Andy is a seasoned data engineer with over a decade of experience in the Microsoft ecosystem, specializing in Microsoft Fabric. With a solid background in software development for retail back-end systems, he brings a unique perspective to building scalable, data-driven solutions. Holding an M.S. in Mathematics, Andy combines analytical rigor with practical engineering to deliver reliable, actionable insights.
After transitioning to data engineering, Andy has become a passionate advocate for evidence-based programming and empowering organizations through trustworthy data. He actively contributes to the tech community by organizing and speaking at user groups focused on Microsoft Fabric, SQL Server, and analytics.
When he’s not working with data, Andy enjoys grilling and smoking, often spending weekends refurbishing old grills and bringing them back to life for another round of great cooking.

Andy is a seasoned data engineer with over a decade of experience in the Microsoft ecosystem, specializing in Microsoft Fabric. With a solid background in software development for retail back-end systems, he brings a unique perspective to building sc... Show more

Sebastian Kister is an influential figure in enterprise transformation and a top consultant for C-Level executives. Currently running for the Governance Board at CNCF, he combines hands-on leadership with visionary insights, spearheading a Competence Center at AUDI focused on IT infrastructure.

A dynamic startup professional, Sebastian has played a pivotal role in guiding products from conception to market leadership through innovative, cutting-edge technologies. He is committed to challenging the status quo, fostering a culture of innovation, and driving continuous progress within organizations.

Sebastian emphasizes the distinction between mere reorganization and true transformation. He advocates for a „people-first“ approach, believing that when organizations prioritize their people, they empower them to solve complex problems. Conversely, a „process-first“ mindset often leads to mere compliance rather than genuine problem-solving.

Sebastian Kister is an influential figure in enterprise transformation and a top consultant for C-Level executives. Currently running for the Governance Board at CNCF, he combines hands-on leadership with visionary insights, spearheading a Competence... Show more

Guillaume Laforge is Developer Advocate for Google Cloud Platform, at day, focusing on generative AI, LLMs, serverless technologies and event-driven architecture, and at night, he is a Java Champion and wears his Apache Groovy hat.

Guillaume Laforge is Developer Advocate for Google Cloud Platform, at day, focusing on generative AI, LLMs, serverless technologies and event-driven architecture, and at night, he is a Java Champion and wears his Apache Groovy hat. Show more

Cloud enthusiast and technology lover’s. I work with Azure and other cloud, handling the nitty-gritty tech stuff (think of me as a high-flying engineer) and the creative side (designing awesome solutions).
On top of that, I spend my time doing workshops, offering consultancy, and geeking out about the latest and greatest in the world of the cloud. As if that's not enough fun, I'm also a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), which means I get a kick out of helping people level up their tech skills.
I'm always on the lookout for exciting ways to take technology to the next level and help businesses perform better. Connect with me, and let's explore what the cloud can do for you. Let's make some tech magic together!"

Cloud enthusiast and technology lover’s. I work with Azure and other cloud, handling the nitty-gritty tech stuff (think of me as a high-flying engineer) and the creative side (designing awesome solutions). On top of that, I spend my time doing works... Show more

Sandra Ahlgrimm is a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, specializing in supporting Java Developers. With over a decade of experience as a Java developer, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Sandra is passionate about containers and has recently learned to love AI.

As a leader in the tech community, Sandra actively contributes to the Berlin Java User Group (JUG) and the Berlin Docker MeetUp. Her expertise extends beyond coding; she focuses on LangChain4j integrations and serves as the primary point of contact for developer feedback related to Java in Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and the Azure toolkit integration in IntelliJ. Additionally, her interest in performance and event-driven architectures led to her involvement with native images. Therefore, Sandra represents Microsoft on the GraalVM Program Advisory Board.

Sandra’s commitment to empowering fellow developers and fostering collaboration makes her an invaluable asset to the software development ecosystem.

Sandra Ahlgrimm is a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, specializing in supporting Java Developers. With over a decade of experience as a Java developer, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Sandra is passionate about containers and has rec... Show more

Brian has worked with data and analytics for more than two decades - varying projects on both size and complexity.

Now, by combining deep experience with a human approach to data and analytics, and a deep understanding of platform implementations, Brian build solutions that deliver actual change for people, for business, for everyone

Brian is a Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Recognized Fasttrack Solution Architect.

Brian loves data and is always trying to glue the business and tech together using his knowledge and experience.
He is always open to meet new people and help them to get better tomorrow.

