James McGillivray, Data Management and Analytics MCSE, has been working in Business Intelligence for over a decade. He spends his working hours building solutions that allow people to make informed decisions. quickly and accurately. He is a Director at South African Data Consultancy, Cobalt Analytics.

Before his career in data, James was an avid musical theatre student and musician. This love for performance has developed into a passion for developing and delivering presentations that are informative and enjoyable. James speaks frequently at Data Community Events, and has presented at some of the most well-known Data Events around the globe, including PASS Summit, SQL Bits and the Power BI World Tour.

James McGillivray, Data Management and Analytics MCSE, has been working in Business Intelligence for over a decade. He spends his working hours building solutions that allow people to make informed decisions. quickly and accurately. He is a Director ... Show more

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results.
For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex migrations, and performance optimization—combining deep technical expertise with a calm, collaborative style that keeps teams focused and projects on track.

My work includes:

- (Enterprise) cloud adoption & migration – ensuring smooth transitions with minimal risk
- Cost optimization & performance tuning – making Azure investments more efficient
- Security & compliance – protecting business-critical systems and data
- Platform engineering & landing zones – building robust foundations for innovation

I’ve been honored with nine consecutive Microsoft MVP awards for my contributions to the global Azure and .NET community. Outside client projects, I speak at international conferences and run workshops that turn complex cloud concepts into actionable insights.
Recent events include VS Live, NDC London, Oslo & Porto; SDD London; Copenhagen Developers Festival; Techorama Netherlands & Belgium; DevSum Sweden, Update Confs, and Developer Week Germany.

Now, as founder of LoekD Consultancy BV, I partner with organizations ready to accelerate their Azure journey—whether that means starting fresh in the cloud or unlocking more value from what you already have, accelerated with the power of AI.

Contact me for full projects, workshops or sparring sessions.

📬 Let’s connect:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/loekd
- GitHub: github.com/loekd
- BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/loekd.com

I help organizations design, build, and optimize secure, scalable Microsoft Azure platforms that deliver measurable business results. For over 20 years, I’ve guided enterprise leaders and product teams through high-stakes cloud adoption, complex mig... Show more

Nacho is a software engineer from Barcelona, fan of TDD and XP practices. He has been working with Java and other web technologies before the effect 2000 and had experience in different roles in the IT world now working at Dynatrace writing code to monitor applications. You may probably meet him before as founder of the Barcelona Java Users Group ( https://barcelonajug.org ) & the Barcelona Developers Conference ( DevBcn - https://www.debcn.com, former JBCNConf ). He enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports & improving his eXtreme Programming skills

Nacho is a software engineer from Barcelona, fan of TDD and XP practices. He has been working with Java and other web technologies before the effect 2000 and had experience in different roles in the IT world now working at Dynatrace writing code to m... Show more

With a strong passion for Sustainable Technology and Trustworthy AI, Dennis has been an active member of the Microsoft & Umbraco community well over a decade, writing hundreds of articles, tutorials, speaking at conferences, meetups, contributing to open source projects, youtube videos, podcasts, forums etc. for which he has been awarded 4x Microsoft MVP (AI Platform, Trustworthy AI and Developer Technologies), 7x Umbraco MVP, Top 3 Open Source contributor in Sweden 2024 and Top 5 Developers in Sweden 2023.

With a strong passion for Sustainable Technology and Trustworthy AI, Dennis has been an active member of the Microsoft & Umbraco community well over a decade, writing hundreds of articles, tutorials, speaking at conferences, meetups, contributing to ... Show more

Driven by a zest for technology and fun in equal measure, I've navigated from hands-on coding across full-stack o steering technical leadership and architecture. Embracing change, I've evolved, always eager to push beyond the familiar. My experience spans a rich variety of domains, including remote device management and monitoring, payroll, healthcare, media, e-commerce, and software for municipalities, in both insourcing and outsourcing models.
Alongside my technical contributions, I've enriched my career by mentoring emerging talent and engaging audiences at conferences, sharing insights and fostering a community of learning and innovation.

Beyond the realm of coding, I am passionate about sharing insights, whether through thought-provoking articles or by distilling my experience into my book, "Software Architecture for Web Developers."

