Developer / DBA / Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) focusing on Microsoft's Data Platform, AI, Azure, IoT and Security.
Developing information and multimedia systems, DBA, project and IT management, for over 26 years.
Speaker with over 320+ sessions delivered since 2015 at international conferences and community events (mostly in-person before pandemic times) on multiple technologies, Internet Governance and Human Rights, as well as volunteer and moderator.
Organiser and founder at technical communities: IT Pro Portugal, PowerShell Portugal, Data Community Portugal, and multiple other online communities such as IPv6 Portugal, DNSSEC Portugal, etc.
Organiser of technical events: Global AI Bootcamp Lisboa, Global Power Platform Bootcamp Lisboa, Ctrl-Alt-Shell, Ctrl-Alt-Xmas, Global Diversity CFP Day Lisboa, Power BI Roadshow Lisboa, Programar Saturday, Community Evenings, etc.
Go to https://Andy.PT and you'll know the same as the NSA...

Developer / DBA / Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) focusing on Microsoft's Data Platform, AI, Azure, IoT and Security. Developing information and multimedia systems, DBA, project and IT management, for over 26 years. Speaker with over 320+ session... Show more

Hi there, I’m Chris!

I'm a seasoned tech leader, keynote speaker, and technology consultant with expertise across the full tech stack, from enterprise architecture and data platforms to advanced AI (including Agentic AI and Responsible AI / Trustworthy AI). I’ve led large-scale, high-value enterprise projects and initiatives across industries (with a strong focus on government), helping organizations harness emerging technology responsibly to solve real-world challenges - I try to remove the fluff and cut to solving the real problem.

My style is bold, straight-talking, and deeply authentic. I'm a natural connector who brings people together to spark collaboration and creativity. A lifelong tinkerer and excessively curious, I thrive on exploring new ideas and building communities around innovation. I encourage teams to think differently, color outside the lines, and always remember to stay human in a tech-driven world.

As an international keynote speaker, I've energized audiences with talks on AI, Ethics in Tech, data strategy, and true concepts around digital transformation, infusing humor and real-talk into every session. Whether I'm advising C-suite leaders on AI strategy or coaching teams on the latest tech, my goal is to inspire innovation, enable people to do awesome things and drive positive change. If you're on the verge of the next big breakthrough and need a dynamic speaker or consultant, let's connect. I'm all about helping to #BuildAwesomeThings and making sure we all #StayExtraHuman along the way.

Hi there, I’m Chris! I'm a seasoned tech leader, keynote speaker, and technology consultant with expertise across the full tech stack, from enterprise architecture and data platforms to advanced AI (including Agentic AI and Responsible AI / Trustw... 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

Tiago Costa is a Senior AI & Cloud Architect and Advisor, focusing on AI & Microsoft Azure, a Public Speaker, Trainer, and Author. For the past +20 years has been architecting and developing solutions using Microsoft technologies. In recent years, Tiago has been helping companies migrate and build AI & cloud-native workloads on Microsoft Azure. Tiago has been working at the Senior Architect level, but he always likes to take on some hands-on tasks on the Azure Administration and Development side. You can also find him in the classroom or online teaching AI & Microsoft Azure. All this real-world experience enables him to deliver outstanding training in AI & Microsoft Azure.

Tiago has several Microsoft Certifications and awards:
- Microsoft Azure MVP (2016 – …)
- MCT – Microsoft Certified Trainer (2006 – …)
- MCT Community Lead (2013 – …)

He loves diving into new technologies and sharing his experience at conferences and training classes. What excites him about his work is helping others explore new frontiers in technology and becoming better professionals. His free time is spent with his family in the sunny surroundings of Lisbon, Portugal, and building cool geek projects.

