Marc Lelijveld
Architect & Technical Advocate | Data Platform MVP
Haastrecht, The Netherlands
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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
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From Dashboards to Dialogues: Reinventing Data Interaction with AI
Why spend time digging through dashboards to find a KPI when you could just ask a question and get the answer instantly?
In this session, we’ll explore how Microsoft Fabric is changing the way we work with data — moving away from static reports toward dynamic conversations. You don’t need to click through filters or build visuals — just ask your question and get straight to the answer.
We’ll walk through the tools that make this possible, including:
- Natural language to SQL, KQL and DAX capabilities in Fabric
- Copilot in Power BI
- Data Agents (AI Skills) to create your own chat-based data experiences
- Copilot Studio & AI Foundry to enrich these experiences
You’ll leave with practical examples and ideas to help you rethink how users engage with data in your own use cases
Semantic Models: Building the Foundation for the Enterprise Semantic Layer & AI
Modern data platforms need more than well-structured data. They need a governed semantic layer that captures business meaning once and makes it reusable across reports, analytics, and increasingly AI.
In this full-day Masterclass, we will build that foundation with Power BI semantic models. We’ll cover dimensional modeling, relationships, reusable measures and KPIs, storage architecture, governance, and maintainability - but we’ll also go beyond traditional BI.
As semantic models become a source for Copilot and Fabric Data Agents, model quality directly affects the quality of AI-generated answers. We’ll explore how naming, descriptions, synonyms, AI data schemas, AI instructions, and other semantic metadata help AI understand your business context, and why these features cannot compensate for a poorly designed model.
Through hands-on exercises and demonstrations, we’ll show how semantic models behave when consumed by AI, how to prepare and test them, and where they fit within the broader Fabric semantic layer, Fabric IQ, Ontology, and Data Agents.
You’ll leave with practical patterns for building semantic models that deliver trustworthy BI today and provide a strong semantic foundation for enterprise AI.
Agentic Development in Microsoft Fabric: From Code to Autonomous Data Solutions
AI is changing the way we develop data solutions. Instead of writing every line of code ourselves, we can increasingly describe what we want to achieve and let AI agents help us build it. But how far can we take this in Microsoft Fabric, and where do we still need to stay in control?
In this full-day hands-on workshop, we’ll explore agentic development across the Microsoft Fabric ecosystem by building a data platform end-to-end, from source systems and data engineering to semantic models, reporting, and AI-powered Data Agents.
We’ll get our hands dirty with AI coding agents in VS Code, explore PBIP and code-first development workflows, and see how tools like Project Osmos can help turn data engineering requirements into executed and validated solutions. We’ll then build on that foundation to create reporting experiences and Fabric Data Agents, exploring how to prepare semantic models and data sources for reliable answers and how to test and validate their output.
Along the way, we’ll bring these pieces together into a development workflow that is repeatable, maintainable, and ready for real-world use.
Expect plenty of demos, practical examples, and a few moments where we let the agents do the work and see what happens!
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have a better understanding of how to use AI agents throughout the data platform development lifecycle, from raw data to reporting and agentic experiences, while keeping control over the architecture, code, and results.
AI-Assisted Power BI Development: Copilot, Agents, and Beyond
AI is reshaping how we build solutions in Power BI, across every layer of the platform. In this session, we’ll explore how to leverage AI to improve your development productivity, from low-code assistance to more advanced automation scenarios.
We’ll take a tour through Copilot creator experiences across the different areas of Power BI, showing how it can support everything from report creation to data modeling and DAX development. From there, we’ll expand into more advanced capabilities including the Power BI MCP server, to enable structured and scalable model development.
You’ll see how these technologies can reduce manual effort and take your development journey to the next level.
From Source to a Working Agent in a day: Building an AI Ready foundation in Microsoft Fabric
In the era of AI, a “working agent” is only as good as the data foundation underneath it. Ontologies are discussed everywhere around us, but what value they add often remains unclear.
In this deep dive, we’ll go from raw source data to an AI ready Microsoft Fabric data foundation and finish with a data agent that can answer meaningful business questions—reliably and repeatably.
