Vivek Yadav is building Ocean, an AI-native developer platform, and is a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart. He builds tools for AI-assisted software development, including Falcon, an open-source Rust-based analyzer for Flutter and Dart, and Ambient, a macOS app that surfaces coding-agent status. His work spans mobile application architecture, developer experience, and agent tooling. He speaks about practical approaches to building, reviewing, and shipping software with AI.

Vivek Yadav is building Ocean, an AI-native developer platform, and is a Google Developer Expert for Flutter and Dart. He builds tools for AI-assisted software development, including Falcon, an open-source Rust-based analyzer for Flutter and Dart, an... Show more

Shawn Dorward is the Chief Operating Office at Innovia Consulting and a seasoned business and technology leader with over 25 years of experience in ERP and CRM implementations. His expertise spans a wide range of industries and organizations—from small family-owned businesses to complex global deployments—driving digital transformation and delivering measurable business value.

Recognized as a 10-time Microsoft MVP for Business Applications, Shawn is deeply passionate about helping businesses maximize efficiency and ROI through strategic use of technology. His dedication to the Microsoft Dynamics community is evident in his frequent speaking engagements at user groups, conferences, and online events across the U.S.

Shawn shares practical insights and productivity tips through his popular blog www.LifeHacks365.com, covering Dynamics 365 (including Dynamics GP and Business Central) and Office 365 tools like Excel and Outlook.

Embracing the next wave of innovation, Shawn is currently exploring the power of AI and Microsoft Copilot. Through his platform www.TheWorldsOkayestShawn.com, he documents his journey with podcasts, blog posts, and life hacks—all designed to help others save time, increase efficiency, and navigate their own Copilot adventures.

Shawn Dorward is the Chief Operating Office at Innovia Consulting and a seasoned business and technology leader with over 25 years of experience in ERP and CRM implementations. His expertise spans a wide range of industries and organizations—from sm... Show more

Jeff Taylor is a Principal Data Consultant, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Redgate Community Ambassador, and Octopus Insider with over 28 years of experience specializing in performance tuning and critical data issues. He currently organizes the Jax Data and Day of Data Jacksonville (formerly SQL Saturday) and is a co-organizer of JaxDUG.

Jeff Taylor is a Principal Data Consultant, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Redgate Community Ambassador, and Octopus Insider with over 28 years of experience specializing in performance tuning and critical data issues. He currently organizes the Jax Da... Show more

I operate at the intersection of bold vision and brilliant teams. As a Principal Cloud & AI Strategist and Fractional CTO, I partner with companies to architect future-proof cloud solutions and build the high-performing engineering teams needed to execute them.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in Digital Transformation, I specialize in Google Cloud Platform, complex multi-cloud architectures and lately in Generative AI (Vertex AI). I don't just talk theory, I have built Cloud Business Units from scratch and led mission-critical migrations in fast-paced sectors like Oil & Gas.
My philosophy is simple: an elite strategy is useless without an elite team to execute it, so I build the team first, knowing that the results will follow.
As a passionate advocate for open knowledge, I am a Google Cloud Authorized Trainer, a Google Developer Expert (GDE) for Cloud, and the Community Lead for GDG Campobasso.
Whether I am live-coding a Gen AI agent or sharing insights on the dynamics of engineering leadership, I bring energy, clarity, and deep real-world experience to the stage. I love connecting with people who are eager to challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of what technology can solve.

I operate at the intersection of bold vision and brilliant teams. As a Principal Cloud & AI Strategist and Fractional CTO, I partner with companies to architect future-proof cloud solutions and build the high-performing engineering teams needed to ex... Show more

Inspired by those in the community that have gone before me, I try to share what I learn by looking at what the services from Microsoft can offer, understanding challenges people have and bringing those two things together. Having learned from 13 years in Financial Services, I moved into the world of consulting and am currently acting as Associate Director, owning Copilot and Agents within the UK at Avanade.

I am lucky enough to have been awarded as a Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 for Copilot and Copilot Extensibility and co-host the award winning Copilot Connection podcast as well as blogging and sharing videos.