Brian has worked with data and analytics for more than two decades - varying projects on both size and complexity. Now, by combining deep experience with a human approach to data and analytics, and a deep understanding of platform implementations,... Show more

Due to her PhD in human-computer interaction, Miri's technical focus was originally on front-end development. Over time, however, she has discovered her enthusiasm for APIs. That is why she is currently working in API Consulting as an enabler specialising in API Experience & Operations. Miri pays particular attention to the continuous improvement and automation of processes. She also enjoys passing on her knowledge in trainings and workshops and loves giving talks.

Due to her PhD in human-computer interaction, Miri's technical focus was originally on front-end development. Over time, however, she has discovered her enthusiasm for APIs. That is why she is currently working in API Consulting as an enabler special... Show more

Sam is a Microsoft Azure MVP. As a technical advisor and investor at several cloud start-ups, he is involved in cloud-native architectures and focuses on Serverless technologies, the Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence.
While he is currently technical lead and founder at a SaaS-startup, called Sfinx, he has been working as CTO at Codit, one of the leading European Microsoft cloud partners. In working together with Microsoft, Sam has extensive experience in building data-driven, integrated cloud-based solutions.
Sam has been involved in several industrial IoT projects and has been contributing to the open-source Arcus project, focusing on the Machine Learning aspects.

Sam is a frequent speaker at international events and is active in the Belgian and European Microsoft communities.

Sam is a Microsoft Azure MVP. As a technical advisor and investor at several cloud start-ups, he is involved in cloud-native architectures and focuses on Serverless technologies, the Internet of Things, and Artificial Intelligence. While he is cu... Show more

As a Microsoft Technical Evangelist, Mike is an Azure goto for ISV’s (independent software vendors). He’s been active in the IT industry for more than 20 years and has performed almost all types of job profiles, going from coaching and leading a team to architecting and systems design and training. Today he’s primarily into the Microsoft Cloud Platform and Application Lifecycle Management. He’s not a stranger to both dev and IT Pro topics, they even call him the perfect hybrid solution.

In January 2012 he became a crew member of AZUG, the Belgian Microsoft Azure User Group. As an active member he’s both involved in giving presentations and organizing events (like ITProceed, Techorama and Global Azure Bootcamp aka GAB). Mike was also a Microsoft Azure MVP (awarded 5 times since 2013, received his Fifth in July 2017! ) and Microsoft Azure Advisor.

Helping out in the community and introducing new & young people into the world of Microsoft and technology is also one of his passions.

As a Microsoft Technical Evangelist, Mike is an Azure goto for ISV’s (independent software vendors). He’s been active in the IT industry for more than 20 years and has performed almost all types of job profiles, going from coaching and leading a team... Show more

cybersecurity enthusiast, author, speaker and mathematician. Author of popular books:
MD MZ Malware Development Book (Github, 2022, 2024)
MALWILD: Malware in the Wild Book (Github, 2023)
Malware Development for Ethical Hackers Book: (Packt, 2024)
AIYA Mobile Malware Development Book (Github, 2025)
Malware Development for Ethical Hackers 2nd edition (Packt, 2026, in progress)
Author and tech reviewer at Packt.
Co founder of various cybersecurity research labs, author of many cybersecurity blogs, HVCK magazine
Malpedia contributor
Speaker at BlackHat, DEFCON, Security BSides, Arab Security Conference, Hack.lu, Standoff, etc conferences

cybersecurity enthusiast, author, speaker and mathematician. Author of popular books: MD MZ Malware Development Book (Github, 2022, 2024) MALWILD: Malware in the Wild Book (Github, 2023) Malware Development for Ethical Hackers Book: (Packt, 2024) ... Show more

Raphael Manke is a full-stack developer many years of experience in developing serverless applications in the AWS cloud. At Dash0 he is responsible for integrating AWS telemtry data into the platform.

Raphael Manke is a full-stack developer many years of experience in developing serverless applications in the AWS cloud. At Dash0 he is responsible for integrating AWS telemtry data into the platform. Show more

I'm a Cloud-Native enthusiast from Rahden, Germany, who is responsible for the overall cloud architecture at @mittwald, specialising in designing and building cloud platforms on OpenStack and Kubernetes, and developing product strategies around these platforms. In my free time, you might find me coding on one of my open source pet projects, building random stuff in my home woodworking shop, travelling, or reading a good classic sci-fi book.

