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

Ramona is a software engineer, Microsoft MVP and public speaker with a passion for creating inclusive and accessible applications. She likes to spread awareness about this topic and hopes to inspire people both in her daily work and by taking the stage whenever she gets the chance.

Ramona is a software engineer, Microsoft MVP and public speaker with a passion for creating inclusive and accessible applications. She likes to spread awareness about this topic and hopes to inspire people both in her daily work and by taking the sta... Show more

Laureato in Scienze dell'Informazione e MCT trainer specializzato principalmente nell'ambiente IT, Security e Formazione su differenti tecnologie Microsoft da Windows Server a SCCM in ambienti locali, da Microsoft 365 ad Azure passando per Microsoft Endpoint Manager in ambiente hybrid cloud. Lavoro come dipendente part-time (50%) presso il Dipartimento di Informatica dell'Università degli Studi di Milano, dove svolgo l'attività di sistemista Microsoft, e come consulente libero professionista nel restante tempo. Come consulente svolgo attività di progettazione, implementazione, troubleshooting di ambienti ibridi basati su tecnologie Microsoft, progettazione e implementazione di funzionalità di sicurezza delle suite Microsoft e attività di docente/speaker.
Da Agosto 2020 Microsoft MVP nella categoria Entreprise Mobility mentre da Gennaio 2023 nella categoria Security; da Febbraio 2021 CTO di Overnet Education.

Laureato in Scienze dell'Informazione e MCT trainer specializzato principalmente nell'ambiente IT, Security e Formazione su differenti tecnologie Microsoft da Windows Server a SCCM in ambienti locali, da Microsoft 365 ad Azure passando per Microsoft... Show more

Holger is a principal architect with over 20 years of experience in designing workplace solutions, specializing in Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft Azure.

He shares his expertise and knowledge about the Power Platform, particularly on Copilot Studio, with the community through blogging and speaking at events.

Holger is a principal architect with over 20 years of experience in designing workplace solutions, specializing in Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft Azure. He shares his expertise and knowledge about the Power Platform, particularly on Copilo... Show more

Co-Author of 'Signals & Levers (ITRevolution, September 2026)', 'Coaching for Learning; the Art and Practice' and 'Create Your Dojo; Upskilling Your Organization for Digital Evolution,' Joel helps organizations evolve through learning. This combines a blend of systems thinking, XP, agile, lean, devops and product thinking practices all to embrace learning in the context of work.
With deep experience in architecture modernization, blending product discovery with delivery and architecture, and systems thinking, Joel helps organizations make it easier for their teams to do great work.

Co-Author of 'Signals & Levers (ITRevolution, September 2026)', 'Coaching for Learning; the Art and Practice' and 'Create Your Dojo; Upskilling Your Organization for Digital Evolution,' Joel helps organizations evolve through learning. This combines... Show more

Nikita Verma is an active contributor to the open-source community with a strong focus on Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies. She worked on developing forest growth simulations, automating configuration generation, and integrating CI/CD workflows. Nikita has volunteered at KubeCon events, showcasing her commitment to the Kubernetes ecosystem. Her technical expertise spans Python, Golang, AWS, and FLINT.Cloud, complemented by her contributions to initiatives like Girlscript Summer of Code

Nikita Verma is an active contributor to the open-source community with a strong focus on Kubernetes and cloud-native technologies. She worked on developing forest growth simulations, automating configuration generation, and integrating CI/CD workflo... Show more

Robb is a 28-year veteran of the Navision, NAV, and BC world.
He is a Microsoft MVP, an MCT, MCP, and a nonpracticing CPA.
He has spoken at Convergence, Directions NA, Directions EMEA, Days of Knowledge, and multiple User Group Conferences.