Inspired by those in the community that have gone before me, I try to share what I learn by looking at what the services from Microsoft can offer, understanding challenges people have and bringing those two things together. Having learned from 13 yea... Show more

Enterprise architect with multiple job experiences in different fields, from banking to aerospace, with a spice of DevOps and other less known methodologies

Enterprise architect with multiple job experiences in different fields, from banking to aerospace, with a spice of DevOps and other less known methodologies Show more

I started programming at 12, cutting my teeth on Basic and Assembler for Sinclair and Commodore machines back in the 80s, a foundation that's stuck with me ever since. Today I'm a Docker Captain, Golden Kubestronaut and CNCF Ambassador, AI dedicated and still an insatiable learner, drawn to scalability, flexibility, and the hard problems of transformation at scale. Innovation is my belief! My job is my favorite game, and there's no such thing as a break.

I started programming at 12, cutting my teeth on Basic and Assembler for Sinclair and Commodore machines back in the 80s, a foundation that's stuck with me ever since. Today I'm a Docker Captain, Golden Kubestronaut and CNCF Ambassador, AI dedicated ... 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

👋 Me presento, mi nombre es Sara y como buena millennial 🔝, mi trayectoria profesional se podría resumir en una gymkana laboral continua que me empuja a reinventarme y adaptarme al entorno socioeconómico que le ha tocado vivir a mi generación.

Por eso soy Técnica superior en sistemas de telecom. e informáticos 👩‍💻, Diplomada en Ciencias Empresariales 💰 y Power BI developer 📊 ¡Me apasiona fusionar las finanzas con las nuevas tecnologías! 💡

Me encanta romper la brecha digital allá dónde voy y participar en los procesos de adopción digital de las empresas. Por eso, también soy creadora de contenido y formadora de Power BI. Tengo un canal de Youtube en el que doy truquitos cortos sobre PowerBI: https://www.youtube.com/@KawaiiBI

También soy cibervoluntaria (https://www.cibervoluntarios.org/) e intento ayudar a otras personas que lo necesitan a romper la brecha digital para que este mundo tan avanzado no las deje fuera del juego💞.

He vendido lavadoras, he sido hostelera y en mi última vida laboral fui contable-fiscal pero ahora después de mucho practicar, mucho estudiar y mucho esfuerzo soy muy feliz trabajando de consultora de PowerBI, herramienta que me apasiona y que fusiona las finanzas, la tecnología y la formación, tres campos que me encantan. 😍💞

👋 Me presento, mi nombre es Sara y como buena millennial 🔝, mi trayectoria profesional se podría resumir en una gymkana laboral continua que me empuja a reinventarme y adaptarme al entorno socioeconómico que le ha tocado vivir a mi generación. ... Show more

Daniel is an Platform AI Architect at Payoneer with over two decades of experience leading development teams, both in Israel and abroad, from idea to production. His current focus is AI infrastructure and multi-agent systems in real-world use — the layer that ties together developer tools, knowledge graphs, and product delivery.

Daniel is a public speaker and a blog writer, and an active contributor to open source. He also runs the "NG-Heroes" meetup, a space for the local tech community to meet and share what they're learning. Outside of work, family comes first. He proudly holds the title of "The Best Developer in the World" — awarded by his wife, and he has no plans to give it back.

Daniel is an Platform AI Architect at Payoneer with over two decades of experience leading development teams, both in Israel and abroad, from idea to production. His current focus is AI infrastructure and multi-agent systems in real-world use — the l... Show more

Meet Rajaniesh Kaushikk – a Microsoft MVP and TOGAF Certified Enterprise Architect with over 22 years of experience in delivering complex software architectures for Fortune 500 companies. Rajaniesh specializes in data integration, governance, and analysis, with a proven track record in defining technical architectures, designing analytic solutions, and developing agile frameworks. His expertise spans Hybrid Cloud, Azure Cloud, Power BI, Kubernetes, Databricks Lakehouse, Snowflake, and more, making him a trusted partner in solving intricate business challenges and driving market growth.