I'm a Cloud-Native enthusiast from Rahden, Germany, who is responsible for the overall cloud architecture at @mittwald, specialising in designing and building cloud platforms on OpenStack and Kubernetes, and developing product strategies around these... Show more

I’m a Data Security & Microsoft 365 Consultant and Microsoft MVP at Rubicon, a leading Dutch consultancy firm. I’ve spent the last decade helping organizations tackle complex challenges around Governance, Adoption and Data Security with Microsoft Purview. My mission? To empower companies to protect their data and streamline collaboration in Microsoft 365, all while keeping governance and adoption at the forefront.

I’m a Data Security & Microsoft 365 Consultant and Microsoft MVP at Rubicon, a leading Dutch consultancy firm. I’ve spent the last decade helping organizations tackle complex challenges around Governance, Adoption and Data Security with Microsoft Pur... Show more

Mustapha is a passionate data professional with expertise in Google Cloud Platform, spanning data and analytics engineering, database engineering, and community engagement. His background allows him to bridge the gap between business objectives and technical solutions, designing, building, and securing efficient data processing systems. As a Data Engineer and Advocate, Mustapha is dedicated to empowering others to leverage data effectively and securely through their writing, speaking engagements, and online content.

Mustapha is a passionate data professional with expertise in Google Cloud Platform, spanning data and analytics engineering, database engineering, and community engagement. His background allows him to bridge the gap between business objectives and t... Show more

Dr. Cristian Schuszter holds a PhD in Systems Engineering with a focus on distributed fault-tolerant software architectures and machine-learning based failure prediction. In his day-to-day, he is somewhere between a Data and Full-stack Software Engineer, with a wide range of tech & job exposure both in academia and industry.

For the past 7 years he's been working with various teams in CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research). Currently he's focusing on the architectural directions of the CERN business computing group, with an emphasis on enterprise Java systems and UI.

Dr. Cristian Schuszter holds a PhD in Systems Engineering with a focus on distributed fault-tolerant software architectures and machine-learning based failure prediction. In his day-to-day, he is somewhere between a Data and Full-stack Software Engin... Show more

Interested in everything related to backend and distributed systems, both from an engineering and an academic perspective, I work mainly on Kubernetes and OpenShift environments: Creating, deploying and monitoring applications running on the cloud.

I also do some homelab'ing.

Interested in everything related to backend and distributed systems, both from an engineering and an academic perspective, I work mainly on Kubernetes and OpenShift environments: Creating, deploying and monitoring applications running on the cloud. ... Show more

My entire career has revolved around technology and my challenge to constantly keep up to date. I have never stopped learning and I will never stop. Learning gives me life.

🎯 I actively participate and engage in the SEO and digital marketing community, the Microsoft technology enthusiasts community and, up to the #WPdrama, in the WordPress community.

🗣️ Feel free to contact me if I can help you or if you think we can collaborate.

And besides all this, I am the proud father of Lukas 😍.

My entire career has revolved around technology and my challenge to constantly keep up to date. I have never stopped learning and I will never stop. Learning gives me life. 🎯 I actively participate and engage in the SEO and digital marketing comm... Show more

I'm a Principal OpenSearch Specialist Solutions Architect at AWS with 13+ years of search experience. I work closely with customers to help them migrate their workloads to the cloud and help existing customers fine-tune their clusters to achieve better performance and save on cost. As author of "The Definitive Guide to OpenSearch" - the first comprehensive OpenSearch book - I'm recognized as a thought leader in the OpenSearch community. I'm a prominent speaker and have presented at conferences such as OpenSearchCon America, AWS Summits, AWS re:Invent, and many more.

Before joining AWS, I helped various customers implement OpenSearch and Elasticsearch for their search and log analytics use cases across diverse industries. My deep expertise spans from architecture design to performance optimization, making me uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between complex technical concepts and practical implementation. When I'm not working, you can find me traveling and exploring new places. In short, I like doing Eat → Travel → Repeat.

I'm a Principal OpenSearch Specialist Solutions Architect at AWS with 13+ years of search experience. I work closely with customers to help them migrate their workloads to the cloud and help existing customers fine-tune their clusters to achieve bett... Show more

Matej is a Lead Java Engineer at Infinum where he is working on multiple projects. His primary focus is on designing data intensive systems on AWS. He started contributing to Open Source projects at the beginning of his career and is currently a Core Team Member on Spring Cloud AWS and the Lead developer on Spring Data DynamoDb which is currently in development. His love for open source is shown through his contributions to many projects such as Spring Cloud Config, Spring Boot, Dapr SDK, SDKman and many more.

