Keir is a lead engineer at Kaluza, an energy software business that offers leading retailers distributed, real-time energy billing, where he is responsible for the company’s external API and its integration with backend systems. Prior to this role he worked on automating operations across millions of smart meters using Kafka. Keir is also a frequent open source contributor within both the Scala and Rust ecosystems, including to Kafka related libraries such as fs2-kafka.

Keir is a lead engineer at Kaluza, an energy software business that offers leading retailers distributed, real-time energy billing, where he is responsible for the company’s external API and its integration with backend systems. Prior to this role he... Show more

Carl Kasalek is the CEO of U.S. Energy Recovery, a provider of turnkey energy efficiency solutions for businesses seeking to reduce their energy usage. U.S. Energy Recovery provides state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging, solar, energy storage, lighting, and control systems that help organizations lower their energy usage which allows them to save money and be environmentally sustainable while providing a higher quality atmosphere for employees and customers. To date, U.S. Energy Recovery has saved its clients over $80 million dollars in energy costs and 1.3 billion pounds of CO2e.

An entrepreneur at heart, Carl has founded or acquired 8 successful companies ranging in industries from 3D printing, real estate, and event entertainment. In his free time, Carl enjoys spending time with his wife and four children at their home in Phoenix, AZ where they enjoy everything the beautiful desert has to offer.

Carl Kasalek is the CEO of U.S. Energy Recovery, a provider of turnkey energy efficiency solutions for businesses seeking to reduce their energy usage. U.S. Energy Recovery provides state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging, solar, energy storage, l... Show more

Florian Lenz is a Microsoft Azure MVP and Cloud Architect with over 10 years of experience building secure, scalable cloud platforms on Microsoft Azure. He specializes in Azure Landing Zones, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and cloud-native architectures, and has worked across industries including energy, finance, retail, and software.
As a speaker, author, and content creator, Florian shares practical lessons from real-world projects through conference talks, articles, and his YouTube channel—helping engineers and teams design systems that are secure, maintainable, and built for long-term success.

Florian Lenz is a Microsoft Azure MVP and Cloud Architect with over 10 years of experience building secure, scalable cloud platforms on Microsoft Azure. He specializes in Azure Landing Zones, DevSecOps, Infrastructure as Code, and cloud-native archit... Show more

Maik van der Gaag is the Head of Technology - Microsoft at Databalance, an experienced consultancy and MSP company with a strong focus on the Microsoft. He has over 20 years of experience providing architecture, development, training, and design expertise. During this, he has worked in various projects ranging from Cloud Transformations to DevOps implementations.

He loves to share knowledge, is a public speaker, writes blogs, and organizes events. Microsoft has recognized him as a Microsoft Azure MVP.

If you want to learn more about him or his expertise, check out his blog (https://msftplayground.com).

Maik van der Gaag is the Head of Technology - Microsoft at Databalance, an experienced consultancy and MSP company with a strong focus on the Microsoft. He has over 20 years of experience providing architecture, development, training, and design expe... Show more

Formerly:
- Math BS+MS & PhD.
- Math researcher.
- IT consultant.
- Developer & quant @big bank.
- Project manager, technical consultant & writer @small sw house.
- Adjunct professor @"Sapienza" University (Rome).
- Instructor @Deep Learning Italia.

Currently:
- IT expert @GSE energy company.

Formerly: - Math BS+MS & PhD. - Math researcher. - IT consultant. - Developer & quant @big bank. - Project manager, technical consultant & writer @small sw house. - Adjunct professor @"Sapienza" University (Rome). - Instructor @Deep Learning I... Show more

With 20 years at Petrobras, he serves as a executive leading Strategic Information, specializing in data, AI, career development, and management.

He has led pioneering cloud, data, and analytics projects recognized internationally by DGIQ.

A nine-time Microsoft MVP awardee in Data Platform and M365 Copilot, he is a digital influencer with nearly 200,000 followers across social media and a five-time LinkedIn Top Community Voice.

He is a Petrobras brand ambassador and the Brazilian ambassador for the Global STEM Women project. A distinguished instructor at Petrobras University and an official LinkedIn Learning instructor, he has trained over 22,000 professionals through e-learning programs and 8,000 professionals in the classroom.

He is also a frequent speaker at major innovation and technology events, including RIW – Rio Innovation Week, OTC – Offshore Technology Conference, TDC – The Developer’s Conference, Microsoft Ignite.