You can see my work in here:
https://medium.com/@ghidersa-mihaela
https://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Web-Developers-professionals/dp/1803237910

Driven by a zest for technology and fun in equal measure, I've navigated from hands-on coding across full-stack o steering technical leadership and architecture. Embracing change, I've evolved, always eager to push beyond the familiar. My experience ... Show more

Ex Microsoft, MVP data platform | Microsoft certified trainer and a truly passionate about SQL Server on all of its editions (that include express as well (?)). I’m speaker of the PASS Argentina chapter, father of Pedro, Fan of Club atletico Independiente from Argentina (Soccer or futbol fan 😛😛) and Rocky Balboa’s Soldier💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👊🏻👊🏻👊🏻.

Ex Microsoft, MVP data platform | Microsoft certified trainer and a truly passionate about SQL Server on all of its editions (that include express as well (?)). I’m speaker of the PASS Argentina chapter, father of Pedro, Fan of Club atletico Independ... Show more

Layla is a Microsoft MVP, Progress Champion, 3 times GitHub Star, and former director on the board at the .NET Foundation.
She is the co-founder of November North, a micro-game studio, developing and producing a first-person stealth game titled "The Third Tourist" - go and wishlist it on Steam!

Layla lives in the UK with her husband Jim and dogs, Cookie and Summer.

Layla is a Microsoft MVP, Progress Champion, 3 times GitHub Star, and former director on the board at the .NET Foundation. She is the co-founder of November North, a micro-game studio, developing and producing a first-person stealth game titled "The... Show more

I am an Azure Data Platform professional working predominantly with Azure Synapse Analytics (SQL Pools), Data Factory, SQL Server and Power BI. I hold an MSc in Business Intelligence and Data Mining. I am a current Microsoft Data Platform MVP.

I am an Azure Data Platform professional working predominantly with Azure Synapse Analytics (SQL Pools), Data Factory, SQL Server and Power BI. I hold an MSc in Business Intelligence and Data Mining. I am a current Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Show more

Julian has worked with Dynamics 365 since first release and uses the Microsoft Power Platform and Azure to enhance solutions for users.
Julian is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and delivers training across Europe.
Julian is an author with books on Power Platform Functional Consultant and Azure AI Fundamentals.
He is also a former Business Applications MVP and regularly talks at events on extending the Power Platform with AI and Azure.

Julian has worked with Dynamics 365 since first release and uses the Microsoft Power Platform and Azure to enhance solutions for users. Julian is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and delivers training across Europe. Julian is an author with books on P... Show more

My name is Juarez Barbosa Junior. I have held senior leadership roles in software engineering and developer relations, focusing on developer audiences, subject matter experts, customers, and business partners. I have also acted as a mentor for Microsoft for Startups, having worked with startup founders, accelerators, incubators, mentors, and venture capitalists.

I am a Sr Principal Developer Evangelist and Director of Developer Evangelism at Oracle. Previously, I was an Azure Developer Relations Lead – Director of Developer Relations at Microsoft. In addition to that, I was a Principal Developer Advocate, Developer Advocacy Director at Oracle EMEA, and a Thought Leader and Technical Evangelist at IBM.

I have extensive experience with large enterprise systems and environments with companies like Oracle, Microsoft, IBM, Unisys, Nokia, Accenture, and a few medium-sized companies and startups (two as a founder). I have mastered presenting to technical and non-technical audiences and engaging the C-Level in technology and business transformation journeys.

I have received many awards, such as Oracle Customer Excellence 2025, Oracle ACE Mentor 2022, IBM Technical RockStar for Cloud, IBM Redbooks Thought Leader and Evangelist for IBM Mobile, Nokia Developer Champion, IBM Manager’s Choice Award, Superior Community Service Contributions—Forum Nokia Wiki, IBM Hall of Fame Awards, IBM Common Development and Test Outstanding Contribution Awards, and IBM Mobile Enterprise Social Media Residency Outstanding Contributor.

https://linktr.ee/juarezjunior

My name is Juarez Barbosa Junior. I have held senior leadership roles in software engineering and developer relations, focusing on developer audiences, subject matter experts, customers, and business partners. I have also acted as a mentor for Micros... Show more

Greg is a Business Intelligence Team Lead at Kearney Warsaw. He serves as a Power BI technical Lead for Kearney.

He has proved his lecturing and teaching skills by running Power BI community events as well as internal trainings at Kearney at all levels, ranging in audience size from 5 to 250. Greg has been leading a number of Power BI workshops aimed at experienced professionals, students as well people willing to explore the art of possible in Business Intelligence. He has experience at conveying his knowledge at various levels, ranging from beginner to expert.

Greg holds a number of Microsoft Certifications including those in Fabric: DP-600 and Power BI: PL-300, DA-100 and 70-778.

