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

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

I am a Microsoft 365 architect and newly minted MVP with a passion for turning technology into something people actually love to use. With more than 20 years in web development, IT administration, and systems integration and 16+ years dedicated to SharePoint, Teams, the Power Platform, and Copilot, I specialize in modernizing legacy solutions, streamlining development processes, and building governance frameworks that are practical, sustainable, and human centered. In recent years I have been deeply focused on Copilot readiness and adoption, helping organizations move beyond "just keeping the lights on" to unlocking creativity, collaboration, and entirely new ways of working. Outside of work, I am a Certified Scrum Master, global speaker, community builder, and blogger at UnsuckM365, where I share no fluff stories from the field. I am also a bedroom DJ who believes music and technology share the same rhythm: both connect people, tell stories, and inspire new ways of thinking.

I am a Microsoft 365 architect and newly minted MVP with a passion for turning technology into something people actually love to use. With more than 20 years in web development, IT administration, and systems integration and 16+ years dedicated to Sh... Show more

Paul is a Consulting Director & the Fabric Capabilities Owner for 3Cloud Solutions, 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 Consulting Director & the Fabric Capabilities Owner for 3Cloud Solutions, and a 16-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs at SqlServerBI.blog about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He wo... Show more

Matteo is a Cloud Solution Architect in the ABS Tech Strategy - AI Stack team in Microsoft. In his role, he works with global companies to build innovative projects for the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, based on the latest innovations in the AI & applications development space. He has a strong passion for knowledge sharing and he supports the developer community by writing articles, blog posts and books and by speaking at conferences all around the world. Before joining Microsoft, he was a Microsoft MVP in the Windows Development category and a Nokia Developer Champion for almost 5 years.

Matteo is a Cloud Solution Architect in the ABS Tech Strategy - AI Stack team in Microsoft. In his role, he works with global companies to build innovative projects for the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, based on the latest innovations in the AI & applicat... 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

Carol is a Cloud Architect with a strong focus on security and observability, boasting over 7 years of experience in cloud-native technologies. She is an open-source contributor to Kubernetes, OpenTelemetry, Kubernetes Release, and CNCF Glossary. Carol is an active member of the community, serving as a TAG Lead in Operational Resilience, CNCF Ambassador, AWS Community Builder, and Cloud Native chapter organizer, together with KCD events in Brazil.

Carol is a Cloud Architect with a strong focus on security and observability, boasting over 7 years of experience in cloud-native technologies. She is an open-source contributor to Kubernetes, OpenTelemetry, Kubernetes Release, and CNCF Glossary. Car... Show more

Monica Morehouse (Rathbun), a Microsoft MVP for Data Platform, resides in Virginia and brings two decades of experience across various database platforms, with a particular focus on SQL Server and the Microsoft Data Platform. She is a frequent speaker at IT industry conferences, where she shares her expertise on performance tuning and configuration management for both on-premises and cloud environments. Monica leads the Hampton Roads SQL Server User Group and is passionate about SQL Server and its community, she is dedicated to giving back in any way she can. You can often find her online (@sqlespresso) offering helpful tips or blogging at sqlespresso.com.

Monica Morehouse (Rathbun), a Microsoft MVP for Data Platform, resides in Virginia and brings two decades of experience across various database platforms, with a particular focus on SQL Server and the Microsoft Data Platform. She is a frequent speake... Show more

Simon is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Cloud Consultant at CloudWay, recognized globally as a leading voice in modern endpoint management, Microsoft Intune, and security in Entra ID.

As an international speaker, Simon is recognized for delivering engaging sessions that combine in-depth technical expertise with practical guidance, inspiring IT professionals to rethink how they manage and secure endpoints in today’s cloud-first world. His expertise and thought leadership have made him a trusted resource at major conferences and events worldwide.

Beyond the stage, Simon extends his influence through writing and community contributions, sharing strategies and best practices that help organizations thrive in the ever-changing landscape of endpoint and cloud management.

Driven by a passion for empowering others with knowledge, Simon continues to shape the conversation on modern workplace technology, ensuring IT leaders and practitioners are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Simon is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Cloud Consultant at CloudWay, recognized globally as a leading voice in modern endpoint management, Microsoft Intune, and security in Entra ID. As an international speaker, Simon is recognized for delivering eng... Show more

Marc is a Sr Developer Advocate at Diagrid and enjoys sharing knowledge on how to build distributed applications. He's one of the Dapr Community Managers, and he loves helping developers to achieve more every day.