With 20 years at Petrobras, he serves as a executive leading Strategic Information, specializing in data, AI, career development, and management. He has led pioneering cloud, data, and analytics projects recognized internationally by DGIQ. A ni... Show more

Marin Niehues is an independent consultant at the intersection of organizational design and delivery, helping companies build and operate structures that actually deliver. Across 20+ client projects with organizations from VC-backed scaleups to DAX40 companies, Marin works either embedded in line functions as a Delivery Lead or Business Analyst or strategically on organizational design, governance and process architecture.

In the past three years, Marin has spoken at conferences in more than twenty countries across six continents, including repeated invitations from Google and Microsoft.

Marin Niehues is an independent consultant at the intersection of organizational design and delivery, helping companies build and operate structures that actually deliver. Across 20+ client projects with organizations from VC-backed scaleups to DAX40... Show more

Scott Bell is a hands on AI & data strategy consultant and Principal Consultant at RapidData, helping organisations turn modern data platforms into measurable outcomes through strong architecture, practical engineering, and delivery discipline.

With 10+ years across data engineering, data science, and cloud solution architecture, he’s worked in sectors including public sector/health regulation, energy, retail, trading, and hospitality. Building data products, Agentic AI, real-time insights, and end-to-end intelligent platforms from requirements to production.

Previously, Scott was the UK&I Databricks SME at Avanade, supporting teams and clients with reference architectures and platform best practices.
He holds a Master’s in Computer Science with a focus on secure machine learning in the cloud, and maintains 30+ certifications across Microsoft Azure, Databricks, Security, DevOps, and Terraform.

Scott loves experimenting with new AI capabilities especially where “agentic” systems meet real operational constraints. A current focus is agentic governance & security: how to threat model AI agents, reduce blast radius, and make “helpful” automation safe, observable, and accountable in production.

Outside work, he’s usually found talking Rugby League, tinkering with R and Azure, or making overly serious notes about beer.

Scott Bell is a hands on AI & data strategy consultant and Principal Consultant at RapidData, helping organisations turn modern data platforms into measurable outcomes through strong architecture, practical engineering, and delivery discipline. W... Show more

Juliana Smith is a multi‑award‑winning data and reporting expert with a background in Physical Oceanography. For over 15 years she has explored the stories hidden within data, and since 2020 she has been leveraging Power BI to deliver scalable, high‑quality insights and data visualisations.

Specialising in data design and project controls analytics, Juliana translates complex cost, schedule, and performance metrics into clear, actionable insights that empower confident decision‑making. Her work is defined by a commitment to accessibility, precision, and purposeful design, bridging the gap between raw data and strategic impact.

Juliana Smith is a multi‑award‑winning data and reporting expert with a background in Physical Oceanography. For over 15 years she has explored the stories hidden within data, and since 2020 she has been leveraging Power BI to deliver scalable, high‑... Show more

Michaël Hompus is an Architect and Area Lead at Info Support.

As an architect he is part of several teams, creating new and innovative solutions.
Michaël has many years of development experience with .NET, Java, and Azure.

His passion is to share knowledge with colleagues, customers, and peers.
Microsoft has recognized his efforts for the community by awarding him a Microsoft MVP award.

Michaël Hompus is an Architect and Area Lead at Info Support. As an architect he is part of several teams, creating new and innovative solutions. Michaël has many years of development experience with .NET, Java, and Azure. His passion is to sh... Show more

Richard Campbell wrote his first line of code in 1977. His career has spanned the computing industry, both on the hardware and software sides, development, and operations. He was a co-founder of Strangeloop Networks, acquired by Radware in 2013, and was on the board of directors of Telerik, which was acquired by Progress Software in 2014. Today, he is a consultant and advisor to several successful technology firms and hosts three podcasts: .NET Rocks! (www.dotnetrocks.com) for .NET developers, RunAs Radio (www.runasradio.com) for IT Professionals, and Windows Weekly (https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly).

Richard Campbell wrote his first line of code in 1977. His career has spanned the computing industry, both on the hardware and software sides, development, and operations. He was a co-founder of Strangeloop Networks, acquired by Radware in 2013, and ... Show more

Stefan is a Principal Cloud Solution Architect (CSA) at Xebia Germany and a Microsoft MVP for Azure Infrastructure as Code and Azure Networking. He supports enterprise organizations in designing scalable, secure, and automated Azure platforms. His expertise includes cloud architecture, migrations & modernizations, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and automation using Terraform and Ansible, enabling teams to accelerate cloud transformation through practical, engineering-driven solutions.