Greg is a Business Intelligence Team Lead at Kearney Warsaw. He serves as a Power BI technical Lead for Kearney. He has proved his lecturing and teaching skills by running Power BI community events as well as internal trainings at Kearney at all l... Show more

Chris DeMars is a Senior Developer Advocate with over 20 years of technical experience. He speaks all over the world on web accessibility, feature flags, A/B testing, and CSS. For his community contributions, he holds awards as a Progress Champion and former Microsoft MVP, Google Developer Expert, Cloudinary Media Developer Expert, and Auth0 Ambassador. When he is not working on making the web great and accessible you can find him fishing, on the paintball field, rating Detroit Style pizza, and looking for UFO's.

Chris DeMars is a Senior Developer Advocate with over 20 years of technical experience. He speaks all over the world on web accessibility, feature flags, A/B testing, and CSS. For his community contributions, he holds awards as a Progress Champion an... Show more

Peter is a Cloud & Security Architect based in Denmark with extensive experience in the IT industry, specializing in Messaging, Collaboration, and Cloud security. Since 1996, he has been a consultant, focusing on technologies such as Microsoft 365, Exchange Server, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive for Business, Office 365, Purview Information Protection, and Microsoft Defender Security products.

Peter holds the prestigious Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) certification in Exchange and has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 and Security. He is a seasoned speaker, having presented at numerous high-profile events, including the European SharePoint Conference, European Collab Summit, Nordic Infrastructure Conference, Workplace Ninja Summit, Microsoft Campus Days, and various local User Group events.

In addition to his professional work, Peter leads the Danish WorkPlace Ninja User Group, which focuses on advancing knowledge in Microsoft Modern Workplace, Productivity, and Security.

Peter is a Cloud & Security Architect based in Denmark with extensive experience in the IT industry, specializing in Messaging, Collaboration, and Cloud security. Since 1996, he has been a consultant, focusing on technologies such as Microsoft 365, E... Show more

As a Google Developer Expert specializing in Google Cloud and GenAI, I am a passionate DevOps Advocate and a dedicated Community Evangelist. I lead and nurture multiple communities across diverse platforms, fostering DevOps and Developer Relations awareness. My commitment to the open-source ecosystem is demonstrated through delivering presentations, crafting documentation and blogs, and contributing code. Presently, my focus is on innovating within the AI space and Backend Agentic Frameworks.

As a Google Developer Expert specializing in Google Cloud and GenAI, I am a passionate DevOps Advocate and a dedicated Community Evangelist. I lead and nurture multiple communities across diverse platforms, fostering DevOps and Developer Relations aw... Show more

Sasha serves as a Microsoft Regional Director (RD), Microsoft MVP, and CEO of multiple IT training, consulting, and engineering firms, specialising in addressing complex business and security challenges for executives and organisations globally. He holds a wide range of certifications from leading providers such as Microsoft, ISC2, AWS, CompTIA, and EC-Council. In addition to expertise in cloud technologies, security architecture, and consulting, Sasha's teams deliver industry-certified and bespoke workshops and courses.
Furthermore, Sasha is recognised as a CISSP, MCT, MCT Community Lead, CEI, and CompTIA Instructor. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences, user groups, and events, and is the author of several books on cloud security, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and Windows.

Sasha serves as a Microsoft Regional Director (RD), Microsoft MVP, and CEO of multiple IT training, consulting, and engineering firms, specialising in addressing complex business and security challenges for executives and organisations globally. He h... Show more

Carey Payette is a Principal Engineer at Financial Finesse, an Azure AI MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer and part of the Progress Ninja community. Known for turning cutting-edge AI concepts into practical, production-ready solutions, she specializes in architecting intelligent, agentic systems, ensuring AI system and data security, and designing scalable platforms that solve real-world problems. She brings additional depth through her work in machine learning, IoT, and data analytics. Carey combines deep technical expertise with a passion for creating impactful, forward-thinking technology.