Robb is a 28-year veteran of the Navision, NAV, and BC world. He is a Microsoft MVP, an MCT, MCP, and a nonpracticing CPA. He has spoken at Convergence, Directions NA, Directions EMEA, Days of Knowledge, and multiple User Group Conferences. Show more

I am a big fan of Microsoft Cloud Security products because there my two favorite topics Identity and Security work together in a unique way. I've been working in IT for quite a while and have over 15 years of experience in IT security in various roles. At the moment I am a Cybersecurity Architect at glueckkanja AG and help our customers with my favorite topics. I am 44 years old and live with my family in Hamburg.

I am a big fan of Microsoft Cloud Security products because there my two favorite topics Identity and Security work together in a unique way. I've been working in IT for quite a while and have over 15 years of experience in IT security in various ro... Show more

Joseph is a leading voice in cybersecurity and AI, developing software and content that shape how developers build securely. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain future-proof security skills. His videos, with 2.8M+ views, simplify complex security topics and deliver actionable tips to a global audience. As a speaker, Joseph has delivered 68 talks across 25 countries over the past four years, captivating audiences with his insights and energetic stage presence.

Joseph is a leading voice in cybersecurity and AI, developing software and content that shape how developers build securely. His open source game gh.io/scg has helped 10K+ developers gain future-proof security skills. His videos, with 2.8M+ views, si... Show more

Paul is a Consulting Director & the Fabric Capabilities Owner for 3Cloud Solutions, and a 16-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs at SqlServerBI.blog about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He works with companies around the world to model data at enterprise scale, visualize and deliver critical information to make informed decisions using the Microsoft data platform. He is a user group leader in the Portland/Vancouver metro area. As a published author on Power BI, Fabric, TSQL, SSAS & SSRS, he holds several Data Platform credentials and all current Fabric & Power BI certifications.

Paul is a Consulting Director & the Fabric Capabilities Owner for 3Cloud Solutions, and a 16-year Microsoft Data Platform MVP. He consults, writes, speaks, teaches & blogs at SqlServerBI.blog about business intelligence and reporting solutions. He wo... Show more

I've worked in software development for 15+ years (mostly Microsoft technologies) and love the problem solving aspect of the work. In recent years I have become very passionate about AI and machine learning technologies and how they can be applied to different aspects of our lives. When not coding I enjoy spending time with my family, soccer (watching, playing, and coaching), playing videogames and watching movies.

I've worked in software development for 15+ years (mostly Microsoft technologies) and love the problem solving aspect of the work. In recent years I have become very passionate about AI and machine learning technologies and how they can be applied to... Show more

I'm Taiob Ali, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 19 years of experience designing and implementing data solutions across finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. My expertise includes the Microsoft Data Platform, MongoDB, Azure AI, and Python for data-driven innovation.

As a dedicated community advocate, I've presented at over 100 events worldwide, including SQL Saturdays, Data Saturdays, and international conferences. I founded the Database Professionals Virtual Meetup Group, serve on the New England SQL Server User Group and SQL Saturday boards, and contribute regularly to Microsoft Learn, where my work is featured in the Contributor Stories.

I'm Taiob Ali, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with over 19 years of experience designing and implementing data solutions across finance, e-commerce, and healthcare. My expertise includes the Microsoft Data Platform, MongoDB, Azure AI, and Python for d... Show more

Como me gusta a mi decirlo, soy la "mascota" que se dedica al desarrollo, con una experiencia de más de 15 años en c#, con una pasión con todo lo que tenga ver con la tecnología, otorgándome competencias transversales en seguridad, sistemas, arquitectura e IA.

Apasionado de dos maravillosos monstruos a los que llamo hijos y que me hacen cada día la vida más "sencilla" pero muy bonita...​

Mi vida laboral se puede resumir como fundador y empresario con más de 15 años de experiencia de varias empresa, docente en el master de MCSD y en este relax de vida decidí unirme a Encamina gracias a unos amigos buscando disfrutar del camino.​

En los tiempos que me dejan estar entre pantallas, ratones y teclados hago las veces de Principal Tech Lead creando metodología, método, soluciones reusables e innovando en Encamina​

Comencé en comunidad a los 14 años, en los antiguos servidores públicos y privados del IRC, programando en ensamblador para verificar la robustez de los sistemas de entonces, asistiendo a eventos cuando eran de ámbito privado y con invitación, los cuales normalmente se indicaban en que ciudad se realizabas y la ubicación se comunicaba en las últimas horas... Otros tiempos...