Stefan is a Principal Cloud Solution Architect (CSA) at Xebia Germany and a Microsoft MVP for Azure Infrastructure as Code and Azure Networking. He supports enterprise organizations in designing scalable, secure, and automated Azure platforms. His ex... Show more

I started my career in a service desk role, which quickly sparked my interest in how technology is built, operated, and scaled. From there, I moved into data center hosting where I gained a solid understanding of infrastructure, reliability, and what it takes to keep critical environments running. I don’t have any formal education in IT, but I’ve always been a lifelong learner who grows through curiosity, hands‑on experience, and a drive to constantly improve.

Almost a decade ago, I discovered my passion for the cloud and specialized in Microsoft Azure. Since then, I’ve focused on modern Ops, platform engineering, and enabling teams by taking ideas from early concepts into secure, scalable, production‑ready solutions. Over the years, I’ve expanded my expertise across data, AI, and IoT and IIoT, and I most often work with clients in the role of Solution Architect, helping them design and build practical, outcome‑focused architectures tailored to real enterprise needs.

I’ve worked across a wide range of domains including defense, public sector, manufacturing, and energy, which has shaped how I approach architecture, security, and complex enterprise environments. I also contribute to the open‑source initiative Enterprise Scale AI Factory and enjoy collaborating with others to advance how we build and deliver modern solutions.

🗣 Sharing knowledge is a big part of who I am. I’m passionate about public speaking and mentoring, and I enjoy helping others grow by making technology more accessible and actionable.

Today, I work with enterprise‑scale AI, data, and IIoT solutions with large companies in Sweden, turning ideas into real, measurable impact.

I started my career in a service desk role, which quickly sparked my interest in how technology is built, operated, and scaled. From there, I moved into data center hosting where I gained a solid understanding of infrastructure, reliability, and what... Show more

Devang Shah is a Principal Program Manager in the Microsoft Fabric engineering team, where he leads global product and execution for Fabric Real‑Time Intelligence and Fabric IQ. He runs a globally distributed team of program managers and is responsible for driving the end‑to‑end evolution of the real‑time intelligence product suite—from early concepts and product incubation to global adoption and operational scale.

Devang has been deeply involved in shaping and maturing Fabric’s real‑time intelligence stack, including Fabric IQ as the ontology and semantic layer that transforms high‑velocity events into business‑ready, decision‑grade intelligence and powers agent‑driven systems.

A highly hands‑on, technical program manager, Devang builds his own solutions and works directly in the nitty‑gritty of event‑driven streaming architectures, low‑latency pipelines, and real‑time analytics systems. With over a decade of experience designing large‑scale data platforms, he approaches product development as a system—connecting architecture, semantics, agents, and global operations.

Devang Shah is a Principal Program Manager in the Microsoft Fabric engineering team, where he leads global product and execution for Fabric Real‑Time Intelligence and Fabric IQ. He runs a globally distributed team of program managers and is responsib... Show more

Joe Griffin is CEO of proMX UK Limited, a Microsoft Inner Circle partner within the proMX group of companies. As a holder of over 40+ Microsoft technical certifications covering the entire Microsoft cloud stack, including Dynamics 365, Power Platform, Microsoft Azure, Artificial Intelligence and more, Joe is a seasoned professional, technical architect and trainer, with a passion for implementing effective technology solutions. Joe's experience covers a variety of industries, including energy, managed services, retail, print & direct mail and the UK utility sector. Joe has been a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 2020, and contributes regularly at conferences and user groups across the globe. When Joe is not working, he enjoys reading, learning about history, walking, video games and catching up with the latest film and TV shows.

Joe Griffin is CEO of proMX UK Limited, a Microsoft Inner Circle partner within the proMX group of companies. As a holder of over 40+ Microsoft technical certifications covering the entire Microsoft cloud stack, including Dynamics 365, Power Platform... Show more

Jamel Abed is a Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 Development and SharePoint, Senior Developer Advocate, and International Speaker with over 17 years of experience in architecting, building, and migrating enterprise-scale solutions.

He has successfully delivered projects across multiple industries, including Banking, Finance, Energy, Insurance, Healthcare, Aerospace, Defense, and Government, leveraging the full power of Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power Platform, Azure, and SharePoint Embedded.

