George is a Cyber Security Incident Responder with a background in Software Engineering, Leadership, Training and Teaching roles which together span over a decade long background in the IT field. Passionate about pentesting and automating everything Cyber Security related or how he likes to call it: finding ways to work less or not at all. George holds a GPEN and a GCFA certification and is part of GIAC Advisory Board.

Currently George is a Cyber Security Incident Responder at Visma and an Associate Professor at Land Forces Academy in Sibiu, teaching students how to be better blue teamers.

George is responsible for building from the ground up the internal SOAR platform that is used by Visma GSOC to automate every step of the way from the moment the alert comes into their systems until it gets closed by the analyst.

George is a Cyber Security Incident Responder with a background in Software Engineering, Leadership, Training and Teaching roles which together span over a decade long background in the IT field. Passionate about pentesting and automating everything ... Show more

Anthony has run Ceph at scale for over eleven years and one can say that it is literally a part of him - ask him in person and he'll show you why. He is also an observability advocate (SMART!) and contributes daily to Ceph documentation. Anthony is the primary author of the book Learning Ceph, Second Edition.

Anthony has run Ceph at scale for over eleven years and one can say that it is literally a part of him - ask him in person and he'll show you why. He is also an observability advocate (SMART!) and contributes daily to Ceph documentation. Anthony is ... Show more

Microsoft MVP for Azure & IoT, Senior Cloud Architect and tech enthusiast. Passionate about software architecture and solution design.

During my 13+ years of hands-on experience in Software Engineering, I have primarily focused on .NET-based solutions and Azure as a cloud-services provider. I have worked with pretty much all kinds of applications, from small Windows Forms tools to large-scale enterprise web-based solutions. The more I code, the more I realize that my true passion is solution design and software architecture, regardless of tech-stack and platform.

Sharing knowledge and insights is the finest thing I know and the one thing I love the most in the IT community.

Microsoft MVP for Azure & IoT, Senior Cloud Architect and tech enthusiast. Passionate about software architecture and solution design. During my 13+ years of hands-on experience in Software Engineering, I have primarily focused on .NET-based solut... Show more

Steven took up several roles over the past 20+ years, from junior developer to team lead and architect. His strength sits at the intersection of architecture, people, and delivery. He has led teams from a few developers to full departments, designed technical strategies, combining strategic oversight with hands-on technical leadership and worked closely with business stakeholders to align technology with real-world needs.

What he typically bring to a mission:
- Architectural ownership from concept to production
- Tech leadership and engineering management
- Team coaching and career development
- Pragmatic, quality-driven software engineering

When it comes to non-technical subjects he focuses on sharing knowledge and help others grow to become successful software engineers and consultants.

In his free time he likes to sport, play chess and boardgames, and tame his 2 kids.

Steven took up several roles over the past 20+ years, from junior developer to team lead and architect. His strength sits at the intersection of architecture, people, and delivery. He has led teams from a few developers to full departments, designed ... Show more

Samuel Macharia is a skilled Cloud DevOps Engineer with a passion for leveraging cloud technologies i.e. AWS, Azure & Google Cloud to drive innovation. He holds certifications as a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect and Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer Expert, equipping him to design and manage secure, scalable, and high-performing infrastructure across multi-cloud environments.

Samuel is dedicated to empowering the next generation of tech talent and has served as a mentor in the Grow Your Skills for Sub-Saharan Africa Google Cloud Program 2024. With a focus on practical solutions and a commitment to communities including AWS User Group Kenya, CloudForce Sky, GDG Eldoret & Write the Docs Kenya where he volunteers, Samuel is excited to share his knowledge and inspire others to embrace the power of the cloud.

Coming from a community best known for resilience and entrepreneurial spirit, he opted to code his own path forward. When he's not building in tech, he's exploring new creative endeavors, mastering chess strategies, or immersed in an intense crime drama.