Tiago Costa is a Senior AI & Cloud Architect and Advisor, focusing on AI & Microsoft Azure, a Public Speaker, Trainer, and Author. For the past +20 years has been architecting and developing solutions using Microsoft technologies. In recent years, Ti... Show more

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP, is a speaker, best-selling author of 12 books, and senior tech consultant specializing in business systems analysis and project management. With a strong background in systems engineering and experience working with over 100 organizations, Pamela has delivered workshops, webinars, and presentations worldwide and authored 10 books, including two international best-sellers. Pamela has also taught project management for over ten years in Toronto, Canada. In 2023, 2024, and 2025 she stands out as one of the most active speakers on Sessionize. For more details, visit her LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelapaterson/, or contact her at pamelatheba@gmail.com.

Pamela Paterson, MS, CBAP, PMP, is a speaker, best-selling author of 12 books, and senior tech consultant specializing in business systems analysis and project management. With a strong background in systems engineering and experience working with ov... Show more

Chris Woodruff, also known as Woody, is an Independent Consultant and brings nearly three decades of industry expertise, having launched his career before the first .COM boom. Renowned for his contributions to software development and architecture, Woody is a regular speaker at international conferences, where he shares his deep knowledge on topics ranging from database development to APIs and web technologies. He is a Microsoft MVP in .NET and Web Development.

A dedicated mentor, Woody thrives on guiding fellow developers and enhancing their skills through his talks, written work, and digital content. He co-hosts the popular "Breakpoint Show" podcast and YouTube channel, which he uses to connect with and educate the tech community. He is also writing a book covering network programming with C# and .NET.

Woody's interests extend beyond his professional life, adding a personal touch to his character. He is a passionate bourbon enthusiast, often embarking on adventures along the Bourbon Trail in search of unique finds to savor and share with friends. Family time is a cherished part of his life, and he often shares insights from his professional journey on his blog at https://woodruff.dev. To stay updated on his latest projects and adventures, follow him on Twitter at @cwoodruff and Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@cwoodruff, where he shares his thoughts and experiences, fostering a sense of connection with his audience.

Chris Woodruff, also known as Woody, is an Independent Consultant and brings nearly three decades of industry expertise, having launched his career before the first .COM boom. Renowned for his contributions to software development and architecture, W... 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, specialising in Dynamics 365 and Power Platform, since 2017.

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

Ståle Hansen is the Founder, CEO and Digital Wellbeing coach at CloudWay. He is currently awarded as Copilot MVP and is a Microsoft Regional Director with over a decade working with Microsoft 365 and hybrid solutions. His passion is working smart in Microsoft 365 powered by Copilot. He is an international public speaker since 2012 and has spoken at conferences such as Microsoft Ignite, Experts Live and the Microsoft 365 Conference. In 2023, he won the Wellness Champion Award at ESPC for his GTD inspired productivity concept, Digital Wellbeing, which you can find on his YouTube channel with more than 4500 subscribers and 400 000 views.

Ståle Hansen is the Founder, CEO and Digital Wellbeing coach at CloudWay. He is currently awarded as Copilot MVP and is a Microsoft Regional Director with over a decade working with Microsoft 365 and hybrid solutions. His passion is working smart in ... Show more

Heini is a math teacher turned Azure expert. With her background in mathematics and teaching, she has a great passion for problem solving, simplifying complex things and a unique approach to architectures.
She is a Co-founder at Bruvo and a Data Platform MVP, specializing in Azure infrastructure and the data platform. She has been working with customers large and small for the past several years to help them sort out their path to the cloud and make sense of their architecture - both hybrid and cloud. She has worked extensively with both Azure infrastructure and analytics solutions, and makes the most of this skillset in her projects, as well as while speaking. On her free time Heini spends time in the nature, either snowboarding or mountain biking, depending on the season.

Heini is a math teacher turned Azure expert. With her background in mathematics and teaching, she has a great passion for problem solving, simplifying complex things and a unique approach to architectures. She is a Co-founder at Bruvo and a Data Pla... Show more

Espen is a developer and architect with over 25 years of experience. He has worked on everything from embedded systems, electronics and games to large-scale cloud applications. He is as full-stack as they come. Espen started coding at age six on a C64 and has been cranking out software ever since.

He served as the principal architect, tech lead and lead security
engineer on the compensation scheme for Covid-19 suffering
businesses released by the Norwegian government.