We’ll build a well architected Lakehouse using a medallion approach (Landing Zone → Bronze → Silver → Gold) and show how those layers translate into robust ingestion, transformation, historization, and curated consumption for analytics and agents. From there, we’ll connect a semantic layer and discuss why a clean semantic model and clear metadata are critical for agent accuracy and adoption. Next we will discuss ontologies on top and next to semantic models as alternative as well as addition.
Finally, we’ll bring it together with Fabric Data Agents concepts, tools, context, configuration and structured data access patterns, so you understand what it takes to move beyond demos and build something you can actually use in real projects.
Not Everything Needs Direct Lake: Practical Storage Mode Decisions
Is Direct Lake the answer to everything? With Microsoft Fabric, many see Direct Lake as the default choice for semantic models, but the reality is far more nuanced. Choosing between Import mode, Direct Lake over OneLake, and Direct Lake over the SQL Endpoint depends on far more than just performance.
In this session, we take a practical look at when each storage mode makes the most sense. We compare capacity impact, engine behavior, and the difference between on-demand loading versus loading the full model into memory.
We also cover semantic modeling implications for model authors, Direct Lake fallback scenarios, and the performance impact of poorly designed Delta tables and partitioning strategies.
Learn how to make the right storage mode decision instead of simply following the hype around Direct Lake.
Measuring AI Readiness in Power BI Semantic Models
In todays world, it's all about AI and copilots, where semantic models are essential for good and reliable results as an outcome. However, with Power BI we have 10 years of legacy and many semantic models which are not optimized for AI (at least not yet).
In this session we look from a practical angle at semantic models and what makes them ready for AI. We then explore from an admin perspective how to assess and monitor semantic model readiness at scale using code with Semantic Link and Semantic Link Labs. This way, admins will be able to monitor AI readiness across the Power BI landscape.
Exploring Fabric Semantic Link for Power BI folks!
If you're coming from a Power BI world, the whole Fabric thing might scare you a bit. Then suddenly, there is something called Semantic Link, which allows connections from Fabric Notebooks to read both data and meta data from your Power BI Semantic Model (dataset).
You might wonder, what's all this? How does it work and how to take benefit from it? Especially when you're not familiar yet with notebooks at all.
In this session we will explore what Semantic Link is, how you as Power BI developer/engineer can make use of it and how it will strengthen your solutions in the end. Together, we will explore various aspects like:
- Warming up your data in direct lake datasets
- Querying Dynamic Management Views,
- Reading Semantic Model meta data to generate documentation
- Extend or even forecast your data using Semantic Link
By the end of this session, you will not only grasp the basics of Semantic Link but also gain practical insights into its application so you can bring it to practice directly!
Visual Calculations: Making DAX easier
This is it. The day that the way that DAX became easier. After this, how you write DAX changes forever. Learn all about it in this session! The Power BI team has been working on exciting things related to DAX calculations, specifically targeted at making it easier to add typical business-type calculations (such as running totals or vs-first). Would you believe it if we told you that you don’t even have to type DAX anymore and still be able to get complex calculations done quickly? In this session, we will dive deep into visual calculations, covering everything there is to know about them including the lower level window functions.
Get ready to get your mind blown! See the future, today.
After this session you are an expert on visual calculations and ready to tackle any challenging calculation that comes your way!
Mastering Fabric Data Agents: From Setup to Success
Fabric data agent has been available for a while, yet many implementations fall short of expectations. Not because of the technology, but because of weak design, unclear instructions, or poorly prepared data models.
In this session, you’ll learn how to build high‑quality, trustworthy agents by applying proven design patterns around Agent Instructions, Data Source Instructions, and Verified Answers. We’ll explore how to structure semantic models for AI, route questions intelligently across Lakehouse, Warehouse, Eventhouse, and semantic models, and avoid the most common pitfalls that lead to inconsistent results.
You’ll also see how to operationalize your agents using the Data Agent SDK for automated creation, updates, and evaluations, including golden‑record testing and diagnostics. After this session, you’ll have a clear blueprint for designing reliable, secure, and well‑adopted Fabric Data Agents—from setup to scalable success.