As a hands-on technical architect, Microsoft Certified Solution Architect, and Databricks Champion, Rajaniesh excels in translating complex concepts into actionable strategies, whether through pre-sales technical presentations or public speaking at Microsoft events. A Microsoft Certified Trainer, he is committed to sharing his knowledge and staying at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring scalable and innovative solutions for modern software architecture needs.

Meet Rajaniesh Kaushikk – a Microsoft MVP and TOGAF Certified Enterprise Architect with over 22 years of experience in delivering complex software architectures for Fortune 500 companies. Rajaniesh specializes in data integration, governance, and ana... Show more

David is an Associate Director with Protiviti Canada and a 10-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For 20 years, David has assisted organizations to collaborate efficiently and effectively within SharePoint and Microsoft 365. David assists companies to understand their compliance needs and how to protect their data. He has helped organizations build data protection programs to safeguard their most sensitive information while ensuring the business can collaborate and work with their content. Over the past 25 years, David has built a great deal of experience in a wide variety of areas in IT, ranging from Desktop\Server support to development in C++ and .NET technologies. He has added value to many clients in several sectors, including utilities, government, banking, and agriculture.

David is a knowledgeable and sought-after international speaker within IT circles and is consulted regularly by companies formulating their digital workplace strategies and compliance platforms.

David blogs at http://daviddrever.com

David is an Associate Director with Protiviti Canada and a 10-time Microsoft 365 & Security MVP with 25 years of experience working within information technology. For 20 years, David has assisted organizations to collaborate efficiently and effective... Show more

12-time award-winning AI visionary and 'Sculpting Data For ML' author Jigyasa Grover drives rider personalization innovation at Uber after transforming Twitter/X, Facebook/Meta, Faire, and Bordo AI with large-scale ML systems. Handpicked by Google for their I/O keynote, she serves on Google's Developer Advisory Board while advising social search engine Diem and other Silicon Valley startups.

As a sought-after LinkedIn Learning instructor, Jigyasa educates thousands of professionals worldwide on cutting-edge AI-powered applications and agentic AI systems, solidifying her status as a thought leader in artificial intelligence education. As a Google Developer Expert, Women Techmaker Ambassador, and World Economic Forum Global Shaper, Jigyasa has also been featured in Business Insider, VentureBeat, and International Business Times, and has elevated panels with Harvard University, Preston-Werner Ventures, Norwegian Business School, Humanitarian Frontier in AI, Women in Data, and more to her name.

The UC San Diego alumna has secured funding from the Canadian and Norwegian governments, the Linux Foundation, and multiple tech giants, enabling work that transcends geographical boundaries. With 200+ media features and contributions to open source recognized by Apache and Python Software Foundations, she mentors next-generation talent while shaping AI's future through advisory roles at Bezoku AI, Las Positas College, and various AI forums.

12-time award-winning AI visionary and 'Sculpting Data For ML' author Jigyasa Grover drives rider personalization innovation at Uber after transforming Twitter/X, Facebook/Meta, Faire, and Bordo AI with large-scale ML systems. Handpicked by Google fo... 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

Daniel is a Microsoft .NET MVP and software consultant at Lean TECHniques. He helps teams deliver high-quality software while adopting modern practices such as effective CI/CD, automated testing, AI usage, and product management. With experience spanning multiple industries, including finance, retail, and agriculture, he has served as a technical coach, agile coach, and tech lead, with a primary background as a software developer. Outside of work, he enjoys playing piano and guitar, swing dancing, and game development.

Daniel is a Microsoft .NET MVP and software consultant at Lean TECHniques. He helps teams deliver high-quality software while adopting modern practices such as effective CI/CD, automated testing, AI usage, and product management. With experience span... Show more

Balkrishna works as an engineering lead at ING Bank. He is a frequent speaker at renowned tech conferences. He has passion for continuous learning and genuine desire to sharing knowledge. Although he has been working with Java for many years, he finds latest developments in Java quite exciting. He is also an Oracle ACE Associate for Java.