Samuel Macharia is a skilled Cloud DevOps Engineer with a passion for leveraging cloud technologies i.e. AWS, Azure & Google Cloud to drive innovation. He holds certifications as a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect and Microsoft Cer... Show more

Giorgi is a software developer with almost two decades of experience. He works mainly with C#, ASP.NET Core, REST, GraphQL, MAUI, Xamarin, Entity Framework Core, AWS, Azure, and SQL Server. He has also worked with many other frameworks and systems such as ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Web API, WCF, Avalonia, WinForms, Oracle, and many more.

Giorgi has spoken at several conferences such as NDC Copenhagen, .NET Day Switzerland, Update Conference, Developer Week (DWX), KCDC, .NET Conf 2023, JetBrains .NET Day Online ’23, and so on.

Giorgi is an open-source author and contributor on GitHub, Microsoft MVP, and a member of the .NET Foundation.

Giorgi is a software developer with almost two decades of experience. He works mainly with C#, ASP.NET Core, REST, GraphQL, MAUI, Xamarin, Entity Framework Core, AWS, Azure, and SQL Server. He has also worked with many other frameworks and systems su... Show more

IT professional with 19 years of dedicated experience in Cloud & Infrastructure with globally reputed organisations, backed up by a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering. I specialise in Infrastructure, mainly focusing on public & hybrid cloud, and I work extensively on designing and implementing cloud models that host Business solutions.

I hold a Dual MVP from Microsoft for Azure networking and Cloud Security.

IT professional with 19 years of dedicated experience in Cloud & Infrastructure with globally reputed organisations, backed up by a bachelor's degree in computer science engineering. I specialise in Infrastructure, mainly focusing on public & hybrid ... Show more

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

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

I'm Mohamed Mortadha Manai, an AI Engineer at SFEIR Paris, Google Developer Expert (GDE) in Cloud AI, and a PhD Candidate specializing in Explainable AI (XAI). My work focuses on building production ready AI systems powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), Agentic AI, Generative AI, and Cloud AI, with an emphasis on scalability, trustworthiness, and responsible deployment.

Beyond engineering, I serve as an AI Expert Author at Packt Publishing, an AI Expert Consultant, and an AI international speaker, sharing practical insights with developers, researchers, and organizations worldwide. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top AI Voice, I am passionate about democratizing AI knowledge, mentoring the next generation of AI engineers, and strengthening AI communities across Africa and the MENA region through education, open collaboration, and real world innovation.

I'm Mohamed Mortadha Manai, an AI Engineer at SFEIR Paris, Google Developer Expert (GDE) in Cloud AI, and a PhD Candidate specializing in Explainable AI (XAI). My work focuses on building production ready AI systems powered by Large Language Models (... Show more

Back in 2010 I began my career in IT.
After a brief stint as ERP Consultant, I transitioned into Data Realm.

Over the years, I explored the world of data from various perspectives, working both as a DBA and a Analytics & AI Architect.

I'm a Microsoft Certified Professional at different levels in databases, BI and Azure areas.

Microsoft MVP for Data Platform category x5 and Microsoft Fabric Super User x2.

I'm one of the leaders of Power BI User Group in Italy and I'd been speaker during the Power Platform World Tour and Global Power Platform Bootcamp stops in Italy.

You can find me speaking at Azure Saturday, SQL Saturday, Data Saturday, and other community events across Europe.

I served as a technical reviewer for the books “Extending Power BI with Python and R”, "Microsoft Power BI Quick Start Guide" and “Power BI Cookbook, 3rd Edition”.

Last but not least, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal addicted!

Back in 2010 I began my career in IT. After a brief stint as ERP Consultant, I transitioned into Data Realm. Over the years, I explored the world of data from various perspectives, working both as a DBA and a Analytics & AI Architect. I'm a Mi... Show more

Nicholas Chang is a Senior Platform Engineer at Kainos with a deep passion for Microsoft Azure.

With extensive experience in cloud technologies and a focus on Azure, he is the founder of the Microsoft Azure Community User Group, where he fosters knowledge sharing, collaboration, and growth within the tech community.