You might have seen Marc at a developer meetup or conference, since he's a regular speaker and event-organizer in the area of Dapr, Azure cloud, and serverless technologies. From 2019 to 2025 Marc received the Microsoft Azure MVP award for his community contributions.

In his spare time, Marc likes to give attention to the creative part of his brain. He likes to create pixel art (check out VSCode Pets), code visuals & music, and create an occasional retro game.

Marc is a Sr Developer Advocate at Diagrid and enjoys sharing knowledge on how to build distributed applications. He's one of the Dapr Community Managers, and he loves helping developers to achieve more every day. You might have seen Marc at a dev... Show more

Mauro Morales is a Guatemalan software developer and speaker. He’s currently a Staff Engineer at Spectro Cloud, where he’s part of the team building Kairos — an open-source Linux distribution for running Kubernetes at the edge. Mauro regularly speaks at conferences like KubeCon, FOSDEM, and the Open Source Summit, and co-hosts the Cloud Native Community Belgium.

Mauro Morales is a Guatemalan software developer and speaker. He’s currently a Staff Engineer at Spectro Cloud, where he’s part of the team building Kairos — an open-source Linux distribution for running Kubernetes at the edge. Mauro regularly speaks... Show more

Mike Maadarani is a Microsoft Copilot & M365 MVP, a board member of the Microsoft Global Community Initiative, and a Cloud Solutions Architect who has been providing strategic solutions surrounding architecture, planning, migration and governance for medium to large-scale organization. With 30 years of IT industry experience, Mike spent the last few years managing and delivering collaboration solutions to a wide range of mid to large scale projects. He is an evangelist and visionary where he can and provide the business and technical leadership required for delivering successful global Microsoft 365 projects. This has giving him the opportunity to work with great talented colleagues and people who I have a lot of respect for their passion and dedication.

He is an active member in the Microsoft 365 community and have spoken in many Microsoft conferences, local events, and corporate functions.

Mike Maadarani is a Microsoft Copilot & M365 MVP, a board member of the Microsoft Global Community Initiative, and a Cloud Solutions Architect who has been providing strategic solutions surrounding architecture, planning, migration and governance for... Show more

Alfonso Graziano is a Tech Lead with a strong background in software engineering, specializing in JavaScript, and distributed systems. Currently at Nearform, Alfonso leads engineering teams to deliver impactful projects, for governmental institutions and enterprise. With a history of scaling teams and designing innovative solutions across industries like fintech and media platforms, Alfonso brings expertise in AWS, Node.js, and React. Passionate about knowledge sharing, he loves to solve problems and contributes to tech communities. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, learning, and spending quality time with loved ones.

Alfonso Graziano is a Tech Lead with a strong background in software engineering, specializing in JavaScript, and distributed systems. Currently at Nearform, Alfonso leads engineering teams to deliver impactful projects, for governmental institutions... 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

Laila Bougria is a Solutions Architect and Engineer with over 15 years of experience in the Microsoft .NET space. 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. 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 15 years of experience in the Microsoft .NET space. She's a keynote speaker, a Microsoft MVP in Azure and Developer Technologies, and frequently shares her knowledge and insights at confer... 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 member of the JCP Executive Committee, 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 member of the JCP Executive Committee, Java Champion, Oracle ACE Pro, Test... Show more

Adele is a Software Engineer and Consultant at Trifork Amsterdam where she is working on systems for the educational sector. Most of her work day is spent in the JVM/Spring and React ecosystems, although increasingly she plays a pivotal role as trusted advisor to Trifork’s customers.

Adele is an experienced international speaker, having spoken at multiple editions of NDC, goto, Devoxx and JavaZone. As a speaker, she uses her exposure to real-world customer projects, experiences outside of tech and passion for story-telling to distill complex ideas into their essential parts. All with an air of good humour.

When she’s not at her computer or on stage, you can find her in the gym pumping some serious iron as she pursues the sport of powerlifting.