Carey Payette is a Principal Engineer at Financial Finesse, an Azure AI MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer and part of the Progress Ninja community. Known for turning cutting-edge AI concepts into practical, production-ready solutions, she specializes ... Show more

Flutter GDE 💙 Co-founder BBapps - apps that care for you and the planet 🌍🫶🏽 Author “Flutter Design Patterns and Best Practices” 📚 Flutterista 💜 WTM 💚 I also love to read 📖, dance 💃🏽, travel ✈ and learn languages 🇪🇸 Mother of Cats 😻

Flutter GDE 💙 Co-founder BBapps - apps that care for you and the planet 🌍🫶🏽 Author “Flutter Design Patterns and Best Practices” 📚 Flutterista 💜 WTM 💚 I also love to read 📖, dance 💃🏽, travel ✈ and learn languages 🇪🇸 Mother of Cats 😻 Show more

A developer, business owner, consultant, cloud architect, Microsoft Azure MVP and an online instructor, Mike Benkovich is an alumni of Microsoft from 2004 to 2012 where he helped build developer communities across the US, thru work on Microsoft Across America, MSDN Events, MSDN Webcasts, DPE and Channel 9. He's helped to create and grow developer conferences and user groups in various cities across the US. While at Microsoft he helped create the Azure Boot Camp events that were run in cities across the US and at PDC and TechEd before it was transferred to the community. In 2009 he started a Toastmaster club for Geeks called TechMasters in Minneapolis where we still grow speakers for Conferences. He's a LinkedIn Learning Instructor for Azure, have developed many online courses. Mike actively works in Azure Cloud Governance, DevOps, Application Architecture and Software Delivery consulting.

A developer, business owner, consultant, cloud architect, Microsoft Azure MVP and an online instructor, Mike Benkovich is an alumni of Microsoft from 2004 to 2012 where he helped build developer communities across the US, thru work on Microsoft Acros... Show more

Senior Software Engineer, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified *6, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Blogger, Author, Global Speaker

Senior Software Engineer, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified *6, Microsoft Certified Trainer, Blogger, Author, Global Speaker Show more

Anton is a Developer Advocate at JetBrains, working with Kotlin, IntelliJ IDEA, and AI-driven developer tools. With a background in server-side development, he has spent over a decade building software for developers. A Java Champion since 2014, Anton speaks at conferences, shares insights on the Kotlin YouTube channel, and enjoys exploring new ideas in programming languages, AI-powered tooling, and developer workflows. He’s always experimenting with new tech, looking for ways to make coding more efficient and enjoyable.

Anton is a Developer Advocate at JetBrains, working with Kotlin, IntelliJ IDEA, and AI-driven developer tools. With a background in server-side development, he has spent over a decade building software for developers. A Java Champion since 2014, Anto... Show more

Developer, Presenter/Teacher, Open source advocate, Ultimate frisbee player & Board game hoarder.
I love the fact that I get to code for a living, but I am also incredibly passionate about sharing, collaborating and helping others on their dev journey!
I also have a growing YouTube channel (youtube.com/benkadel), where I try to make entertaining & educational content about programming, the tech industry and specific tutorials to breakdown complex topics.
I adore presenting, story-telling and just generally engaging with an audience. If I am able to make life, even just a little brighter for someone then I have succeeded!

Developer, Presenter/Teacher, Open source advocate, Ultimate frisbee player & Board game hoarder. I love the fact that I get to code for a living, but I am also incredibly passionate about sharing, collaborating and helping others on their dev journ... Show more

Godson Njoku is a product development specialist with a background in economics and experience across health tech, fintech, logistics and other digital domains.
He works as a QA Specialist at Komplete Care, combining hands-on testing with automation to deliver reliable software for pharmacies, labs, and hospitals. With a cross-functional background in product management and UX, Godson also mentors upcoming tech talent in the Learnable Program and co-organises the Google Developer Group Enugu.

Godson Njoku is a product development specialist with a background in economics and experience across health tech, fintech, logistics and other digital domains. He works as a QA Specialist at Komplete Care, combining hands-on testing with automatio... Show more

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

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

Google Developer Expert for Android and Kotlin, enthusiastic public speaker, senior engineer, Kotlin aficionado, Multiplatform manipulator, prolific facilitator of cute cat photographs, spends more time travelling than working (he/him)

Google Developer Expert for Android and Kotlin, enthusiastic public speaker, senior engineer, Kotlin aficionado, Multiplatform manipulator, prolific facilitator of cute cat photographs, spends more time travelling than working (he/him) Show more

Mark Christie is a Microsoft MVP, Regional Lead Microsoft Certified Trainer, and seasoned Solution Architect with over 20 years of experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. With 12 years focused on Field Service, Mark is widely recognised for his ability to design and deliver enterprise-scale solutions that drive real-world impact across both public and private sectors — from UK government agencies to global brands in SportTech and FinTech.

Born in Perth, Scotland, Mark brings a grounded, straight-talking style to his sessions, blending deep technical expertise with practical insight and a touch of Scottish wit. He’s spoken at events across the globe — from local meetups in Scotland to major stages like the MGM Grand in Las Vegas — always delivering with clarity, humour, and authority.