Nicholas is also the creator and host of the Microsoft Community Insights podcast, where he connects with industry leaders and shares valuable insights about Azure and the broader tech ecosystem.

As a dedicated community advocate, Nicholas contributes by speaking at events and sharing his expertise through his blog, nicholaschangblog.com. You can connect with him on Twitter: @nick_cloudops or visit his blog to learn more.

Nicholas Chang is a Senior Platform Engineer at Kainos with a deep passion for Microsoft Azure. With extensive experience in cloud technologies and a focus on Azure, he is the founder of the Microsoft Azure Community User Group, where he fosters k... Show more

Jesper is a freelance Cloud Architect at Apento, based in Denmark, and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). His work spans Azure governance and infrastructure, Hyper-V and SCVMM environments, and Azure Arc-enabled hybrid deployments. Jesper regularly delivers architecture designs, technical proposals, and automation tooling for enterprise clients, and is passionate about sharing practical, real-world guidance on building resilient, well-governed cloud and virtualization platforms.

Jesper is a freelance Cloud Architect at Apento, based in Denmark, and a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP). His work spans Azure governance and infrastructure, Hyper-V and SCVMM environments, and Azure Arc-enabled hybrid deployments. Jesper ... Show more

Konstantinos is a passionate IT professional and Microsoft Certified Trainer with over two decades of experience in crafting and deploying comprehensive IT solutions. His expertise lies in Microsoft technologies, evident in his Microsoft Azure MVP status. As a Cloud Solutions Architect, he specializes in designing enterprise architectures for cloud environments, including Azure, M365, and hybrid/multi-cloud solutions. Konstantinos is a lifelong learner, continually expanding his knowledge and certifications across various vendors, primarily Microsoft. He is a dedicated community leader and advocate, spearheading knowledge-sharing initiatives through his Microsoft Tech Group, live sessions, and blog posts.

Konstantinos is a passionate IT professional and Microsoft Certified Trainer with over two decades of experience in crafting and deploying comprehensive IT solutions. His expertise lies in Microsoft technologies, evident in his Microsoft Azure MVP st... Show more

As a Principal Architect with a specialization in Azure and AI, Arin excels at pioneering new services in Azure, bringing innovative solutions to his clients.

He is dedicated to keeping the developer community updated with new technology, advocating for best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

He combines his expertise in Azure and AI with a passion for mentoring and leadership, driving technological excellence and community engagement. He is also deeply passionate about the Microsoft Development Ecosystem and .NET, integrating these technologies seamlessly into his projects to deliver optimal results.

As a Principal Architect with a specialization in Azure and AI, Arin excels at pioneering new services in Azure, bringing innovative solutions to his clients. He is dedicated to keeping the developer community updated with new technology, advocati... Show more

Jesús Espino is an Open-Source and software development enthusiast. He loves writing code and contributing to Open-Source projects. Jesús also had the privilege of being one of the starters or contributors in some interesting Open-Source projects like Taiga, Penpot, Mattermost, Focalboard, or testcontainers-go. He is a big fan of learning new things, especially programming languages. He loves Rust, Go, Python, Clojure, Git, Postgres, and Vim, and he loves to dive deep into technical details.

He also writes a blog named internals-for-interns.com where he talk about the internals of open source projects in an approachable way.

Currently, he is working mainly in Go and Typescript as a Principal Engineer at VictoriaMetrics, and he contributes to Open-Source projects whenever he can.

Jesús Espino is an Open-Source and software development enthusiast. He loves writing code and contributing to Open-Source projects. Jesús also had the privilege of being one of the starters or contributors in some interesting Open-Source projects lik... Show more

Somesh is a Microsoft MVP in Enterprise Mobility, boasting over 17 years of experience in IT infrastructure and endpoint management. Currently, he works as Modern Workplace Specialist at ING, Netherlands. His profound expertise in Apple technologies has established him as a sought-after consultant and a respected voice in the tech community.