Matej is a Lead Java Engineer at Infinum where he is working on multiple projects. His primary focus is on designing data intensive systems on AWS. He started contributing to Open Source projects at the beginning of his career and is currently a Core... Show more

Senior developer with +12 years of experience in Java/Kotlin enterprise systems. Specialized in distributed and scalable applications for banking and e-commerce.
Technical expertise: Modern architectures (microservices, CI/CD), Java, Kotlin, Spring (Boot, Security, Cloud), Hibernate/JPA, relational and NoSQL databases (PostgreSQL, Redis, MongoDB), and messaging (Kafka).

Passionate about automation and share knowledge on my blog: https://geovannycode.com

Senior developer with +12 years of experience in Java/Kotlin enterprise systems. Specialized in distributed and scalable applications for banking and e-commerce. Technical expertise: Modern architectures (microservices, CI/CD), Java, Kotlin, Spring ... Show more

Frank Lesniak is a Sr. Cybersecurity & Enterprise Technology Architect at West Monroe with nearly 20 years of experience leading consulting engagements involving Microsoft infrastructure technology. His expertise spans modern cloud platforms such as Azure, Microsoft 365, and Entra ID, as well as classic platforms such as Windows Server, Active Directory, and SQL Server. His recent focus has been on Microsoft platform cybersecurity and automating technical processes using PowerShell. In his role, Frank establishes technical project methodologies, leads teams, automates associated processes, and creates internal software products at West Monroe and in the open-source community.

Frank's versatility also includes:

- Microsoft 365
- Process automation, Windows/Windows Server administration, and configuration management (Intune, SCCM)
- Linux (Raspberry Pi OS, Ubuntu) and macOS (FreeBSD)
- Resilient systems, disaster recovery, virtualization, containers
- Federated authentication (OpenID Connect, OAuth2, SAML), public key infrastructure
- Industry experience: banking, finance, healthcare, high-tech/software, insurance, life sciences, manufacturing, public utilities, and more

At West Monroe, Frank leads the Workplace Collaboration (Modern Work) competency, heading a 45-member team specializing in:

- Executing M&A-related divestitures and mergers (efficiently migrating identities, email, documents, telephony, and workstations between environments)
- Building award-winning intranet and employee experience portals
- Fortifying Microsoft 365, Entra ID, Azure, and Windows endpoint security (including the Defender suite)
- Modernizing endpoint management with Microsoft's Modern Management framework (Intune, Windows Autopilot, JAMF for macOS, Defender for Endpoint)

Frank's role includes technical leadership through product development and presentations on PowerShell and identity/access management. He manages the Microsoft partnership and is an employee experience manager for the Technology & Experience practice.

In the community, Frank serves as the Vice President of DuPage Animal Friends (DAF), a non-profit supporting DuPage County Animal Services (DCAS). As DuPage County's sole open-admission animal shelter, DCAS depends on DAF for crucial care, specialized therapy, and community programs, given that it's not tax-funded. Frank also leads DAF's Technology Committee.

Engaged in the tech community, Frank frequently speaks at conferences and user groups, is a published author, and publishes open-source code.

Frank Lesniak is a Sr. Cybersecurity & Enterprise Technology Architect at West Monroe with nearly 20 years of experience leading consulting engagements involving Microsoft infrastructure technology. His expertise spans modern cloud platforms such as ... Show more

I'm a software engineer who enjoys solving problems and building cool things.
When I'm not working, I love soaking in the beauty of mountains and staying connected with awesome tech communities =)

I'm a software engineer who enjoys solving problems and building cool things. When I'm not working, I love soaking in the beauty of mountains and staying connected with awesome tech communities =) Show more

Jon is a Principal Consultant at Inspari, working with Solution Architecture and delivering Microsoft Fabric, Power BI & Power Platform solutions. He is passionate about Low-code development, and a huge believer in putting data analytics into the hands of the business user.

Jon is a Principal Consultant at Inspari, working with Solution Architecture and delivering Microsoft Fabric, Power BI & Power Platform solutions. He is passionate about Low-code development, and a huge believer in putting data analytics into the han... Show more

Erland Sommarskog is an independent consultant based in Stockholm. He has worked with SQL Server since 1991. He was first awarded SQL Server MVP in 2001, and he has been re-awarded every year since. His focus is on systems development with the SQL Server Database Engine and his passion is to help people to write better SQL Server applications.

Erland Sommarskog is an independent consultant based in Stockholm. He has worked with SQL Server since 1991. He was first awarded SQL Server MVP in 2001, and he has been re-awarded every year since. His focus is on systems development with the SQL Se... Show more

IT Pro working at Point Taken AS. My primary focus is Microsoft Security and IAM. I do migration projects, implementation of new services as well of supporting your organization with best practises within Information Security. I have more than 15 years experience in IT, ranging from support, operations, team management, project management and consulting serivces. I also do publick speaking and blogging.