Así que como os podéis imaginar me encanta compartir y crear comunidad:​

- Staff de Tech Rider.​

- Ponentes en múltiples conferencias.

Como me gusta a mi decirlo, soy la "mascota" que se dedica al desarrollo, con una experiencia de más de 15 años en c#, con una pasión con todo lo que tenga ver con la tecnología, otorgándome competencias transversales en seguridad, sistemas, arquitec... Show more

Community leader and CNCF ambassador, Alessandro has spent the last few years building cloud native infrastructures for Microsoft customers, animating the Dutch community, and training others to pass the CKx exams. He has passion for all things cloud native, he's been around open source for 25 years and recently moved to a new Developer Relations role. Twitter handle: @bongo

Community leader and CNCF ambassador, Alessandro has spent the last few years building cloud native infrastructures for Microsoft customers, animating the Dutch community, and training others to pass the CKx exams. He has passion for all things cloud... Show more

Brian is a Microsoft Azure MVP, speaker, author, trainer, and .NET developer with deep expertise across cloud and application development. He holds MCSA: Web App Certification, MCSD: App Builder, and thirteen Azure and GitHub certifications, including Developer, Administrator, DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect, Data Administrator, Security Engineer, AI Engineer, and Cosmos DB — along with multiple Fundamentals certifications. Since 2019, he has also been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT).

Brian earned a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Along with 25 years of development experience, he brings over 15 years of experience teaching computer science, SQL databases, object-oriented programming (C#, VB.NET, Java), and Microsoft Office in online university settings and professional training environments.

As an educator and creator, Brian has developed numerous online training courses available across multiple platforms and has authored several books with APress, including Practical Entity Framework Core 10 (with two earlier editions) and Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure Certification Companion: Hands-on Preparation and Practice for Exam AZ-204.

Brian is a Microsoft Azure MVP, speaker, author, trainer, and .NET developer with deep expertise across cloud and application development. He holds MCSA: Web App Certification, MCSD: App Builder, and thirteen Azure and GitHub certifications, includin... Show more

Michael is a member of the GraphQL Technical Steering Committee, a Microsoft MVP, and Co-Founder and CEO of ChilliCream. He is the creator of Hot Chocolate, a widely used GraphQL server and client platform for .NET, and one of the authors of the Composite Schema specification. Michael works closely with companies to design scalable GraphQL architectures and is actively shaping the future of GraphQL through open source and standards work.

Michael is a member of the GraphQL Technical Steering Committee, a Microsoft MVP, and Co-Founder and CEO of ChilliCream. He is the creator of Hot Chocolate, a widely used GraphQL server and client platform for .NET, and one of the authors of the Comp... 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

Leslie Welch is the Principal Architect, Data & AI at SHI with over 18 years of experience in automation, data analysis and visualization, and strengthening organizations’ knowledge of data. Leslie is a Microsoft MVP and has worked end-to-end in the data arena from capture and ETL to database design/engineering to analysis and dashboard design to ML use cases with a focus on improving productivity, performance, and data quality. She has extensive experience in enterprise deployment of Power BI, both as an admin and Power BI architect, and as a trainer and technical community organizer. She is passionate about data governance, truth-telling in data, and creating collaborative environments across data practitioners and the numerous data stakeholders.

Leslie co-organizes Power BI DC and frequently attends and speaks at data community meetups in the DC metro area, including but not limited to Data Viz DC, Data Science DC, Women Who Code DC, Washington DC Power Platform User Group, and Generative AI DC. Leslie was recognized as a 2023 New Power Woman in Tech by DCA Live, and on the RealLIST Engineers 2024 as one of 15 technologists helping the DMV ecosystem grow.

