Suzana Melo is a full-stack developer and a certified AWS Cloud Practitioner who transitioned into software development in her 40s, with no tech background. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and has over 20 years of experience. As a strong advocate of diversity and inclusion, she actively works on initiatives that empower women and underrepresented groups in tech, mentors juniors and graduates, and drives tech community enablement across APAC, Europe, and the Americas. Suzana is an AWS Community Builder, co-organizer of the AWS User Group Stockholm, AWS User Group Skåne, and AWS Women's User Group Sweden. She volunteers as a Social Media Specialist for Women in Tech Sweden, and owns Suzana Melo's Blog - Empowering Through Tech, where she writes about cloud, software development, career change, and soft skills.

Suzana Melo is a full-stack developer and a certified AWS Cloud Practitioner who transitioned into software development in her 40s, with no tech background. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and has over 20 years of experience. As a str... Show more

I'm a business solution architect with a passion for people, leadership and Microsoft. Currently, I work in Collaborative Apps & Platform engineering group managing our Customer Advocacy team. My team is filled with talented professionals who globally deliver best practice guidance via adoption.microsoft.com, Microsoft Learn, Community Learning Channel and our Partner community. Since the pandemic I've been able to leverage my background in video production to expand my work at Microsoft as an on-air host for our flagship shows, and as Executive Producer of our Community News Desk that creates original content like Mondays at Microsoft, Coffee in the Cloud and our Meet the Makers series.

We are the engineering team for both the Microsoft Tech Community and Global Community Initiatives and help to deliver technical skilling events around the globe produced both by Microsoft and a long list of public community producers. I'm passionate about creating opportunities for women in technology and am a founding member of the Women of Color Leadership Community and the Microsoft E+D Womens' Leadership Board.

I love to travel, cook and read science fiction which is increasingly becoming science fact. As a lifelong learner I'm constantly studying topics about the evolution of the human condition, the mind and our deeper desire for meaningful lives. Meaning for me comes from my husband and two rescue dogs, Cooper & Bandit.

Reach out via LinkedIn at https://linkedin.com/in/karuanagatimu and follow @MSFTAdoption on Twitter

I'm a business solution architect with a passion for people, leadership and Microsoft. Currently, I work in Collaborative Apps & Platform engineering group managing our Customer Advocacy team. My team is filled with talented professionals who glob... Show more

Lorenzo is a software engineer team leader at Register with a strong technical background in front-end and back-end development.
In his spare time, he is involved in the firenze.dev community, where he is the co-founder.
He enjoys learning new things and sharing them with others.

Lorenzo is a software engineer team leader at Register with a strong technical background in front-end and back-end development. In his spare time, he is involved in the firenze.dev community, where he is the co-founder. He enjoys learning new thin... Show more

Distinguished executive leader and renowned technical expert in AI, Machine Learning, and IoT. Leads cross-functional architectural teams to award-winning performance by developing strategic roadmaps and powering enterprise-wide projects. Serves as board member and advisor for multiple corporations delivering strategic guidance on product line developments and business solutions. Industry influencer and mastermind of strategic programs and innovations leading modernization efforts to alter the global IT landscape as Microsoft Regional Director.

HIGHLIGHTS

•Partnered with Microsoft to consult major corporations on Azure integrations; trained over 1K global employees and architects across US, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Australia.
•Invited into elite Microsoft Regional Director program as Top 1% of global SMEs...Maintains direct line of communication to Microsoft executive leaders and Office of the President for Technical and Business Influence.
•Inspired $200M marketing push for Microsoft Teams platform and led strategy for MS Azure Synapse design and release; catapulted competitive advantage over Zoom and AWS.
•Piloted multi-million-dollar architecture projects for organizations in US, Europe, and Australia to include DoD, NASA, Disney, HP, Johnson & Johnson, and international banking institutions.
•Authored 150-page IoT playbook for Microsoft; over 750K downloads across global audience.

Distinguished executive leader and renowned technical expert in AI, Machine Learning, and IoT. Leads cross-functional architectural teams to award-winning performance by developing strategic roadmaps and powering enterprise-wide projects. Serves as b... Show more

Lesley Cordero is currently a Staff Software Engineer, Tech Lead at The New York Times. She has spent the majority of her career on edtech teams as an engineer, including Google for Education and other edtech startups.

In her current role, she is focused on observability, shared platforms, and building excellent teams by setting reliability vision & strategy across The Times, improving our observability footprint, and cultivating culture that builds with the most vulnerable employees in mind first. She shows care for others by holding them accountable to the best versions of themselves – and by buying them the occasional bubble tea.