Adele is a Software Engineer and Consultant at Trifork Amsterdam where she is working on systems for the educational sector. Most of her work day is spent in the JVM/Spring and React ecosystems, although increasingly she plays a pivotal role as trust... Show more

Niels Tanis has got a background in .NET development, pentesting and security consultancy. He is Microsoft MVP and has been involved in breaking, defending and building secure applications. He joined Veracode in 2015 and right now he works as a security researcher on a variant of languages and technologies related to Veracode’s Binary Static Analysis service. He is married, father of two and lives in a small village just outside Amersfoort, The Netherlands.

Niels Tanis has got a background in .NET development, pentesting and security consultancy. He is Microsoft MVP and has been involved in breaking, defending and building secure applications. He joined Veracode in 2015 and right now he works as a secur... Show more

Jakub is a CNCF Ambassador and a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat. He has long-term experience with Kubernetes, streaming, and messaging. Currently focuses mainly on Apache Kafka and its integration with Kubernetes. He is one of the founders and maintainers of the Strimzi project, which provides tooling for running Apache Kafka on Kubernetes. Before joining Red Hat, he worked as a messaging and solution architect in the financial industry.

Jakub is a CNCF Ambassador and a Senior Principal Software Engineer at Red Hat. He has long-term experience with Kubernetes, streaming, and messaging. Currently focuses mainly on Apache Kafka and its integration with Kubernetes. He is one of the foun... Show more

Esther Barthel has worked in different roles and functions as an IT consultant after she finished her Master’s degree in Computer Science in 1997. She soon discovered that End User Computing combined servers, desktops, and user experience technologies into one and specialized in virtualization solutions, like Microsoft Remote Desktop Services, Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktops and Azure Virtual Desktops

Esther works as a Senior Solutions Architect at cognition IT, where she combines her passion for designing and implementing End User Computing (EUC) solutions with her love for DevOps, using Infrastructure-as-Code, PowerShell scripting, REST APIs, and JSON payloads for process automation of managing infrastructure focused resources (both on-premises and Cloud).

Ever since she hosted introduction days for technical female student candidates Esther has shared her passion and knowledge for IT. She has also been a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion as one of the founders of the CUGC Women in Tech mentorship program.

In addition to her Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award, Esther is also awarded as a Nerdio Valued Professional (NVP), and Parallels VIPP.

Esther Barthel has worked in different roles and functions as an IT consultant after she finished her Master’s degree in Computer Science in 1997. She soon discovered that End User Computing combined servers, desktops, and user experience technologie... Show more

Christoph's professional journey has been shaped by his experiences at a German insurance group, a mid-sized IT consulting firm specializing in Microsoft technologies, and Microsoft itself. His passion lies in digital transformation and its impact on individuals and businesses. For Christoph, the human aspect and their needs within the digital transformation space take precedence, along with the ever-evolving technological challenges.

He also enjoys challenging the status quo occasionally. There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for every customer. Daily reevaluation is essential to achieve the best outcomes, recognizing that each customer and project is unique and cannot be replicated exactly.

Christoph's professional journey has been shaped by his experiences at a German insurance group, a mid-sized IT consulting firm specializing in Microsoft technologies, and Microsoft itself. His passion lies in digital transformation and its impact on... Show more

Alexander is the chief technology officer at Analytics Masterminds 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 25 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 chief technology officer at Analytics Masterminds 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 25 years poking around with data,... Show more

Lakshmi is a Microsoft MVP (Data Platform) and a Certified Power BI Data Analyst, currently working in the Institutional Effectiveness department at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is passionate about creating creative and innovative Power BI reports that not only make data pop but also provide actionable insights. She was a Finalist in the Microsoft Power BI DataViz World Championships 2025, showcasing her ability to combine technical expertise with storytelling. An engaging speaker, she frequently speaks about all things Power BI at user groups and conferences, and also shares tips and best practices on her Medium blog.

Lakshmi is a Microsoft MVP (Data Platform) and a Certified Power BI Data Analyst, currently working in the Institutional Effectiveness department at Missouri University of Science and Technology. She is passionate about creating creative and innovati... Show more

Raniz is a programmer, architect, speaker and coach at factor10. He is a problem solver who keeps track of the bigger picture. He is prestigeless, likes to get into new domains, and loves sharing knowledge and ideas. Raniz has worked with system- and software architecture at several companies since 2010 and has been with factor10 since 2021. When not working he's into beer brewing, sourdough bread, 3D printing and triathlons.