Balkrishna works as an engineering lead at ING Bank. He is a frequent speaker at renowned tech conferences. He has passion for continuous learning and genuine desire to sharing knowledge. Although he has been working with Java for many years, he find... 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

Dr. Maryleen Amaizu is a seasoned machine learning engineer and AI specialist with extensive experience developing privacy-aware AI and data solutions across diverse domains including healthcare, finance, public sector, and beyond. She holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where she focused on privacy-preserving machine learning systems.

At Redgate Software, Maryleen builds privacy-aware AI-integrated software to ensure compliance and safe test data sharing. She has worked on synthetic data generation, text anonymisation, LLM-based masking dataset generation, intelligent PII classification, and privacy evaluation framework.

Her expertise and impact have been recognized with several accolades, including the AI Champion of the Year award by Bupa Everywoman in Technology in 2025 and the Excellence Award in Data Protection and Information Privacy from the Young CISO Network in 2022.

Dr. Maryleen Amaizu is a seasoned machine learning engineer and AI specialist with extensive experience developing privacy-aware AI and data solutions across diverse domains including healthcare, finance, public sector, and beyond. She holds a PhD in... Show more

Abid Jamil is a software engineering leader, author, and international technology speaker based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with over a decade of experience building and scaling technology products.

Currently an Engineering Manager at Gathern, he leads engineering teams across growth, fintech, and payments, focusing on scalable systems, engineering excellence, and delivering measurable business outcomes.

Throughout his career, Abid has worked across fintech, e-commerce, logistics, travel, classifieds, and education. His expertise spans engineering leadership, software architecture, system design, cloud computing, mobile development, and performance engineering.

Beyond his professional career, Abid is an active contributor to the global technology community. He has spoken at international conferences, including droidcon, DevFest, and AWS Community Day. He is also a former university lecturer and has authored more than 18 research publications.

He is the author of *The Engineer's Operating System: 18 Lessons to Build Your Skills, Visibility, Network, and Leadership* and *Crack Backend Interviews: A Progressive Guide from Junior Backend Engineer to Head of Engineering*.

Through his books, speaking engagements, and writing, Abid shares practical lessons from real-world engineering challenges, career development, and leadership, helping engineers grow beyond writing code and build meaningful, sustainable careers.

Learn more at https://abidjamil.com.

Abid Jamil is a software engineering leader, author, and international technology speaker based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with over a decade of experience building and scaling technology products. Currently an Engineering Manager at Gathern, he lea... Show more

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy.

Certified in PMI, SAFe, and Disciplined Agile, he has coached teams across IT, mechanical engineering, electronics, marketing, and legal. His approach is always tailored to the team, the project, and the organization — no cookie-cutter solutions here.

A passionate educator, he has designed over 10 Serious Games, including several with LEGO, to bring Agile, SAFe, DevOps, and key roles like Product Owner and Scrum Master to life. With him, learning is hands-on, fun, and unforgettable.

Senior Agile Coach, Jean-Yves Klein has worn many hats: developer, project manager, program director, head of IT… This diverse background gives him a 360° view of agility — from hands-on delivery to executive strategy. Certified in PMI, SAFe, and ... Show more

Great people build great technology. That belief shapes how I lead.

I’m an Engineering Manager with experience across fintech, banking, and automotive. I started out building engineering teams from scratch at fast-growing startups in digital healthcare and entertainment, and that early work still informs how I approach team design and culture.

My work centers on three things: simplifying complexity, reducing friction in how developers build and ship, and applying AI-assisted workflows only where they genuinely empower engineers. I also coach and mentor others, especially women, to pursue careers in tech.

Great people build great technology. That belief shapes how I lead. I’m an Engineering Manager with experience across fintech, banking, and automotive. I started out building engineering teams from scratch at fast-growing startups in digital healt... Show more

Uwe Ricken has been working with IT systems since the early 1990s, with a deep focus on Microsoft SQL Server starting from his work on Membership Software for the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany - later rolled out across five European countries. His passion for SQL Server took off in 2007 when he joined Deutsche Bank AG as a database administrator, gaining hands-on experience in high-performance, enterprise-scale environments.

