Hamish is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with a passion for efficient database & application deployments using DevOps methodologies.

He has formed his own company – Morph iT – based in Christchurch, New Zealand and provides consultancy services for many clients in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ
He has 20 years IT experience in managing and deploying large scale databases on SQL Server technologies. He has been managing SQL Server since SQL Server 2000 and pragmatic approaches to delivering business value to end users is his career passion.

Educating and helping others learn is a driver for Hamish and he is a User Group Leader, International speaker and a repeat guest lecturer at universities.

Hamish is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with a passion for efficient database & application deployments using DevOps methodologies. He has formed his own company – Morph iT – based in Christchurch, New Zealand and provides consultancy services for... Show more

Jerry Nixon is a Microsoft SQL Server Principal Product Manager on the Developer Experiences team, championing Data API builder. With more than two decades of experience, Jerry is an engineer at heart. He teaches Computer Science at university and speaks at events worldwide. Over the years, he has trained thousands of developers, but today, he focuses on software simplicity, intuitive tooling, and excellence in data-driven apps. You'll find him talking about quantum computing, design patterns, machine learning, and—on occasion—SQL Server, the finest of them all. He lives in Colorado, and while most of his days revolve around Outlook, Visual Studio, and online Docs, what he enjoys most is teaching his three daughters Star Trek character backstories and episode plots.

Jerry Nixon is a Microsoft SQL Server Principal Product Manager on the Developer Experiences team, championing Data API builder. With more than two decades of experience, Jerry is an engineer at heart. He teaches Computer Science at university and sp... Show more

I'm a passionate engineer, with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering innovative solutions.
My regular work centers on building reliable, scalable systems in Microsoft Azure and creating GenAI-powered solutions.

I love working in complex environments, collaborating with customers, leadership, and engineering teams to design solutions that provide value on both short- and long-term.
I regularly coach engineers and teams, helping both them and myself to grow.

Beyond engineering, I'm keen on sharing knowledge. I write blog posts, speak at conferences, user groups, and actively engage with the tech community.

I'm a passionate engineer, with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering innovative solutions. My regular work centers on building reliable, scalable systems in Microsoft Azure and creating GenAI-powered solutions. I love working in c... Show more

I started programming in VB when I was 6 taking advantage of my father’s strong passion for computer science. I’ve always dreamt to be an engineer and I’ve worn different “hats”: data scientist, data analyst, web developer, sysadmin… This gave me the opportunity to gain experience in the design and dev of solutions from scratch. During the day I’m an Enterprise Architect, while I love writing at night when I get a hot cup of tea!

I started programming in VB when I was 6 taking advantage of my father’s strong passion for computer science. I’ve always dreamt to be an engineer and I’ve worn different “hats”: data scientist, data analyst, web developer, sysadmin… This gave me the... 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

Ivan Šarić is a Senior Software Engineer at Revolut. He works on the expansion team helping open new markets and develop features that are specific to these markets. His work is focused on designing and developing Java Backend Microservices while maintaining high code quality through Domain Driven Design and Test Driven Development.
He previously worked as a freelance Technical Architect and Software Developer through his company Path Variable LLC. That endeavour laster for three years - from April 2021 until April 2024. He has over six years of experience in developing and designing software systems, mostly in the backend and DevOps domains, using technologies such as Java, Spring, MSSQL, React, Groovy, Jenkins, Docker, and more.
He holds an MA degree in Political Science and Government from Central European University, where he studied topics such as democracy, governance, and human rights. He is passionate about exploring different areas of science and technology, and is a minor contributor to the SpaCy NLP library. He is also a strong Linux and Open Source supporter, and a fluent speaker of English, Croatian, and German. He is motivated by solving complex problems, learning new skills, and creating value for his clients.