IT Pro working at Point Taken AS. My primary focus is Microsoft Security and IAM. I do migration projects, implementation of new services as well of supporting your organization with best practises within Information Security. I have more than 15 yea... Show more

Diyar Saadi Ali is a formidable force in the realm of cybersecurity, renowned for their expertise in cybercrime investigations and their role as a certified SOC and malware analyst. With a laser-focused mission to decode and combat digital threats, Diyar approaches the complex world of cybersecurity with precision and unwavering dedication. At the core of their professional journey lies real-time security event monitoring a task Diyar executes with exceptional vigilance and expertise. As a respected MITRE ATT&CK Contributor, they have made invaluable contributions to the global cybersecurity community, sharing insights and strategies that help organizations bolster their defenses against evolving cyber threats. Diyar’s impact is further amplified by their role as the discoverer and owner of critical Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), including CVE-2024-25400 and CVE-2024-25399. These achievements underscore their commitment to identifying and addressing systemic vulnerabilities that could otherwise threaten digital ecosystems.

🎤 Speaking Engagements (Selected)

1-DeepSec 2024 – Firmware Forensics

2- Arab Cyber Security Conference

3- CyberSec Global 2025

4- CanSecWest 2025

5- SulyCyberCon

6- Nexus Club

7- Shellmates Club

8- Koya University – Softspace

9- UKH – Cyber Threat Hunting Seminar

10-Tishk University (Workshop Host) – Cyber Security Dept.

11- VulnCon

12- COSAC 2025

13- Blackhat MEA 2025

Diyar Saadi Ali is a formidable force in the realm of cybersecurity, renowned for their expertise in cybercrime investigations and their role as a certified SOC and malware analyst. With a laser-focused mission to decode and combat digital threats, D... Show more

I am Harshavardhan Bajoria founder of community named Devorld, Associate Product Manager @Unstop, GitHub Campus Expert, MLSA - Gold. I have cracked 7 Microsoft Azure Certifications: MCE, AI-102, DP-100, AI-900, DP-900, PL-900 and AZ-900. I am also Azure Developer Community lead and have been actively taking sessions, workshops on Microsoft Azure and GitHub products.

I am Harshavardhan Bajoria founder of community named Devorld, Associate Product Manager @Unstop, GitHub Campus Expert, MLSA - Gold. I have cracked 7 Microsoft Azure Certifications: MCE, AI-102, DP-100, AI-900, DP-900, PL-900 and AZ-900. I am also Az... Show more

Gerrit Grunwald is a software engineer that loves coding for around 40 years already. He is a true believer in open source and he is an active member of the Java community, where he founded and leads the Java User Group Münster (Germany), he is a JavaOne rockstar and a Java Champion. He is a speaker at conferences and user groups internationally and writes for several magazines.

Gerrit Grunwald is a software engineer that loves coding for around 40 years already. He is a true believer in open source and he is an active member of the Java community, where he founded and leads the Java User Group Münster (Germany), he is a Jav... Show more

Simar Preet Singh is a dynamic, motivated and result oriented professional with more than 7 years of experience in the Software Engineering industry and loves contributing to the Dev Community. His motto is "Thrive and Uplift". He is skilled in Node.js, Angular, Reactjs, Ionic, Capacitor, Nodejs and Firebase. Currently, he is working with Redaptive Inc. as a Software Engineer. He is also the organiser of GDG Jalandhar.

Simar Preet Singh is a dynamic, motivated and result oriented professional with more than 7 years of experience in the Software Engineering industry and loves contributing to the Dev Community. His motto is "Thrive and Uplift". He is skilled in Node.... Show more

Naci Simsek is a Senior Customer Success Technical Manager at Ververica with over 17 years of experience in IT and Telecom. He began his career as a Customer Support Engineer at Nortel Networks, advancing through roles as Software Engineer, Engineering Team Lead, Project Manager, and Solutions Architect at Huawei. Over nearly a decade, he specialized in customer-facing big data solutions as a Platform Engineer, BI Engineer, and Data Engineer. In his current position, he supports customers in leveraging Apache Flink for real-time data streaming across on-premises and cloud environments.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Ege University, an MBA from Bahcesehir University, and the PMP® certification.

Naci Simsek is a Senior Customer Success Technical Manager at Ververica with over 17 years of experience in IT and Telecom. He began his career as a Customer Support Engineer at Nortel Networks, advancing through roles as Software Engineer, Engineeri... Show more