With over three decades of experience in database development and operations, Uwe earned the prestigious "Microsoft Certified Master – SQL Server 2008", the highest technical certification at the time. In 2013, he was honored with his first "Microsoft MVP Award" for his contributions to the SQL Server community across Germany and Europe.

Since 2010, Uwe has been sharing his expertise through his blog https://sqlmaster.de, offering deep dives into SQL Server internals, performance tuning, and real-world troubleshooting.

A regular speaker at international conferences and user groups, Uwe’s sessions focus on Database Internals, Indexing Strategies and Advanced SQL Development - always with a practical, performance-driven mindset.

Uwe Ricken has been working with IT systems since the early 1990s, with a deep focus on Microsoft SQL Server starting from his work on Membership Software for the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany - later rolled out across five European countri... Show more

Tim Spann is the Senior Solution Engineer - Financial Services working with Snowflake, Cortex AI, Apache NiFi, Apache Iceberg, Python, Apache Polaris, Streamlit, Cloud Data, Vectors, Data, Generative AI, ML, Hugging Face, Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, Pytorch, big data, the IoT, machine learning, and deep learning. Tim has over a decade of experience with the IoT, big data, distributed computing, streaming technologies, and Java programming. Previously, he was a Principal Developer Advocate at Zilliz/Milvus, Principal Developer Advocate at Cloudera, Developer Advocate at StreamNative, Principal Field Engineer at Cloudera, a Senior Solutions Architect at AirisData and a senior field engineer at Pivotal. He holds a BS and MS in computer science.

https://medium.com/@tspann
https://www.youtube.com/@FLaNK-Stack

Tim Spann is the Senior Solution Engineer - Financial Services working with Snowflake, Cortex AI, Apache NiFi, Apache Iceberg, Python, Apache Polaris, Streamlit, Cloud Data, Vectors, Data, Generative AI, ML, Hugging Face, Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, ... Show more

Manpreet leads the Modern Workplace AI Solutions Team at Cognizant, where he designs and scales transformative Microsoft-based solutions for global enterprises. Partnering with leadership across diverse verticals—from Media and Entertainment to Financial Services and Healthcare—Manpreet orchestrates Agentic AI strategies that move beyond simple automation to create truly autonomous, intelligent ecosystems. His mission is to redefine the "Agentic Experience," ensuring that AI doesn't just respond to prompts but proactively solves business friction for global customers. As a Microsoft MVP in M365 and AI, he bridges the gap between complex architectural innovation and real-world business impact.

Beyond his leadership at Cognizant, Manpreet is a titan in the technical community. A revered MVP, his insights have reached a staggering 10 million+ readers through his extensive library of articles and blogs. He is the driving force behind numerous annual boot camps, hackathons, and fundraisers, all aimed at nurturing the next generation of tech talent. Whether he is architecting a unified AI Command Center for a Fortune 500 firm or mentoring the next generation of developers, Manpreet is driven by a relentless "human-first" philosophy. Amidst the rapid evolution of the AI landscape, he remains easily recognizable by his warm smile—a reflection of his genuine passion for empowering organizations to achieve more through the power of Agentic AI.

Manpreet leads the Modern Workplace AI Solutions Team at Cognizant, where he designs and scales transformative Microsoft-based solutions for global enterprises. Partnering with leadership across diverse verticals—from Media and Entertainment to Finan... Show more

Joseph Guadagno is a Senior Vice President of IT, Microsoft Developer Services MVP, and international speaker with more than 25 years of experience leading high‑performing engineering organizations. He specializes in modernizing software delivery, scaling engineering culture, and helping teams adopt AI‑assisted development practices that accelerate innovation.

Joseph has delivered hundreds of sessions across the United States and internationally on .NET, Azure, cloud architecture, engineering leadership, and developer productivity. He is a long‑time community builder—former President and Vice President of the .NET Foundation, founder of the Southeast Valley .NET User Group, and organizer of Desert Code Camp.

He also created MoreSpeakers.com, a mentorship platform that connects new speakers with experienced presenters to grow the next generation of technical storytellers.

Joseph brings a rare blend of executive leadership, hands‑on technical expertise, and community passion to every stage.