Ivan Šarić is a Senior Software Engineer at Revolut. He works on the expansion team helping open new markets and develop features that are specific to these markets. His work is focused on designing and developing Java Backend Microservices while mai... Show more

Andreas spent most of his professional life and a career of over 25 years integrating "backend" applications. First inside or between Enterprises and Startups directly, then - "in the cloud".
Before that, Andreas dabbled with Virtual Reality in the 90s. In 2013, he integrated an innovation focus into his work - from Kinect for Windows, Microsoft HoloLens, and Mixed Reality, to a strong focus on Applied Artificial Intelligence. Andreas told audiences years before ChatGPT to look at Generative AI.
He cannot stop talking about technology, which apparently some people like so Microsoft gave him the MVP award. Because he has shown leadership can advise C-levels and business, he also got accepted into the ranks of the Microsoft Regional Directors .
Andreas helps customers as a trusted advisor, external CTO and innovation consultant, he also produces exciting applications and solutions with a great team of skilled individuals.
He acts as CTO Applied AI for daenet.

Andreas spent most of his professional life and a career of over 25 years integrating "backend" applications. First inside or between Enterprises and Startups directly, then - "in the cloud". Before that, Andreas dabbled with Virtual Reality in the ... Show more

John's experience leading large technical teams in complex environments has made him a global expert in performance and scalability. John speaks at conferences around the world on database strategy and topics related to performance tuning, development, and cloud computing. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer, and former Microsoft MVP. He is the principal consultant and founder at Procure SQL.

John's experience leading large technical teams in complex environments has made him a global expert in performance and scalability. John speaks at conferences around the world on database strategy and topics related to performance tuning, developmen... Show more

I am an IT Systems Engineer focused on modernizing to scalable cloud-native solutions. My focus is endpoint management with a security and usability emphasis. I’m passionate about providing real-world solutions to everyday IT issues.

I am an IT Systems Engineer focused on modernizing to scalable cloud-native solutions. My focus is endpoint management with a security and usability emphasis. I’m passionate about providing real-world solutions to everyday IT issues. Show more

Scott Shearer is a Microsoft 365 evangelist, Microsoft MVP and MCT. Scott has over 35 years' experience in the IT industry implementing Microsoft products and technologies. He has held positions ranging from systems administrator to developer to trainer. Scott is a regular speaker at M365 community events and a top contributor to the Microsoft Power Automate Power Users Community site.

Scott Shearer is a Microsoft 365 evangelist, Microsoft MVP and MCT. Scott has over 35 years' experience in the IT industry implementing Microsoft products and technologies. He has held positions ranging from systems administrator to developer to trai... Show more

What do I do? I select, I select stars!

Data enthusiast with a mathematics background. Working with SQL Server for over 15 years. Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer with a couple of certificates sharing knowledge. Blogger at (bronowski.it).

Not long ago Poland Data Community member, now proud UK Data Platform active member and SotonDataCloud.org leader.

When not working or teaching, learns new things or attends various data/technical conferences and meetups.

Italian Calcio fan and traveller, amateur photographer catching anything that moves.

What do I do? I select, I select stars! Data enthusiast with a mathematics background. Working with SQL Server for over 15 years. Microsoft Data Platform MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer with a couple of certificates sharing knowledge. Blogger ... Show more

I have a Masters degree in Statistics and have over 20 years of experience in designing and developing datawarehouses and analytical solutions.

I am a co-organiser of the NZ Business Intelligence - Power BI User Group and Auckland Artificial Intelligence Meetups. I am also an international Speaker at various events and conferences.

Volunteering and sharing my knowledge is my passion. In my pass time I teach game development for primary school kids. I have started teaching about databases and Power BI to 10 -15 year old kids and amaze myself at the creativity the younger generation is capable of

I have a Masters degree in Statistics and have over 20 years of experience in designing and developing datawarehouses and analytical solutions. I am a co-organiser of the NZ Business Intelligence - Power BI User Group and Auckland Artificial In... Show more

Data Platform and Business Applications Microsoft MVP
Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that.