Leslie Welch is the Principal Architect, Data & AI at SHI with over 18 years of experience in automation, data analysis and visualization, and strengthening organizations’ knowledge of data. Leslie is a Microsoft MVP and has worked end-to-end in the ... Show more

Joe Houghes is a leader of the Denver VMware, PowerShell, and Veeam User Groups. He is a Field Solutions Architect with Pure Storage and focuses on automating us out of typical IT operations while freeing us to perform higher-level tasks.

Joe has been the #1 speaker internationally for VMUG from 2021-2024 for virtual and in-person events. He is continually working to help & encourage the next community speaker(s) to take his place while helping to get them started.

Joe also works to evangelize the message that automation should be a focus for admins & engineers, even though it requires more in-depth thinking and focus beyond performing a task once. He knows that even though it is not always someone's default method, the result is repeatable and consistent.

Joe tries to help others understand why we should do the easy tasks better, and he challenges everyone to push themselves outside of their comfort zone and learn more about any topic of interest.

Joe is a collector of communities as a leader for three User Groups, and he's a member of various tech programs: Microsoft MVP, vExpert (Pro), Cisco Champion, Veeam Vanguard, Tanzu Vanguard, plus part of the vBrownBag crew. He tells people not to let fear keep them from sharing their knowledge with others and teaching from their unique perspective.

He's also easy to spot by the bright hat, big grin, and the loud "Howdy Y'all."

Joe Houghes is a leader of the Denver VMware, PowerShell, and Veeam User Groups. He is a Field Solutions Architect with Pure Storage and focuses on automating us out of typical IT operations while freeing us to perform higher-level tasks. Joe has... Show more

Julian Kusenberg is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Consultant at SoftwareOne AG and an expert in Microsoft 365 compliance, with a particular focus on Microsoft Purview. In his role, he supports organizations in implementing holistic security and governance strategies – from deploying sensitivity labels to Insider Risk Management, Data Loss Prevention, and eDiscovery.

With an academic background in physics from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Julian combines analytical thinking with deep technical expertise. Previously, he worked at FTI Consulting, where he played a leading role in international Microsoft 365 compliance projects for clients across industries such as manufacturing, the public sector, healthcare, and non-profit organizations.

His focus lies in the practical implementation of compliance frameworks within Microsoft environments, the development of information protection strategies, and the intelligent use of automation and governance features. Julian is a regular speaker at conferences, known for presenting complex technical topics in a clear, structured, and practical manner.

Julian Kusenberg is a Microsoft MVP and Senior Consultant at SoftwareOne AG and an expert in Microsoft 365 compliance, with a particular focus on Microsoft Purview. In his role, he supports organizations in implementing holistic security and governan... Show more

Alison Cossette is founder and CEO of ClariTrace, where she's building graph-based intelligence for AI systems. Her work spans AI governance, physical AI, and retrieval research—she recently won "Most Impressive Project" at Physical AI Hack 2026 for a VLA-powered robot that reads books to children. Alison serves on the US NIST Generative AI Public Working Group and has studied AI and Data Science at Northwestern University at the Master's level. She speaks globally on building AI systems that are capable, controllable, and worth trusting.

Alison Cossette is founder and CEO of ClariTrace, where she's building graph-based intelligence for AI systems. Her work spans AI governance, physical AI, and retrieval research—she recently won "Most Impressive Project" at Physical AI Hack 2026 for ... Show more

Dr. Aaron N. Cutshall is a proven leader in Healthcare Informatics with 40 years of experience in application and database analysis, design, and development. He focuses on clinical quality measures and massive databases. He actively speaks nationwide at conferences and user group sessions on health informatics, data architecture, database development, analytics, and professional development topics.

Dr. Aaron N. Cutshall is a proven leader in Healthcare Informatics with 40 years of experience in application and database analysis, design, and development. He focuses on clinical quality measures and massive databases. He actively speaks nationwide... Show more

Shabnam is a business intelligence consultant and owner of ABI Cube, a company that specializes in delivering data solutions using the Microsoft Data Platform. She has over 20 years of experience and is recognized as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP for her technical excellence and community involvement.