As a Solutions Architect and Developer Advocate, Jamel is passionate about empowering developers, promoting clean code, and driving product adoption. He specializes in designing end-to-end solutions across the Microsoft ecosystem, transforming complex business requirements into secure, scalable, and efficient technology solutions.

Ranked #1 Global Speaker on CommunityDays.org, Jamel regularly speaks at international conferences on topics such as SharePoint Embedded, AI integration, and cost optimization for data management. He is also a community leader and mentor, dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration within the global tech community.

Jamel Abed is a Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 Development and SharePoint, Senior Developer Advocate, and International Speaker with over 17 years of experience in architecting, building, and migrating enterprise-scale solutions. He has successful... Show more

Vincent Caldeira, Red Hat APAC CTO and Industry Visiting Scholar at Columbia University, drives tech strategy and emerging engineering. A Top 10 APAC CTO (2023) with 20+ years in finance IT, he is an authority on open source, cloud-native technologies and AI. Vincent holds leadership roles across the Linux Foundation (FINOS, LF AI & Data) and GSF, championing AI safety, sustainability, and digital sovereignty.

Vincent Caldeira, Red Hat APAC CTO and Industry Visiting Scholar at Columbia University, drives tech strategy and emerging engineering. A Top 10 APAC CTO (2023) with 20+ years in finance IT, he is an authority on open source, cloud-native technologie... Show more

Tiffany Songvilay is a powerhouse in modern workplace transformation and AI enablement. As the Global Tech Lead for Avanade’s Copilot Adoption Program and a key player on the North America Copilot Rapid Response Team, she’s helped enterprise clients go from “just testing” to “fully thriving” with AI—boosting productivity, collaboration, and digital know-how along the way.

A Copilot MVP and go-to advisor, Tiffany leads global teams, builds enablement and security frameworks, and hosts Prompt-a-thons that make prompt engineering feel less like rocket science and more like second nature. She’s a pro at showing off Copilot in action—whether it’s in Microsoft 365, SharePoint Premium, Viva, or Power Platform—and her sessions are known for being both insightful and refreshingly real.

From breaking down metadata extraction in SharePoint to helping teams master the new collab stack (hello Loop, Teams, and Copilot!), Tiffany brings clarity, energy, and a whole lot of credibility to every stage she steps on.

Outside of work, she’s a fierce advocate for women of color in STEM and a champion for diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Her LinkedIn posts are packed with practical tips on prompt engineering, and she’s a fan favorite for making even the nerdiest topics fun. Oh—and when she’s not leading AI transformations? You’ll find her on a motorcycle or cuddling her senior rescue dog.

Tiffany Songvilay is a powerhouse in modern workplace transformation and AI enablement. As the Global Tech Lead for Avanade’s Copilot Adoption Program and a key player on the North America Copilot Rapid Response Team, she’s helped enterprise clients ... Show more

Solution Architect focused on designing scalable and resilient systems for large scale operations and digital platforms. Experienced in Cloud Native architectures, Kubernetes ecosystems and enterprise modernization across mission critical environments.

Outside of my daily role, I actively contribute to the tech community as AWS Community Builder and Panama Java User Group Leader, promoting knowledge sharing and the adoption of modern engineering practices.

Solution Architect focused on designing scalable and resilient systems for large scale operations and digital platforms. Experienced in Cloud Native architectures, Kubernetes ecosystems and enterprise modernization across mission critical environment... Show more

I am an electrical engineer turned programmer. I love new technologies, smart homes and renewable energy as well as Science Fiction and fantasy and board games. I love making quizzes for conventions and playing board game tournaments or just attending a game day.
Also love badminton and everything related to it.

I am an electrical engineer turned programmer. I love new technologies, smart homes and renewable energy as well as Science Fiction and fantasy and board games. I love making quizzes for conventions and playing board game tournaments or just attendin... Show more

Dr. Estera Kot is the Chief Technology Officer at Clouds On Mars, where she drives the company’s innovation in Data & AI strategy and execution. A former Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, she played a key role in building performance-critical components of Azure Synapse Analytics and Microsoft Fabric, focusing on Apache Spark and high-efficiency analytical engines.

Estera is a Polish-born engineer by passion, fluent in several programming languages and recognized for her hands-on technical depth. She earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science with distinction, specializing in machine and deep learning for medical imaging. Her research has led to numerous scientific publications and a U.S. patent in big data processing.