Data Platform and Business Applications Microsoft MVP Business solutions should solve business problems and the business should own the problem and the solution. I've spent my whole career empowering businesses to do that. Show more

Peter is a Principal Workplace Consultant / Architect and Microsoft Certified Trainer at SecMinds Solutions with a primary focus on the Microsoft Intune, Configuration Manager and Enterprise Mobility. Peter is awarded every year as a Security MVP (Microsoft Intune) since 2012 and as a Windows 365 MVP since 2024.

Peter writes blogs and sharing his knowledge on his blog https://ModernManagement.blog . Peter is also one of the founders and leads of the Workplace Ninja User Group Netherlands.

Author of Mastering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, Mastering System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and the just in 2017 released Mastering System Center Configuration Manager, books from Sybex and a book called: Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite, Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite: Planning and Implementation. Peter was one of the co-authors a book called Microsoft 365 Security for ITPros which was updated every month, for 2,5 years.

Peter speaks at local and international group meetings, conferences like Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft TechEd (Australia / New Zealand), IT/Dev Connections, Techmentor, Techorama Belgium, Midwest Management Summit (MMS), BriForum (London, Denver and Boston), TechDays Netherlands and ExpertsLive Netherlands

Peter is a Principal Workplace Consultant / Architect and Microsoft Certified Trainer at SecMinds Solutions with a primary focus on the Microsoft Intune, Configuration Manager and Enterprise Mobility. Peter is awarded every year as a Security MVP (Mi... Show more

Nikos Vourdas, also known as nickvourd or NCV, is a Senior Offensive Security Consultant based in the US. With over five years of professional experience, he has actively participated in various global Tiber-EU and iCAST Red Teaming engagements. Regardless of his young age, Nikos has conducted full Red Teaming operations to major clients across retail, banking, shipping, construction industries. He holds OSCE3, OSCP, OSWP, CRTL, CRTO and OASP certifications. Also, he has previously presented at DEF CON, DevSecCon, and various BSides events around the world. Nikos loves contributing to open-source projects and always starts his day at 05:00 AM with a refreshing jog while listening to French rap music.

Nikos Vourdas, also known as nickvourd or NCV, is a Senior Offensive Security Consultant based in the US. With over five years of professional experience, he has actively participated in various global Tiber-EU and iCAST Red Teaming engagements. Rega... 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

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

Merisa Lee is a seasoned security professional with over 27 years of experience in technology, including more than 15 years in cybersecurity. She has served as an engineer, people manager, and technical program manager, leading defensive operations and major incident response efforts at global companies such as Amazon, Meta, Cisco Meraki, DoorDash, Uber, Dell, and Okta.

Merisa specializes in building sustainable security programs, developing confident and empathetic leaders, and improving communication between security teams and executive stakeholders. Her experience across technical and leadership roles has shaped her practical approach to managing crises, fostering psychological safety, and guiding organizations toward long-term operational resilience.

Merisa Lee is a seasoned security professional with over 27 years of experience in technology, including more than 15 years in cybersecurity. She has served as an engineer, people manager, and technical program manager, leading defensive operations a... Show more

Rune have been working with databases for 30+ years, primarily in those years with Microsoft SQL Server. Throughout the years he has had many roles, from Developer, Database Designer, Solution Architect and all the way to Production Dba.
Today Rune works for Vivicta as a Principal Cloud Architect on the different cloud vendor's Data Platform Services.
Rune is very active in the Microsoft Data Platform community and have held a position on the board for the Norwegian user group and for the last 8 years he has been running the largest Microsoft Data Platform conference on Norwegian soil, SQLSaturday Oslo, now re-branded to Data Saturday Oslo.
In his spare time you can find Rune in the woods of his hometown Arendal enjoying his hobby, building tracks and riding singletrack bicycling.

Rune have been working with databases for 30+ years, primarily in those years with Microsoft SQL Server. Throughout the years he has had many roles, from Developer, Database Designer, Solution Architect and all the way to Production Dba. Today Rune ... Show more

Michael Hewitt leads the BI and Analytics team at Hunt Brothers Pizza, based in Nashville, TN. He enjoys data visualization and working with business users to help them leverage data more effectively in their daily jobs. In previous roles, Michael has delivered Microsoft based BI solutions in the healthcare, distribution, and manufacturing industries. He has also had the privilege of developing and delivering custom Power BI training for the Department of Defense. Outside of work, Michael is a husband, father of 3 children, is a leader in his local church, co-organizes the Nashville Power BI user group, and enjoys drumming, woodworking, and hiking.