As co-founder of the Scottish Summit, Mark has helped build one of the UK’s most vibrant tech communities. He also contributes to Microsoft’s official certification exams, shaping the standards for professionals worldwide.

Whether he’s speaking on Field Service, Power Platform strategy, or community building, Mark brings energy, expertise, and a passion for helping others succeed.

Mark Christie is a Microsoft MVP, Regional Lead Microsoft Certified Trainer, and seasoned Solution Architect with over 20 years of experience in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. With 12 years focused on Field Service, Mark is widely rec... Show more

Petter Arnesen is a seasoned senior consultant with two decades of experience in various IT domains. His career spans work with small businesses to large enterprises, and he has expertise in cloud computing, automation, virtualization, storage solutions, networking, and security.
Azure, Bicep, and PowerShell are at the heart of his current work. In 2022, he was honored with the MVP title for his contributions to the Azure community, largely through his educational YouTube channel, PetterTech, where he inspires and educates IT professionals worldwide.

Petter Arnesen is a seasoned senior consultant with two decades of experience in various IT domains. His career spans work with small businesses to large enterprises, and he has expertise in cloud computing, automation, virtualization, storage soluti... Show more

Hi! I'm Aldan, and I'm passionate about technology and research. I studied Computer Science in Spain, France and Switzerland, founded a few associations and contributed to open source projects. I've also been lucky enough to get some recognition for leadership and academic achievements, and I love learning from the community and participating in events. Currently, I'm working on research that combines Natural Language Processing and Knowledge Graphs, two topics I'm always happy to talk about!

Hi! I'm Aldan, and I'm passionate about technology and research. I studied Computer Science in Spain, France and Switzerland, founded a few associations and contributed to open source projects. I've also been lucky enough to get some recognition for ... Show more

Jonah Andersson is a Developer and Lead Cloud DevOps Engineer based in Sweden. She works as a Senior Azure Consultant.

With a background in Computer Science and System Development, Jonah specializes in .NET technologies and excels in cloud development, particularly within Microsoft Azure.

Passionate about solving complex problems and crafting modern applications, Jonah succeeds in working with cloud platforms like Azure, and her expertise in cloud computing and development has earned her international recognition. She is recognized as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional and Microsoft Certified Trainer for her contributions to the tech industry. Her book, 'Learning Microsoft Azure: Cloud Computing and Development Fundamentals (O'Reilly Media), further highlights her expertise and the depth of her technical knowledge.

She actively engages in tech communities and international events, fosters connections, and shares insights with fellow developers. Jonah's leadership extends beyond her technical expertise. As the founder and leader of the Azure User Group Sweden, where she leads, guide and inspire tech to others. She is also a MCT Community Lead from Sweden helping and supporting fellow Microsoft Certified Trainers in the community.

Her advocacy for gender equality and inclusion in tech, recognized by her Developer of the Year awards in two years at the Nordic Women in Tech Awards 2023 and Developers Day 2024, is a testament to her commitment to making the tech industry a more inclusive space. She actively mentors aspiring women in tech careers and co-hosts the Extend Women In Tech Podcast, to inspire inclusive tech for all.

Jonah Andersson is a Developer and Lead Cloud DevOps Engineer based in Sweden. She works as a Senior Azure Consultant. With a background in Computer Science and System Development, Jonah specializes in .NET technologies and excels in cloud develop... Show more

Onyinye is an IT professional with substantial work experience in the Information Technology industry. Her expertise lies in digitally transforming organizations via modernized communications, advising intelligent strategies to adopt hybrid workplaces, and promoting creative solutions to collaborate effectively. She has successfully led multiple projects across the Modern Workplace technology across various sectors.
She is passionate about innovations in Information Technology, technical research, and investigative studies which has led to her collaboration in publishing journal and conference papers on IEEE.

Onyinye is an IT professional with substantial work experience in the Information Technology industry. Her expertise lies in digitally transforming organizations via modernized communications, advising intelligent strategies to adopt hybrid workplace... Show more

Jeff Taylor is a Principal Data Consultant, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Redgate Community Ambassador, and Octopus Insider with over 27 years of experience specializing in performance tuning and critical data issues. He currently organizes the Jax Data and SQL Saturday Jacksonville and is the Jacksonville Development Users Group co-organizer.

Jeff Taylor is a Principal Data Consultant, Microsoft Data Platform MVP, Redgate Community Ambassador, and Octopus Insider with over 27 years of experience specializing in performance tuning and critical data issues. He currently organizes the Jax Da... Show more