He has a solid history of designing and implementing cutting-edge workplace solutions for a diverse range of global clients. His work spans end-to-end client management, administration, security, and automation. Somesh is particularly skilled in leveraging Microsoft Intune for efficient mobile device management, ensuring that organizations transition smoothly into more agile and effective operational frameworks. Beyond his technical endeavors, Somesh is dedicated to disseminating his knowledge across various technical communities through social media and his personal blog. Additionally, he is an active and engaging speaker.

Somesh is a Microsoft MVP in Enterprise Mobility, boasting over 17 years of experience in IT infrastructure and endpoint management. Currently, he works as Modern Workplace Specialist at ING, Netherlands. His profound expertise in Apple technologies ... Show more

I’m a software developer and lifelong learner with a decade in the Android ecosystem who enjoys turning complex ideas into practical solutions. I like making reliable products while keeping things simple and approachable. When I’m not coding, I’m reading, tinkering with small projects, and enjoying time outdoors. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned and to learn from others in the room.

I’m a software developer and lifelong learner with a decade in the Android ecosystem who enjoys turning complex ideas into practical solutions. I like making reliable products while keeping things simple and approachable. When I’m not coding, I’m rea... Show more

I help platform engineers and DevOps teams understand and adopt cloud-native infrastructure through talks, demos, and community building. I organise the CNCF Gandhinagar, HashiCorp UG Gandhinagar, and Google Cloud Gandhinagar communities, and I have spoken at 40+ events, including KubeCon India, PlatformCon, HashiTalks, OpenSearchCon Korea, FOSS ASIA, and LinuxFest Northwest.

My core focus areas are Kubernetes, GitOps, IaC with Terraform/Vault, AI-powered DevOps tooling, and observability pipelines. I've mentored 15+ hackathons and open-source programmes.

Certifications: GCP DevOps Professional, Azure AZ-104, FinOps Certified Engineer, Terraform Associate, Vault Associate.

I help platform engineers and DevOps teams understand and adopt cloud-native infrastructure through talks, demos, and community building. I organise the CNCF Gandhinagar, HashiCorp UG Gandhinagar, and Google Cloud Gandhinagar communities, and I have ... Show more

Enrico van de Laar has worked with data in all shapes and sizes for over 25 years, focused on the intersection of data, AI and governance.
He helps teams and organisations make the move from BI and analytics into applied data science & AI, vendor-neutral, free of hype, and grounded in owning your own data.
A former Microsoft Data Platform MVP and (co)author of five data books, Enrico speaks and runs in-company workshops internationally on data privacy and ethics, sovereign open-source data platforms, and getting real, durable value from AI. He also co-founded Privinity, building software that helps organisations use data responsibly and is known for making genuinely complex topics easy to understand.

Enrico van de Laar has worked with data in all shapes and sizes for over 25 years, focused on the intersection of data, AI and governance. He helps teams and organisations make the move from BI and analytics into applied data science & AI, vendor-n... Show more

Ron Dagdag has spent 25 years figuring out which tool fits the problem—and when “good enough” is the right engineering choice. Today, he leads AI research engineering at Thomson Reuters, building agentic systems that hold up in production, not just on stage.

A Microsoft MVP since 2017, Ron is currently recognized in Web Development and Microsoft AI Foundry, with previous awards in Windows, Mixed Reality, and IoT. He speaks internationally, organizes community events across DFW, and keeps tinkering with agents, robots, and half-finished ideas.

He builds things, tests what breaks, and teaches what works. 🛠️

Code > Create > Coach > Repeat.

Ron Dagdag has spent 25 years figuring out which tool fits the problem—and when “good enough” is the right engineering choice. Today, he leads AI research engineering at Thomson Reuters, building agentic systems that hold up in production, not just o... Show more

Isaac Levin is a Developer Advocate at JetBrains and a Microsoft MVP. He has over 15 years of experience working as a developer for the web, mostly in the Microsoft Ecosystem. Outside of work, he hosts a podcast called Coffee and Open Source where he interviews folks from across the tech industry as well as builds open-source projects like PresenceLight and GitHub Stat Tracker. He lives outside of Seattle Washington and likes to wind down from work with his wife Ariana and his 2 children Isaac and Avery.