Michael Hewitt leads the BI and Analytics team at Hunt Brothers Pizza, based in Nashville, TN. He enjoys data visualization and working with business users to help them leverage data more effectively in their daily jobs. In previous roles, Michael ha... Show more

Muralidharan Kathiresan is a passionate Apple platform developer and currently leads iOS development at Bally’s in London.

Over the years, Murali has built apps, led teams, and shared his experiences with the iOS community through SwiftPublished.in — a weekly blog and YouTube channel he created to share insights, tutorials, and trends in Swift development.

He’s also part of the SwiftLeeds Conference team, helping bring developers together to learn, collaborate, and celebrate the craft of building great apps.

Beyond code, he enjoys mentoring aspiring developers, running workshops, and exploring new ways to make learning iOS development more accessible. For Murali, writing clean, well-tested code isn’t just good practice — it’s a mindset that drives quality and creativity in everything he builds.

Muralidharan Kathiresan is a passionate Apple platform developer and currently leads iOS development at Bally’s in London. Over the years, Murali has built apps, led teams, and shared his experiences with the iOS community through SwiftPublished.i... Show more

Lars is a Principal Developer Advocate at Atlassian, an author, trainer, Microsoft Azure MVP, community leader, aspiring YouTube host and part time classic car collector. He is heavily involved in the space of cloud computing services, especially Azure, and is a published author, solution architect and writer for numerous publications. He has been a part of the software development community for the past 20 years and co-organises the DDD Melbourne community conference, organises developer events with Microsoft, and also runs a part time car restoration business. He has spoken at numerous technical events around the world and is an expert in Australian Outback Internet.

Lars is a Principal Developer Advocate at Atlassian, an author, trainer, Microsoft Azure MVP, community leader, aspiring YouTube host and part time classic car collector. He is heavily involved in the space of cloud computing services, especially Azu... Show more

Alan Cox is a Microsoft MVP for Copilot & Microsoft 365 and has been in IT for almost 30 years and consulting for 25. His passion is helping organizations achieve more from their Microsoft 365 investments. Alan currently is the Director of Microsoft Governance for Genworth Financial.

Alan Cox is a Microsoft MVP for Copilot & Microsoft 365 and has been in IT for almost 30 years and consulting for 25. His passion is helping organizations achieve more from their Microsoft 365 investments. Alan currently is the Director of Microsoft ... Show more

I am a passionate software developer originally from Portugal and currently based in Ireland. I specialize in building robust applications using .NET and am a dedicated advocate for open standards in feature management. As a maintainer for OpenFeature, I contribute to the project's .NET library, help shape its telemetry conventions and support efforts to standardize feature flagging across the industry.
I am committed to creating tools that simplify and enhance users’ daily lives, and I actively share my expertise through technical writing and community engagement.

I am a passionate software developer originally from Portugal and currently based in Ireland. I specialize in building robust applications using .NET and am a dedicated advocate for open standards in feature management. As a maintainer for OpenFeatur... 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

Ed Pollack is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with a passion for learning how Data Platforms work and sharing that knowledge with the community. His experiences in data architecture, database design, performance optimization, and data security are motivation for public speaking, writing, coding, and other community activities.

Ed has spoken at SQL Saturday events, SQL Bits, PASS Summit, EightKB, and many other regional and international events. Ed is the organizer of the Capital Area SQL Server Group and SQL Saturday Albany, as well as a co-organizer of SQL Saturday New York City, and Future Data Driven. He has published a number of books, including "Dynamic SQL: Applications, Performance, and Security in Microsoft SQL Server", "Expert Performance Indexing in Azure SQL and SQL Server 2022", and "Analytics Optimization with Columnstore Indexes in Microsoft SQL Server: Optimizing OLAP Workloads". Ed is also an active contributor of content to SimpleTalk.