Her career spans global tech leaders like Intel, Sony, and Procter & Gamble. She is a respected educator and mentor, having designed full-time and postgraduate AI-in-Cloud programs at the Warsaw University of Technology. Her students now work at CERN, Google, Meta, and other top-tier institutions worldwide. Estera is a guest lecturer at UCLA—one of the top public research universities in the U.S.—and Łazarski University in Warsaw.

As a speaker, she’s presented at top industry events including MLADS (Microsoft’s internal AI and data science conference in Redmond), the inaugural FabCon in Las Vegas, and several AI and cloud conferences across Europe. She also produces educational content on YouTube, making complex AI topics accessible and practical.

Estera is committed to building scalable, ethical, and real-world-driven AI solutions, with a focus on impact over hype.

Dr. Estera Kot is the Chief Technology Officer at Clouds On Mars, where she drives the company’s innovation in Data & AI strategy and execution. A former Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, she played a key role in building performance-critical c... Show more

Enterprise Architect and Microsoft MVP specialising in Azure and Infrastructure as Code for regulated industries.
With deep expertise in Azure architecture, platform engineering and cloud-native technologies, I deliver solutions that strengthen compliance, unlock efficiency, and empower transformation.
I’m passionate about sharing knowledge, writing technical blogs, presenting at conferences, and mentoring the next generation of cloud professionals. I help teams and individuals build secure, auditable systems that drive real business outcomes in the UK and beyond.

Enterprise Architect and Microsoft MVP specialising in Azure and Infrastructure as Code for regulated industries. With deep expertise in Azure architecture, platform engineering and cloud-native technologies, I deliver solutions that strengthen com... Show more

I'm Alec Harrison, a Microsoft Azure MVP and software consultant specializing in cloud-native development, AI integration, and developer enablement. I lead several user groups, including the Iowa Microsoft Azure User Group, and I'm passionate about helping developers stay ahead of the curve with emerging tech.

I also host the Engineer in the Loop podcast and blog at EITL.ai, where I explore the intersection of AI, cloud, and real-world software engineering.

I'm Alec Harrison, a Microsoft Azure MVP and software consultant specializing in cloud-native development, AI integration, and developer enablement. I lead several user groups, including the Iowa Microsoft Azure User Group, and I'm passionate about h... Show more

Hi, I’m Elena Drakulevska, a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft working on Power BI Core Visuals, where I help shape the future of reporting and data visualization.

I’m also an international speaker, Microsoft MVP alumna, and founder of MoonStory, a platform focused on UX Design and Data Visualization. Through conferences, mentoring, blogging, and community initiatives, I share my mission of making technology more human, empowering, and joyful. ✨

Hi, I’m Elena Drakulevska, a Principal Product Manager at Microsoft working on Power BI Core Visuals, where I help shape the future of reporting and data visualization. I’m also an international speaker, Microsoft MVP alumna, and founder of MoonSt... Show more

Matteo Emili is the Head of Software Engineering for AMBG at Avanade UK and Ireland, leading the talent in Software Engineering in the Accenture Microsoft Business Group and always looking at new ways of applying technology to solve business problems.

He is a passionate Agile advocate and a technologist at heart, a Cloud Architect who is always driven by using technology as a vehicle for change and continuous improvement.
A Microsoft MVP since 2010 (currently in the Azure DevOps and GitHub category), he enjoys sharing back as much as he can with the worldwide technical communities – especially about Agile and DevOps.

He founded several User Groups around Europe and he is a regular speaker at meetups and conferences.

Matteo Emili is the Head of Software Engineering for AMBG at Avanade UK and Ireland, leading the talent in Software Engineering in the Accenture Microsoft Business Group and always looking at new ways of applying technology to solve business problems... 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

I am an enthusiastic Power BI user, Speaker, Power BI Super User, co-organizer of the Fabric User Group Switzerland and Microsoft MVP.

I work as Principal Consultant, trainer and mentor in the area of Business Intelligence in Switzerland.
I have been lucky enough to work with Power BI since its release in 2015 and gain experience in many interesting projects since the beginning. In my blog WhatTheFact.bi I write about everything related to Power BI, best practices, share tips and look forward to exchange with you!