Isaac Levin is a Developer Advocate at JetBrains and a Microsoft MVP. He has over 15 years of experience working as a developer for the web, mostly in the Microsoft Ecosystem. Outside of work, he hosts a podcast called Coffee and Open Source where he... Show more

Wesley is a Customer Success Engineer at Duende Software, helping Duende's customers to be successful by assisting developers with issues, documenting common problems and teaching about security / identity.

He's also a Microsoft MVP, board member of the VISUG meetup in Belgium and speaker at meetups and conferences, such as NDC Copenhagen, London and Sydney, ConFoo Montreal, WeAreDevelopers Berlin, Update Conference, TechDays, Swetugg, DevConf, DeveloperDays and Techorama.

Wesley is a Customer Success Engineer at Duende Software, helping Duende's customers to be successful by assisting developers with issues, documenting common problems and teaching about security / identity. He's also a Microsoft MVP, board member ... Show more

Steve is a Senior Engineer, Agentic Development Lead, and one of the core maintainers of the open-source Uno Platform project. When not at his computer, he is either watching the Montreal Canadiens lose or asleep on the couch.

Steve is a Senior Engineer, Agentic Development Lead, and one of the core maintainers of the open-source Uno Platform project. When not at his computer, he is either watching the Montreal Canadiens lose or asleep on the couch. Show more

Software Developer. In love with Web and .NET. I like to try and learn always something new.

I try to share my experience living the community. I'm the host of "Spike time" (https://www.ugidotnet.org/tv/3307/Spike-time) and sometimes you can find me live on my Twitch channel, writing code.

Software Developer. In love with Web and .NET. I like to try and learn always something new. I try to share my experience living the community. I'm the host of "Spike time" (https://www.ugidotnet.org/tv/3307/Spike-time) and sometimes you can find ... Show more

Hi, my name is Marjolein. I'm a Power BI consultant, trainer, and speaker who loves helping people get more value from their data. My passion lies in creating dashboards that combine strong visual design with a great user experience, making data easier to understand and act on.

I regularly share my knowledge through training courses, workshops, presentations, blogs, and videos, both online and in person.

Hi, my name is Marjolein. I'm a Power BI consultant, trainer, and speaker who loves helping people get more value from their data. My passion lies in creating dashboards that combine strong visual design with a great user experience, making data easi... Show more

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Proprietor of Catallaxy Services, LLC, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand. He is the lead contributor to Curated SQL (https://curatedsql.com), president of the Triangle Area SQL Server Users Group (https://www.meetup.com/tripass), and author of PolyBase Revealed (https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484254608) and Finding Ghosts in Your Data (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4842-8870-2). When not traveling around for presentations, Kevin lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kevin Feasel is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Proprietor of Catallaxy Services, LLC, where he specializes in data analytics with T-SQL and R, forcing Spark clusters to do his bidding, fighting with Kafka, and pulling rabbits out of hats on demand... Show more

My name is Roberto Carrancio and I am an SQL Server DBA with over 14 years of experience in the sector. I have been recognized as a Microsoft MVP in the Data Platform category in SQL Server and Azure SQL. During my years of experience, I have had the opportunity to work on projects in companies of all sizes and sectors, from SMEs to large multinationals. Author of the book “SQL SERVER: The NOT practical guide to optimization.” I am also the creator of the blog soydba.es and the YouTube channel SoyDBA.

My name is Roberto Carrancio and I am an SQL Server DBA with over 14 years of experience in the sector. I have been recognized as a Microsoft MVP in the Data Platform category in SQL Server and Azure SQL. During my years of experience, I have had th... Show more

Principal Cloud Architect | Dual Microsoft MVP | AI & Agent Governance | Microsoft Purview | Trusted Data for AI
Bio
Nikki Chapple is a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay and a dual Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Microsoft 365 and Security. She specialises in AI and agent governance, Microsoft Purview, and helping organisations build trusted data foundations for AI across Microsoft 365, Copilot and AI agents.