Raniz is a programmer, architect, speaker and coach at factor10. He is a problem solver who keeps track of the bigger picture. He is prestigeless, likes to get into new domains, and loves sharing knowledge and ideas. Raniz has worked with system- and... Show more

Hafedh is a professional coach, agile coach, and trainer with over 12 years of experience in guiding individuals and organizations toward resilience, adaptability, and improved performance. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, agility, and human sciences, Hafedh integrates these disciplines to offer a comprehensive approach to personal and organizational development. His work focuses on helping teams and leaders navigate change and foster growth in dynamic environments. Throughout his career, Hafedh has been committed to empowering his clients with practical, science-based strategies for achieving long-term success.

Hafedh is a professional coach, agile coach, and trainer with over 12 years of experience in guiding individuals and organizations toward resilience, adaptability, and improved performance. With a strong foundation in neuroscience, agility, and human... Show more

Hi, I'm Dhyan, and I love all things data. I help people unlock the magic of Power BI by simplifying the tricky stuff, automating the boring parts, and cheering teams on as they build solutions that actually stick. For me, data is more than numbers, it's an opportunity to inspire and create lasting impact.

If a session with me leaves data feeling lighter and more fun, mission accomplished.

Hi, I'm Dhyan, and I love all things data. I help people unlock the magic of Power BI by simplifying the tricky stuff, automating the boring parts, and cheering teams on as they build solutions that actually stick. For me, data is more than numbers, ... Show more

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and solution architect, he’s architected end-to-end IT transformations that blend security, automation, and collaboration.

A true AI evangelist, Samir designs PoCs and production systems leveraging Azure AI services (Cognitive Services, Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel), Copilot Studio, and Power Platform AI—applying deep prompt engineering, vector search/RAG patterns, and grounding techniques to deliver next-gen user experiences. He’s integrated generative AI agents into Office 365 and custom apps, automated workflows with Power Automate and Logic Apps, and secured data with Zero Trust and Microsoft Purview.

As Founder & Principal Architect of Cloudtrify Inc., Samir crafts both short- and long-term cloud-native and AI solutions that drive ROI, user adoption, and maintainability—always with responsible AI and compliance top-of-mind.

Samir Makwana empowers enterprises and government agencies to harness the full power of Microsoft Cloud—and especially its cutting-edge AI stack—to build secure, value-driven businesses. With 17 years as a software developer, pre-sales engineer, and ... Show more

Gregor Reimling is a Microsoft MVP in Azure and Security, and Chief Azure Technologist at adesso SE. He leads technical strategy and implementation for Azure, focusing on enterprise-scale architectures, cloud security, governance, hybrid environments, and migration.
Gregor is a passionate community advocate, regularly speaking at international Microsoft and community conferences. He runs a popular Azure blog and co-hosts the Cloud Inspires podcast. He is the founder of the Azure Bonn Meetup, a thriving user group with over 1,000 members, and co-founder of the Cloud Identity Summit, an annual event focused on identity and security.
As a Microsoft Certified Trainer, Gregor empowers professionals through hands-on training and mentorship, helping organisations maximise their cloud potential.

Gregor Reimling is a Microsoft MVP in Azure and Security, and Chief Azure Technologist at adesso SE. He leads technical strategy and implementation for Azure, focusing on enterprise-scale architectures, cloud security, governance, hybrid environments... 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

Máté is passionate about technology and how it can enhance the way people work and collaborate. He began his Power Platform career years ago as a citizen developer. He leads the Hungary Power Platform User Group and shares his expertise at conferences, focusing on Power Platform, user experience, and mentoring.

Beyond technology, Máté advocates for the role of soft skills in tech - fostering collaborative groups, mentoring, and helping professionals identify and leverage their transferable skills. He believes that success in digital transformation is not just about tools but also about people and communication.

As a freelancer, he prioritizes work-life integration, balancing professional projects with his hobbies, such as traveling, hiking, and public speaking. He’s also a Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer and volunteer photographer, continuously blending his love for technology with creativity and cultural experiences.

Máté is passionate about technology and how it can enhance the way people work and collaborate. He began his Power Platform career years ago as a citizen developer. He leads the Hungary Power Platform User Group and shares his expertise at conference... Show more