I am an enthusiastic Power BI user, Speaker, Power BI Super User, co-organizer of the Fabric User Group Switzerland and Microsoft MVP. I work as Principal Consultant, trainer and mentor in the area of Business Intelligence in Switzerland. I have... Show more

Joinal is an experienced Data Science professional with a interest on building solutions with quick prototypes, community engagements and influencing technology adoption. Brings strong technical understanding, experienced in managing cross functional teams of data scientists, data engineers, backend developers and SRE delivering end-to-end ML projects, recruiting and mentoring engineers across levels, streamlining ML & Data workflows for high performing teams, setting up best practices, and developing highly performant and reliable MLOps & Data platforms supporting end to end ml projects and analytics usecases.

Joinal is an experienced Data Science professional with a interest on building solutions with quick prototypes, community engagements and influencing technology adoption. Brings strong technical understanding, experienced in managing cross functional... Show more

Especialista FinOps con 7 años de experiencia liderando implementaciones técnicas, operaciones en la nube (AWS, AZURE, GCP) y gestión de soporte técnico para clientes de diferentes sectores, resolviendo casos técnicos con la colaboración de equipos internos y externos. Ganadora de la presea Jóvenes con Valores, y del primer lugar del premio Daniel Cosío Villegas, autora de 7 libros sobre tecnología y FinOps. Cuenta con todas las certificaciones de la FinOps Foundation

Especialista FinOps con 7 años de experiencia liderando implementaciones técnicas, operaciones en la nube (AWS, AZURE, GCP) y gestión de soporte técnico para clientes de diferentes sectores, resolviendo casos técnicos con la colaboración de equipos i... Show more

I'm Rupesh Shirke, a dedicated professional with over 17 years of experience in Critical Infrastructure Security, currently based in Bakersfield, California. My journey in operational technology (OT) security has equipped me with a deep understanding of the importance of cybersecurity in protecting essential services and infrastructure.

Throughout my career, I've taken on various roles, excelling as an individual contributor and as a team leader across different countries. I am committed to defending critical infrastructures against the constantly evolving landscape of security threats, driven by my passion for safety and security.

As a mentor, I am devoted to guiding the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences to inspire young minds to develop skills in this vital field. My mentorship extends beyond the workplace, as I actively engage with aspiring cybersecurity experts to encourage their growth. As a writer and speaker, I frequently participate in conferences and workshops, discussing the latest cybersecurity trends, challenges, and best practices. My ability to break down complex concepts into easily understandable information has made me a highly sought-after speaker, appealing to newcomers and seasoned industry professionals.

As a co-founder of the ISC2 chapter, I am deeply involved in enhancing cybersecurity standards and practices. I lead a vibrant community focused on continuous learning and professional development, ensuring our members are well-informed about the fast-changing cybersecurity landscape.

My commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in my pursuit of a Ph.D. in cybersecurity, where I aim to develop innovative solutions for the industry's complex challenges. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a global advisor to various organizations on critical security matters.

My work with the ISC2 Standards & Practice Unified Body of Knowledge Technical Advisory Panel allows me to collaborate with industry leaders, helping shape cybersecurity standards that impact organizations worldwide. I am also passionate about nurturing emerging talent. I serve as a scholarship reviewer and judge for esteemed organizations like ISACA, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. In this capacity, I evaluate scholarship applications, supporting deserving candidates in advancing their education and careers in cybersecurity.

Community engagement is close to my heart. I actively participate in numerous nonprofit organizations, including the United Nations Association (USA), American Red Cross, Chevron Humankind, Code.org, Belief in Me, Houchin Blood Bank, Thriving Elements, and Upchieve, dedicating my time and expertise to uplift and empower others. As a respected figure in the STEM community, I also judge competitions at various levels, from county to international events. My broad expertise enables me to evaluate innovative projects and initiatives from aspiring scientists and engineers, providing constructive feedback and guidance. Through this role, I passionately promote innovation and excellence in STEM education, motivating students to pursue their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics aspirations.

Additionally, I am an IEEE Senior member and actively volunteer with the IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Control Systems Society, Security and Privacy, IEEE Computer Society Technical Community, and other groups. My contributions within IEEE include participation in the IEEE Women in Engineering podcast, reviewing EAB TryE STEM Grant award applications, engaging with IEEE NextGenCyberSec, and working on standards development for AI and reliable power systems.

I'm Rupesh Shirke, a dedicated professional with over 17 years of experience in Critical Infrastructure Security, currently based in Bakersfield, California. My journey in operational technology (OT) security has equipped me with a deep understanding... Show more