SQL Konferenz 2027 Sessionize Event Upcoming
Fabric February 2027 Sessionize Event Upcoming
Data Community Day Austria 2027 Sessionize Event Upcoming
Data & AI Builders Conference Sessionize Event Upcoming
dataMinds Connect 2026 Sessionize Event
Data Saturday Holland 2026 Sessionize Event
Power BI Next Step Sessionize Event
DataGrillen 2026 Sessionize Event
SQL Saturday Atlanta 2026 - AI & BI Sessionize Event
FABCON 2026 & SQLCON 2026 - SESSIONS Sessionize Event
Power BI Gebruikersdagen 2026 Sessionize Event
Fabric February 2026 Sessionize Event
Data Community Day Austria 2026 Sessionize Event
Data Saturday Parma 2025 Sessionize Event
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Data Platform Conference Switzerland 2025 Sessionize Event
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Microsoft Fabric Community Conference Sessionize Event
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Data Saturday & Fabric Friday Holland 2024 Sessionize Event
SQL Konferenz 2024 Sessionize Event
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PBIG Avondsessies User group Sessionize Event
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Power BI Cruise 2024 Sessionize Event
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dataMinds Connect 2023 Sessionize Event
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SQLBits 2023 - General Sessions Sessionize Event
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Global Power Platform Bootcamp 2023 - Belgium Edition Sessionize Event
dataMinds Connect 2022 Sessionize Event
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Power BI Next Step 2022 Sessionize Event
DATA:Scotland 2022 Sessionize Event
Dutch Power BI Usergroup - Power BI Datamarts - what is it and how do I benefit from it?
For the Dutch Power BI usergroup, I presented my all new session "Power BI Datamarts - what is it and how do I benefit from it?"
Scottish Summit 2022 Sessionize Event
DataGrillen 2022 Sessionize Event
Techorama 2022 BE Sessionize Event
Data Saturday Stockholm 2022 Sessionize Event
Power BI Gebruikersdag 2022 Sessionize Event
SQLBits 2022 Sessionize Event
Power BI Summit 2022 Sessionize Event
Power BI Fest Sessionize Event
PowerPlatform French Summit (2021) Sessionize Event
#DataWeekender v4.2 Sessionize Event
Power BI Next Step 2021 Sessionize Event
Techorama 2021 Spring Edition Sessionize Event
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dataMinds Saturday Sessionize Event
Virtual Scottish Summit 2021 Sessionize Event
Global Power Platform Bootcamp 2021 - Italy Sessionize Event
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PowerPlatform French Summit (2020) Sessionize Event
#DataWeekender #TheSQL Sessionize Event
LightUp Sessionize Event
Power Saturday 2020 Sessionize Event
Power BI Gebruikersdag 2020 (CANCELLED) Sessionize Event
Scottish Summit Sessionize Event
Power Platform Bootcamp Brussels 2020 Sessionize Event
Power BI Days Belgium 2020-01 Sessionize Event
DATA:Scotland 2019 Sessionize Event
DataGrillen 2019 Sessionize Event
Power Saturday 2019 Sessionize Event
Data in Devon 2019 Sessionize Event
Power BI Days Belgium 2019-04 Sessionize Event
Power BI Gebruikersdag 2019 Sessionize Event
Power Platform Summit - Storytelling & interactive reports with Power BI Bookmarks & Drillthrough
Power Platform Summit Europe delivers the can’t-miss annual conference for users of the Microsoft Power platform – featuring education on all versions of Power BI, PowerApps, and Microsoft Flow. With credible peer-to-peer knowledge exchange at its core, this event provides focused learning and networking as users gain instrumental solutions for their everyday system challenges and larger organisational goals. In every industry and across the globe, Summit is well known as a premier user-centric experience.
Power Platform Summit - End-to-end monitoring for a successful Power BI implementation
Power Platform Summit Europe delivers the can’t-miss annual conference for users of the Microsoft Power platform – featuring education on all versions of Power BI, PowerApps, and Microsoft Flow. With credible peer-to-peer knowledge exchange at its core, this event provides focused learning and networking as users gain instrumental solutions for their everyday system challenges and larger organisational goals. In every industry and across the globe, Summit is well known as a premier user-centric experience.
Power BI Days 2019-01 Sessionize Event
Power BI World Tour
Presented at the Power BI World Tour in Copenhagen for an audience of 159 people about Storytelling and interactive reports in Power BI. I co-presented with one of the Microsoft Power BI Program managers.
Power BI Gebruikersdag Sessionize Event
Marc Lelijveld
Architect & Technical Advocate | Data Platform MVP
Haastrecht, The Netherlands
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