She is passionate about helping organizations harness the power of data to drive insights and innovation. She has a deep expertise in Microsoft Analysis Services, Power BI, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric. She is also a speaker, blogger, and organizer for SQL Saturday Atlanta - BI version, where she shares her knowledge and best practices with the data community.

Shabnam is a business intelligence consultant and owner of ABI Cube, a company that specializes in delivering data solutions using the Microsoft Data Platform. She has over 20 years of experience and is recognized as a Microsoft Data Platform MVP for... Show more

Steven took up several roles over the past 20+ years, from junior developer to team lead and architect. Currently coaching software engineers at AllPhi where he hones both the hard technical skills and the softer people skills that are necessary to succeed as a consultant.

Main technical interests are architecture, distributed systems and api design.

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. Currently coaching software engineers at AllPhi where he hones both the hard technical skills and the softer people skills that are necessary to s... Show more

Ron Dagdag brings over 25 years of experience as a software artisan to his role as Research Engineering Manager at Thomson Reuters, where he leads teams to develop transformative AI solutions. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Ron is an active member of the tech community, recognized as a Microsoft MVP in AI, Mixed Reality, and IoT. Ron is an international speaker, sharing his knowledge at industry events, and remains an active maker and tinkerer with a passion for Augmented Intelligence.
🚀 Code > Create > Coach > Repeat.

Ron Dagdag brings over 25 years of experience as a software artisan to his role as Research Engineering Manager at Thomson Reuters, where he leads teams to develop transformative AI solutions. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Ron is ... Show more

I am an a Microsoft MVP and workplace architect who specializes in Intune and modern workplace solutions for medium to large enterprises. Passionate about learning and sharing knowledge, Speaks at conferences around the world, aiming to deliver sessions that inspire and encourage meaningful discussions. Outside of work, rocks out to the favorite bands and crushes functional fitness challenges—because who says IT pros can’t be hardcore in every sense?

I am an a Microsoft MVP and workplace architect who specializes in Intune and modern workplace solutions for medium to large enterprises. Passionate about learning and sharing knowledge, Speaks at conferences around the world, aiming to deliver sessi... Show more

I am a Father, International Speaker, Software Engineer, and Architect at Visionet Deutschland GmbH, currently living in Germany. My interests range from technology to travel. I am also interested in coaching, entrepreneurship, reading, vlogging and programming.

I am a Father, International Speaker, Software Engineer, and Architect at Visionet Deutschland GmbH, currently living in Germany. My interests range from technology to travel. I am also interested in coaching, entrepreneurship, reading, vlogging and ... Show more

Clarissa Rodrigues is graduated by University of Vale dos Sinos (UNISINOS), specialist in Software Engineering by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and master student in Applied Computing by UNISINOS. With more than 10 years of IT experience, she has been working in different roles and companies, such as a Business Analyst at SISPRO, ADP, SAP and most current Technical Quality & Program Manager at Uber. On her journey, she has been advocated for quality inside QAs work to make sure goods and services are designed, developed, and made to meet or exceed customers’ expectations and requirements.

Clarissa Rodrigues is graduated by University of Vale dos Sinos (UNISINOS), specialist in Software Engineering by Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) and master student in Applied Computing by UNISINOS. With more than 10 years of IT exper... Show more

As Developer Advocate, helping developers build production-ready AI applications. With a background spanning data analytics, machine learning, and developer education, she specializes in making complex AI concepts accessible through hands-on tutorials, open-source projects, and live demos.

She creates practical resources for RAG systems, agentic workflows, and multimodal applications—focusing on code that developers can deploy immediately. As a conference speaker and workshop instructor, she bridges the gap between cutting-edge AI research and real-world implementation.

As Developer Advocate, helping developers build production-ready AI applications. With a background spanning data analytics, machine learning, and developer education, she specializes in making complex AI concepts accessible through hands-on tutorial... 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