Espen was the Senior VP of Technology Exploration for DNB in San Francisco and is currently doing technology and security research in DNB NewTechLab.

Espen is a developer and architect with over 25 years of experience. He has worked on everything from embedded systems, electronics and games to large-scale cloud applications. He is as full-stack as they come. Espen started coding at age six on a C6... Show more

Brayan Kai is a Data Scientist passionate about Technical Writing and Open-source Advocacy, currently working as a Data Scientist. At work, he helps build Data Science solutions, facilitates technical mentorship sessions, and builds next-level data content to equip learners with hands-on, job-ready, in-demand skills for their next career move. He also volunteers at different developer communities, including Google Developer Group Nairobi, OSCA Nairobi, and the GitHub Community. Brayan is also a global tech speaker so far having spoken at over 30 conferences across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. It makes him happier and more balanced, and gives him a stronger sense of purpose to innovate, share, and teach in and with the community rather than just for it.

Brayan Kai is a Data Scientist passionate about Technical Writing and Open-source Advocacy, currently working as a Data Scientist. At work, he helps build Data Science solutions, facilitates technical mentorship sessions, and builds next-level data c... 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

Jan Vidar Elven is a Senior Cloud Platform & Security Architect working at Microsoft Partner Evidi AS in Norway. He is a Microsoft MVP in Security, an active speaker and blogger, and has more than 25 years’ experience inside IT infrastructure management and architecting solutions, working with Cloud & Datacenter, specializing in Azure, Microsoft Entra, Active Directory, Enterprise Mobility, Identity & Access Management, Identity Governance, Service Management, Operations Management and Automation cross On-Premise and Azure environments.

Jan Vidar Elven is a Senior Cloud Platform & Security Architect working at Microsoft Partner Evidi AS in Norway. He is a Microsoft MVP in Security, an active speaker and blogger, and has more than 25 years’ experience inside IT infrastructure managem... Show more

Although living on a tropical island, Jochen Kirstätter is a business owner and entrepreneur in different industry sectors. Mainly operating in the development of tailor-made software solutions since more than 20 years, he is also venturing into the world of cloud computing. You can either meet him at the regular meetups of the Mauritius Software Craftsmanship Community or reach him on X and Mastodon: @JKirstaetter.

Jochen is a Google Developer Expert (GDE) for Google Cloud and a Microsoft Most Valuable Programmer (MVP) for Developer Technologies for several years. He founded the now largest IT community in Mauritius, and organises the annual Developers Conference. Following his interest in cross-platform technologies he is also an organiser of the Google Developer Group (GDG) Mauritius.

Although living on a tropical island, Jochen Kirstätter is a business owner and entrepreneur in different industry sectors. Mainly operating in the development of tailor-made software solutions since more than 20 years, he is also venturing into the ... Show more

Miguel Llorca is a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry.

Since 2014, he has been honored with the Microsoft MVP award, for his contributions to technical communities. He is also a member of the Microsoft Regional Director program, recognized for his extensive technical and business acumen and leadership within the community.

Additionally, Miguel is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, an instructor and author for LinkedIn Learning, and a regular speaker at industry events and conferences, earning the distinction of LinkedIn Top Voice in 2024 and 2025.

Miguel Llorca is a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Since 2014, he has been honored with the Microsoft MVP award, for his contributions to technical communities. He is also a member of th... Show more

Eldert is always enthusiastic about embarking on new journeys with the Cloud, and Azure in particular. He is very passionate about growing his dreams and teams, and goes above and beyond to help those with the same spark. Eldert comes from a background as a cloud solution architect and Technology Lead, was an Azure MVP for 5 consecutive years, and is now working as a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft for Azure Service Bus.

Always having a smile on his face, Eldert can be found delivering noteworthy sessions at in-person conferences, meetups, and online platforms. He values sharing and spreading knowledge while building genuine connections regardless of background and expertise. His goal is to bring people closer and work together to influence the outcome and optimize the future of Cloud technologies.

