI strategy, solution architecture, technical enablement, and team development. His work focuses on Microsoft technologies, especially Azure, Azure Arc, automation, hybrid cloud, cloud adoption, infrastructure modernization, and AI-driven solutions.

Saeid is also an active leader in the Microsoft community. He serves as a board member of Microsoft Zero To Hero, MSFarsi, and Global Azure, helping foster learning, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing across a growing network of more than 7,000 members.

Recognized for his strong expertise in PowerShell, automation, integration, and Azure architecture, Saeid helps organizations design scalable, secure, and practical cloud solutions. His experience spans Azure design, cloud adoption strategy, hybrid and multi-cloud environments, enterprise-scale architecture, governance, security, and operational excellence.

With a genuine passion for sharing knowledge, Saeid regularly speaks at conferences, community events, and technical sessions. He is committed to mentoring professionals, empowering communities, and helping individuals and organizations make better use of Microsoft cloud and AI technologies.

Through continuous learning, hands-on experience, and active community contribution, Saeid Dahl brings a practical, people-focused approach to technology, innovation, and cloud transformation.

Saeid Dahl is a Microsoft Azure and AI MVP, Microsoft Learn Learning Expert, Microsoft Certified Trainer, international speaker, and community leader with more than 18 years of experience in the IT industry. He is currently Head of Public Cloud an... 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 an IPO, co-authored "Liquid Software" and "DevOps Tools for Java Developers," and is a Java Champion, a Microsoft MVP for AI, and a CNCF Ambassador alum.

Today, as a self-certified Level 3 Context Sommelier, 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 such as DevNexus, QCon, Kubecon, and Devoxx, mostly about how to make your AI agents smarter while using fewer tokens.

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 an IPO, co-authored "Liquid Software" and "DevOps Tools for Java... 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

AI enthusiast with extensive software engineering background. Veronika has experience in full-stack development using C#, .NET, Java and Typescript, Azure and AWS clouds and loves using AI to support all her ideas. International public speaker, hackathon volunteer, co-organizer of Boston Azure AI user group, and mentor.
Veronika holds a master's degree in Information Technology. She likes dancing, traveling and practicing aerial fitness in her free time.

AI enthusiast with extensive software engineering background. Veronika has experience in full-stack development using C#, .NET, Java and Typescript, Azure and AWS clouds and loves using AI to support all her ideas. International public speaker, hacka... Show more

Adriana Villela is a blogger, host of the Geeking Out podcast, CNCF Ambassador, OpenTelemetry Community Manager, and maintainer of the OpenTelemetry End User SIG. By day, she focuses on Observability and OpenTelemetry, as a Principal Developer Advocate at Dynatrace. By night, she climbs walls. She also loves capybaras, because they make her happy.

In past lives, Adriana managed both a Platform Engineering team and Observability Practices team at Tucows. She has also worked at various large-scale enterprises as both an individual contributor and leader, including Bank of Montreal, Ceridian, and Accenture.

Adriana Villela is a blogger, host of the Geeking Out podcast, CNCF Ambassador, OpenTelemetry Community Manager, and maintainer of the OpenTelemetry End User SIG. By day, she focuses on Observability and OpenTelemetry, as a Principal Developer Advoca... Show more

Marino Wijay is a Canadian, Traveller, International Speaker, and Open Source Advocate and Architect for AI, API Platforms, Service Mesh, Kubernetes, and Networking. He is a CNCF Ambassador, Organizer for KCD Toronto, and Founder of EmpathyOps. He is passionate about technology and modern distributed systems. He will always fall back to the patterns of Networking and the ways of the OSI. Community building is his driving force; A modern Jedi Academy.

Marino Wijay is a Canadian, Traveller, International Speaker, and Open Source Advocate and Architect for AI, API Platforms, Service Mesh, Kubernetes, and Networking. He is a CNCF Ambassador, Organizer for KCD Toronto, and Founder of EmpathyOps. He i... Show more

I'm part of the team of experts at Proximo 3, a specialist Microsoft consulting company. Our team provides consultancy and advice on Dynamics 365 CRM and Power Platform projects. I'm a passionate believer in applying change management to CRM projects and a certified Prosci practitioner.

I've been a Microsoft Business Applications MVP since, specialising in Dynamics 365, Power Platform and Copilot Studio.