With more than 35 years of experience spanning IT and business, Nikki helps organisations understand where sensitive information is overshared or exposed, strengthen data security and governance, and implement Microsoft Purview to protect critical information. Her work enables organisations to adopt AI and deploy AI agents with confidence by ensuring data remains trusted, secure and well-governed.

Nikki believes successful AI adoption starts with trusted, governed data, not the AI itself. As organisations embrace AI agents and autonomous workflows, she helps them establish the governance, security and compliance foundations needed to manage this new risk surface responsibly.

Nikki co-authored the Governance, Risk & Compliance competency of the Microsoft 365 Maturity Model and was recognised in Microsoft's People of Purview (2025) and with the UK Community Award for Security & Compliance Evangelist (2023). She is an international conference speaker, blogs at nikkichapple.com, and co-hosts the AI Governance & Data Security Show.

Principal Cloud Architect | Dual Microsoft MVP | AI & Agent Governance | Microsoft Purview | Trusted Data for AI Bio Nikki Chapple is a Principal Cloud Architect at CloudWay and a dual Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Microsoft 365 and... Show more

I’ve been working as Head of Technical Advocacy at SCYTHE, Founder & Investor at CROSS-INTEL, BSides Porto Organizer, Red Team Village Director (DEF CON), Senior Advisor Raices Cyber Academy, Founder of Red Team Community (Brazil and LATAM), AWS Community Builder, Snyk Ambassador, Application Security Specialist and Hacking is NOT a crime Advocate. International Speaker at Security and New technologies events in many countries such as US (Black Hat & Defcon), Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Black Hat MEA - Middle-East - and others, I’ve served as University Professor in Master Degree in Portugal, Graduation and MBA courses at Brazilian colleges, in addition, I'm Creator and Instructor of the Course - Malware Attack Types with Kill Chain Methodology (PentestMagazine), PowerShell and Windows for Red Teamers(PentestMagazine) and Malware Analysis - Fundamentals (HackerSec).

Black Hat SECTOR 2026 - https://blackhat.com/sector/arsenal/schedule/presenters.html#filipi-pires-46329
Black Hat US 2025 - https://blackhat.com/us-25/arsenal/schedule/presenters.html#filipi-pires-46329
Black Hat US 2024 - https://blackhat.com/us-24/arsenal/schedule/presenters.html#filipi-pires-46329
Black Hat MEA 2025 - https://blackhatmea.com/speaker/filipi-pires-0
Black Hat MEA 2024 - https://blackhatmea.com/speaker/filipi-pires
DEF CON 33 / 32 - https://sessionize.com/filipi-pires/
DEF CON - Adversary Village - https://adversaryvillage.org/adversary-events/DEFCON-33/Filipi-Pires/

I’ve been working as Head of Technical Advocacy at SCYTHE, Founder & Investor at CROSS-INTEL, BSides Porto Organizer, Red Team Village Director (DEF CON), Senior Advisor Raices Cyber Academy, Founder of Red Team Community (Brazil and LATAM), AWS Com... Show more

Simon Martinelli is a Java Champion, Vaadin Champion, and Oracle ACE Pro with over three decades of experience as a software architect, developer, consultant, and trainer. He is the creator of the AI Unified Process (AIUP) and a strong advocate of Spec-Driven Development.

As the owner of Martinelli LLC, he coaches teams to get up to speed with AI-driven development. He regularly shares his insights through international conferences, articles, and his blog, Keep IT Simple (https://martinelli.ch), where he writes about AI, architecture, and modern Java development.

He is also a lecturer at three universities in Switzerland, where he teaches AI-driven software engineering, software architecture, persistence, DevOps, and cloud-native development.

Simon Martinelli is a Java Champion, Vaadin Champion, and Oracle ACE Pro with over three decades of experience as a software architect, developer, consultant, and trainer. He is the creator of the AI Unified Process (AIUP) and a strong advocate of Sp... Show more