Eldert is always enthusiastic about embarking on new journeys with the Cloud, and Azure in particular. He is very passionate about growing his dreams and teams, and goes above and beyond to help those with the same spark. Eldert comes from a backgrou... Show more

Nicola Paro is a Solution Architect with over 10 years of experience in the industry, with a special focus on the Industrial IoT environment. He is passionate about software development, primarily using .NET, Blazor, and AI technologies.

Nicola Paro is a Solution Architect with over 10 years of experience in the industry, with a special focus on the Industrial IoT environment. He is passionate about software development, primarily using .NET, Blazor, and AI technologies. Show more

Koen Verbeeck is a data professional working at AE. He helps organizations to get insight in their data and to improve their analytics solutions. Koen has over a decade and a half of experience in developing data warehouses, models and reports using the Microsoft data platform. Koen was a Microsoft Data Platform MVP for 8 consecutive years, and 1 year Microsoft Fabric MVP. He has a blog at http://www.sqlkover.com, writes articles for MSSQLTips.com and is a frequent speaker at Microsoft Data Platform events.

Koen Verbeeck is a data professional working at AE. He helps organizations to get insight in their data and to improve their analytics solutions. Koen has over a decade and a half of experience in developing data warehouses, models and reports using ... Show more

Microsoft Business Applications MVP, MCT, Accessibility Advocate, Mental Health Champion, Community Cheerleader

Technology veteran who has been there, done that, had the therapy to recover! Having worked in everything from Automobiles to Food, Healthcare to Coffee, Charities to Multinationals and with every IT job role imaginable)

A vocal Accessibility and Mental Health advocate, very open and honest about his own Mental Health and Disabilities, but in a humorous and entertaining way.

Mad about the Microsoft Business Applications space including Power Platform and Dynamics 365, and not forgetting the omnipresent Copilot and AI, but with a particular focus on Accessibility, Inclusion, and Community.

Outside of tech you will find a proud Nerd & Geek who loves Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Technology and more. A family man and a massive petrol head and sports fan (F1, MotoGP, WEC, Rugby, Cricket... to name just a few) - oh, and a massive collector of Funko Pops and Lego!

Microsoft Business Applications MVP, MCT, Accessibility Advocate, Mental Health Champion, Community Cheerleader Technology veteran who has been there, done that, had the therapy to recover! Having worked in everything from Automobiles to Food, Hea... Show more

Mathias Thierbach is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and enterprise technology leader focused on bringing modern DevOps practices to the Microsoft analytics and cloud ecosystem. He is the creator and maintainer of pbi-tools, an open-source project that pioneered source control and DevOps for Power BI solutions, and the inventor and community contributor of TMDL, the emerging open standard definition language for Power BI semantic models.

Through his open-source work and community engagement, Mathias helps organizations adopt Git-based workflows, CI/CD automation, and scalable deployment strategies across Fabric, Power BI, and Azure. Beyond tooling, he shares practical insights from his journey as both an engineer and a leader—building high-performing teams and bridging the gap between business value and engineering excellence.

Mathias Thierbach is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and enterprise technology leader focused on bringing modern DevOps practices to the Microsoft analytics and cloud ecosystem. He is the creator and maintainer of pbi-tools, an open-source project that... 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

PowerPlatform is my passion, which is why I'm not only working in this field full-time. Also privately an app or a flow is built for everything.

PowerPlatform is my passion, which is why I'm not only working in this field full-time. Also privately an app or a flow is built for everything. 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

With a clear focus on open-source solutions, Cody is deeply committed to shaping technology for the greater good. Since embarking on the international speaking circuit in 2022, Cody has championed the benefits of full-stack and decentralized applications, underscoring the significance of open-source technologies. Through his work, presentations, and teaching at the university, he constantly seeks ways to use technology as a tool for fostering social interactions and driving positive societal change.