Joseph Guadagno is a Senior Vice President of IT, Microsoft Developer Services MVP, and international speaker with more than 25 years of experience leading high‑performing engineering organizations. He specializes in modernizing software delivery, sc... Show more

Azure Certified Cloud Solutions Architect, Awarded Most valuable professional by Microsoft, former MSP, Community lead and Microsoft recognized Azure Community Hero. With rich experience in planning, designing, implementing and maintaining secure applications in Azure Cloud from x86 and non-x86 environments. A recognized leader in migrating and creating enterprise architecture for the transition from on-premise to cloud using Azure services.
I hold advanced specialization in Identity, Security, and Compliance and working extensively in the large transformation of enterprises and Banking Finance and Insurance institutions.

Azure Certified Cloud Solutions Architect, Awarded Most valuable professional by Microsoft, former MSP, Community lead and Microsoft recognized Azure Community Hero. With rich experience in planning, designing, implementing and maintaining secure app... Show more

An MVP, solutions architect , Microsoft Certified Trainer with a passion for the Power Platform, M365 Copilot, GenAI, Azure technology.

Empowering enterprises to thrive with Microsoft Copilot & Modern Workplace AI solution frameworks to solve challenges and to drive impactful change across Health & Public Sector. I have an intense enthusiasm for technology and innovation along with its governance and security aspects. An advocate of women empowerment through Information Technology.

An MVP, solutions architect , Microsoft Certified Trainer with a passion for the Power Platform, M365 Copilot, GenAI, Azure technology. Empowering enterprises to thrive with Microsoft Copilot & Modern Workplace AI solution frameworks to solve chal... Show more

Founder of NorthStar Intelligence, Jeff Watkins, is a seasoned CAIO, CTO and CPTO who has spent his career leading technology, product, and AI organisations through rapid growth and reinvention. He’s steered engineering, product, cloud, cybersecurity, and AI strategy teams through major transformations, turning ambitious ideas into secure, human-centred digital experiences for some of the world’s best-known brands.

A lifelong technologist, Jeff brings over 25 years of hands-on experience across financial services, healthcare, the public sector and retail. He’s founded and led multiple cybersecurity teams and is a vocal champion of secure-by-design practices for generative AI. With an MSc in Cybersecurity and a second Master’s in Artificial Intelligence, he’s currently researching and writing a book on the topic of anthropomorphised LLM agents and deception detection.

On the international circuit, Jeff is a sought-after keynote speaker, headlining events such as Webinale (Berlin), AppDevCon (Amsterdam), the International JavaScript Conference (London), and Edinburgh Napier’s PlusEquals5 summit. His candid, story-driven take on the collision of AI, cybersecurity, culture and human behaviour resonates with audiences from engineers to executives.
He also co-hosts the multi-award-winning Compromising Positions podcast, where he interviews psychologists, anthropologists, UX researchers and security leaders to bring fresh, outsider insight to cyber. His thought leadership has been featured in Wired, Forbes, Raconteur, IT Pro, Business Cloud, and Information Age, and he’s a regular commentator for the wider technology and security press.

Whether mentoring emerging leaders, building prototypes, or demystifying AI on stage, Jeff’s mission is simple: build technology that elevates people, never the other way around.

Founder of NorthStar Intelligence, Jeff Watkins, is a seasoned CAIO, CTO and CPTO who has spent his career leading technology, product, and AI organisations through rapid growth and reinvention. He’s steered engineering, product, cloud, cybersecurity... 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

Marcus is a platform engineer at Monzo, a UK based bank committed to making money work for everyone, helping build their infrastructure platform. His main area of focus in recent years has been around Go, Kubernetes, containers and DevOps but originally started out as a web developer and JavaScript enthusiast. A self-described “tinkerer”, when not building Kubernetes solutions, Marcus likes to dabble with 3D printing and experimenting with smart home tech.

Marcus is a platform engineer at Monzo, a UK based bank committed to making money work for everyone, helping build their infrastructure platform. His main area of focus in recent years has been around Go, Kubernetes, containers and DevOps but origina... Show more