I'm part of the team of experts at Proximo 3, a specialist Microsoft consulting company. Our team provides consultancy and advice on Dynamics 365 CRM and Power Platform projects. I'm a passionate believer in applying change management to CRM projects... Show more

Mauricio Salatino, also known as salaboy, works for Dash0 as an Ecosystem Engineer. He is a Java Champion, Cloud Native Ambassador, published book author and international Keynote speaker. Before working at Dash0, Mauricio spent the last 15 years building tools for Cloud-Native developers at companies such as Red Hat and VMware. When he is not writing tools for developers or contributing to open source projects in the Cloud Native space, he teaches about Kubernetes, Cloud-Native and agentic engineering on his blog salaboy.com

Mauricio Salatino, also known as salaboy, works for Dash0 as an Ecosystem Engineer. He is a Java Champion, Cloud Native Ambassador, published book author and international Keynote speaker. Before working at Dash0, Mauricio spent the last 15 years bui... Show more

Sam Nasr has been a software developer since 1995, focusing mostly on Microsoft AI Stack of technologies. He’s a Sr. Software Engineer with NIS Technologies where he consults and teaches clients about the latest .NET technologies. Sam has achieved multiple certifications from Microsoft (MCSA, MCAD, MCTS, MCT), and is the leader of the Cleveland C# since 2003. In addition, he’s the leader of the .NET Study Group, Azure Cleveland User Group, an author for Visual Studio Magazine, LinkedIn Learning, and a 8x Microsoft MVP. When not coding, Sam loves spending time with his family and friends or volunteering at his local church. You can learn more about Sam by visiting https://linktr.ee/SamNasr.

Sam Nasr has been a software developer since 1995, focusing mostly on Microsoft AI Stack of technologies. He’s a Sr. Software Engineer with NIS Technologies where he consults and teaches clients about the latest .NET technologies. Sam has achieved ... Show more

As a Senior Solutions Architect at Pulumi with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, including roles at the Schwarz Group and W&W Versicherungen, I bring extensive expertise with an end-user and enterprise focus. Currently working for a startup while collaborating with enterprise clients has further enriched my experience!

I began my career as a Java backend developer, transitioned to frontend development, and ultimately specialized in CI/CD and DevOps. Working with ANT and Cruise Control to switch to Jenkins and Microsoft Team Foundation Server added some traumas on top! But as they say, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

I have now embraced the dynamic world of DevOps and Platform Engineering, leveraging cloud technologies and Kubernetes.

Recently, I have been exploring AI to find ways to make myself redundant in the future.

As a Senior Solutions Architect at Pulumi with over 15 years of experience in the IT industry, including roles at the Schwarz Group and W&W Versicherungen, I bring extensive expertise with an end-user and enterprise focus. Currently working for a sta... Show more

Java Champion, CNCF Ambassador & TAG DevEX Co-Chair, Microsoft MVP, Developer Advocate, Technical Marketing, Keynote Speaker, Published Author

Java Champion, CNCF Ambassador & TAG DevEX Co-Chair, Microsoft MVP, Developer Advocate, Technical Marketing, Keynote Speaker, Published Author Show more

I'm Ivan Pesenti. A passionate gopher who has been working in the software industry since 2014.

I'm a software engineer focused on server-side programming. Throughout my career, I've always been accompanied by two obsessions: testing and writing secure code. I consider myself a detail-oriented person.

My career took a turning point in 2021 when the Go programming language crossed my path. Since then, I've fallen in love with it.

I believe in empathy, kindness, mutual help, growth, determination, and trust. These values have led me to give back to the community through speaking, coaching, writing, and more. Helping others is one of the most satisfying experiences I've ever had.

During my free time, I train my body, play football, watch anime, and hang out with family and friends.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Hard work beats talent."

I'm Ivan Pesenti. A passionate gopher who has been working in the software industry since 2014. I'm a software engineer focused on server-side programming. Throughout my career, I've always been accompanied by two obsessions: testing and writing s... Show more

I am an Azure Data Platform professional working predominantly with Azure Synapse Analytics (SQL Pools), Data Factory, SQL Server and Power BI. I hold an MSc in Business Intelligence and Data Mining. I am a current Microsoft Data Platform MVP.

I am an Azure Data Platform professional working predominantly with Azure Synapse Analytics (SQL Pools), Data Factory, SQL Server and Power BI. I hold an MSc in Business Intelligence and Data Mining. I am a current Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Show more

I'm a passionate and customer-focused solutions architect with deep expertise in IoT, Cloud, .NET, and industrial applications. Microsoft has recognized my contributions with the MVP award since 2014 for Azure, and since 2024 specifically for Azure IoT.

With a background as an independent architect and developer, I’ve built a career around designing scalable, real-world solutions that bridge the gap between modern cloud technologies and industrial needs. I’m a frequent speaker at major tech community events across Italy, sharing knowledge on Azure, IoT, and .NET development.
As the community lead of 1NN0VA, a Microsoft-recognized tech community in Pordenone, Italy, I’m passionate about fostering innovation, mentoring developers, and supporting local tech growth. In 2016, I authored a book on Microsoft Azure to help others embrace the platform's potential.
At heart, I’m a missed researcher and a retro computing lover. I enjoy developing retrogames and playing with his Commodore 64, diving into sci-fi and comic books, and relaxing with a good streaming serie.

I'm a passionate and customer-focused solutions architect with deep expertise in IoT, Cloud, .NET, and industrial applications. Microsoft has recognized my contributions with the MVP award since 2014 for Azure, and since 2024 specifically for Azure I... Show more