With a clear focus on open-source solutions, Cody is deeply committed to shaping technology for the greater good. Since embarking on the international speaking circuit in 2022, Cody has championed the benefits of full-stack and decentralized applicat... Show more

Erick Wendel is an active Node.js core committer, Keynote Speaker, and professional educator. He has given over 100 tech talks in more than 20 different countries worldwide. He was awarded as a Node.js Specialist with the Google Developer Expert, Microsoft MVP, and GitHub Stars awards. Erick Wendel has trained more than 100K people around the world in his own company https://ew.academy

Erick Wendel is an active Node.js core committer, Keynote Speaker, and professional educator. He has given over 100 tech talks in more than 20 different countries worldwide. He was awarded as a Node.js Specialist with the Google Developer Expert, Mic... Show more

With over a decade in the Android world, I’ve lived the fast-paced startup life in California before returning to France. Today, I’m leading and managing the Android team at Aircall, where we're building the best phone system for modern businesses.

Beyond Android, I’m passionate about backend development with Kotlin and exploring the possibilities of AR/VR. In 2021, I was honored to become an Android GDE—continuing my mission to share knowledge and grow alongside the amazing Android community.

Outside of work, you’ll find me traveling the globe or on the hunt for the perfect IPA.

With over a decade in the Android world, I’ve lived the fast-paced startup life in California before returning to France. Today, I’m leading and managing the Android team at Aircall, where we're building the best phone system for modern businesses. ... Show more

I am Microsoft 365 solution architect. I create applications and solutions that improve and facilitate work using Power Platform, SharePoint, and Teams.

My adventure in IT began in 2005. Since then I have been creating and implementing business applications based on SharePoint and Microsoft 365 platforms. I am a big fan of task and process automation (Power Automate) and Modern Workplace platforms (Microsoft Teams).

Privately a husband, father of 2 sons. Fan of science fiction and cyberpunk, futurist. I co-organize the SharePoint Saturday Warsaw conference and speak at Microsoft's community events.

I am Microsoft 365 solution architect. I create applications and solutions that improve and facilitate work using Power Platform, SharePoint, and Teams. My adventure in IT began in 2005. Since then I have been creating and implementing business ap... Show more

Mish is a multi-talented personality in the tech and gaming communities. Mish has worked in the technology space for the last decade and has a tonne of experience in developer advocacy, community management, marketing, and content creation. Mish has spoken at over 400 events on topics like AI, the future of work, communication, teamwork, and has given technical demos. She's a respected leader in the hackathon community, having won, organised, and mentored over 120 hackathons.

Mish is a successful entrepreneur and founder, having co-founded several companies – including an artificial intelligence company, and as a result, sits at the forefront of Melbourne’s science, tech, esports, and startup scenes. In her 'spare' time she’s a streamer, journalist, loves playing sports, and is always working on something exciting.

Mish is a multi-talented personality in the tech and gaming communities. Mish has worked in the technology space for the last decade and has a tonne of experience in developer advocacy, community management, marketing, and content creation. Mish has ... Show more

Ginger Grant is a distinguished Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), renowned for her deep expertise in advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, data warehousing, and the evolving landscape of Microsoft Fabric. As a sought-after consultant, Ginger empowers organizations to harness the full potential of their data ecosystems.

Beyond consulting, Ginger is a prolific thought leader and speaker for both keynotes and technical training. She contributes regularly as a columnist for Code Magazine, authors insightful books, and shares practical knowledge on her blog, DesertIsleSQL.com. Her educational impact spans a wide range of technologies, including Azure Synapse Analytics, Python, and Azure Machine Learning, making her a trusted voice in the data community.

Whether on stage, in print, or in the classroom, Ginger’s passion for data and commitment to knowledge-sharing make her a standout figure in the world of data and AI.

Ginger Grant is a distinguished Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), renowned for her deep expertise in advanced analytics, machine learning, AI, data warehousing, and the evolving landscape of Microsoft Fabric. As a sou... Show more

Senior Engineering Manager. He’s an experienced international speaker, mentor and podcast host as well as a running enthusiast.

Senior Engineering Manager. He’s an experienced international speaker, mentor and podcast host as well as a running enthusiast. Show more