In his free time, Ed enjoys video games, traveling, cooking exceptionally spicy foods, and hanging out with his amazing wife and sons.

Ed Pollack is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP with a passion for learning how Data Platforms work and sharing that knowledge with the community. His experiences in data architecture, database design, performance optimization, and data security are mot... Show more

Karol Skrzymowski is a seasoned Enterprise and Integration Architect with over a decade of dedicated experience in the field. Having started his career as a junior developer, he quickly developed a profound passion for Enterprise Application Integration (EAI).

His expertise primarily lies in API-Led Architecture, though he is equally passionate about Event-Driven Architecture (EDA). He has extensive experience with a range of integration platforms, including Tibco BusinessWorks, Boomi, WebMethods, Mulesoft, Azure Integration Services, and WSO2.

Driven by his enthusiasm for application integration, Karol actively contributes to the community by creating whitepapers and training materials to help others understand complex integration concepts. He is committed to sharing his knowledge and empowering others to navigate the intricacies of this exciting domain.

Karol Skrzymowski is a seasoned Enterprise and Integration Architect with over a decade of dedicated experience in the field. Having started his career as a junior developer, he quickly developed a profound passion for Enterprise Application Integrat... Show more

Tech enthusiast, passionate about technology in all its flavors.
Today: Maker specialized in Generative AI (Audiovisual + Agents + Automation + Technical + Speaker + Educator)
Yesterday: Software architect for large-scale enterprise applications.
The day before: Creator of 2D and 3D games and images, virtual reality (VR), and even visual effects (VFX).

Tech enthusiast, passionate about technology in all its flavors. Today: Maker specialized in Generative AI (Audiovisual + Agents + Automation + Technical + Speaker + Educator) Yesterday: Software architect for large-scale enterprise applications. ... Show more

Data Platform MVP, Power BI and Fabric enthusiastic, public speaker and passionate for everything which transforms data into action! Working at Macaw in the Netherlands as Solution Architect and Technical Evangelist in the Data Solutions & Insights team.

What I like the most? Sharing my thoughts, experience, best-practices and enthusiasm about Microsoft data platform with others. I mostly do this in public speaking at usergroups, conferences, customer presentations and end-user training. Besides that I also have my own blog which you can find at https://data-marc.com/

Data Platform MVP, Power BI and Fabric enthusiastic, public speaker and passionate for everything which transforms data into action! Working at Macaw in the Netherlands as Solution Architect and Technical Evangelist in the Data Solutions & Insights t... Show more

Alexander is an experienced technology leader and frontend expert with nearly 30 years of experience in technology development and leadership. Throughout his career, Alexander has led cross-functional teams in complex projects, combining technical expertise with strategic leadership. His leadership style values continuous learning, innovation, and fostering a culture that supports both professional growth and personal well-being.

Alexander is known for his innovative mindset and ability to challenge the status quo. He strongly believes that long-term value creation in the technology industry requires a combination of strategic thinking, professional competence, and a human-centric approach.

In addition to his technology career, he is a passionate advocate for open source and continuously explores emerging technologies.

When he's not coding or leading projects, Alexander is a bon vivant who loves cooking, whisky, and cigars – and he has a notorious love for coffee.

He is available as a speaker and advisor for those seeking to build sustainable, technology-driven organizations.

Alexander is an experienced technology leader and frontend expert with nearly 30 years of experience in technology development and leadership. Throughout his career, Alexander has led cross-functional teams in complex projects, combining technical ex... Show more

I am passionate about the data world with a background in data engineering and analytics. Throughout my career, I have worked with Microsoft products where, currently, I am focused on Microsoft Fabric.

I am passionate about the data world with a background in data engineering and analytics. Throughout my career, I have worked with Microsoft products where, currently, I am focused on Microsoft Fabric. Show more