Lesley Cordero is currently a Staff Software Engineer, Tech Lead at The New York Times. She has spent the majority of her career on edtech teams as an engineer, including Google for Education and other edtech startups. In her current role, she is... Show more

Microsoft MVP actualmente como Arquitecto de soluciones TI con experiencia en proyectos de transformación digital, computo en la nube, e-commerce y automatización de procesos

Microsoft MVP actualmente como Arquitecto de soluciones TI con experiencia en proyectos de transformación digital, computo en la nube, e-commerce y automatización de procesos Show more

With a passion for innovative design and a keen eye for detail, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into beautifully simple visuals and seamless digital experiences. My work bridges the worlds of creative design and digital workplace strategy, helping brands not only tell compelling stories but also collaborate and communicate more effectively across platforms.

As a certified Registered Graphic Designer (RGD), I bring a dual focus to my professional services: visual storytelling and digital transformation. On the creative side, I lead content development, oversee brand management, and ensure cross-platform consistency across digital and print media. On the consulting side, I help organizations unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365, leveraging tools like SharePoint, Viva, Copilot and Teams to build connected, collaborative, and user-centered digital workplaces.

Whether I’m designing a brand identity or architecting a SharePoint intranet, my goal is the same: to create experiences that resonate, engage, and drive results. I thrive on collaboration with cross-functional teams, integrating diverse perspectives to deliver solutions that are as strategic as they are visually impactful.

What I love most is the opportunity to blend creativity with functionality. Crafting designs and digital environments that not only look great but also empower people to work smarter and communicate better.

With a passion for innovative design and a keen eye for detail, I specialize in transforming complex ideas into beautifully simple visuals and seamless digital experiences. My work bridges the worlds of creative design and digital workplace strategy,... Show more

Chez Ekité, je suis consultant en efficacité organisationnelle, proche du terrain. J'accompagne des organisations et des personnes à générer de l'impact, à créer de la valeur, à optimiser leur collaboration et leur amélioration continue. Je facilite la prise de recul grâce à une posture intègre.

Je connecte des entreprises de la tech et des experts talentueux grâce au cabinet de recrutement que j'ai cofondé avec mon associée Catherine, My Lovely Jobs.

Je suis engagé dans plusieurs initiatives associatives :

Nord Agile, pour promouvoir la démarche agile
Keikenchiba, pour favoriser les échanges autour de l’efficacité des organisations.

J’anime régulièrement un podcast et des talks pour partager ma passion pour la culture agile et la tech afin d'explorer de nombreuses thématiques associées à ces univers.

Chez Ekité, je suis consultant en efficacité organisationnelle, proche du terrain. J'accompagne des organisations et des personnes à générer de l'impact, à créer de la valeur, à optimiser leur collaboration et leur amélioration continue. Je facilite ... Show more

Brian Sam-Bodden is a Principal Applied AI Engineer at Redis as well as an author, instructor, speaker, developer advocate, open-source contributor, and Java Champion who has spent over thirty years crafting software systems. He holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University in computer science and physics and a Master's in Data Science from Harvard. Brian is a frequent speaker at user groups and conferences nationally and abroad and is the author of “Beginning POJOs”, co-author of the “Enterprise Java Development on a Budget”, and a contributor to O'Reilly's “97 Things Every Project Manager Should Know”.

Brian Sam-Bodden is a Principal Applied AI Engineer at Redis as well as an author, instructor, speaker, developer advocate, open-source contributor, and Java Champion who has spent over thirty years crafting software systems. He holds dual bachelor’s... Show more

Experienced software developer. Specialist in web technologies built with .NET platform, novice security engineer and leader of one-man teams.
Created projects for financial, e-commerce, travel & expense, energy and medical industry.
Big fan of work organization and automation. Believes that the processes and tools should be adapted to the situation instead of the opposite way.
Regularly performs at meetups and conferences. During weekends teaches new generation of programmers.
Free time spends on a shooting range, hiking in the forest or reading books.

Experienced software developer. Specialist in web technologies built with .NET platform, novice security engineer and leader of one-man teams. Created projects for financial, e-commerce, travel & expense, energy and medical industry. Big fan of w... Show more

An entertainer by nature and tech muse by trade, Daryl is a Seattle-based developer advocate with Google Open Source. A tech professional since 2005, his career has included roles at Amazon (Kindle for Android, Game Studios) and various teams at Google. Drawing on his experience in improv and four years as a professional wrestler, he brings a unique and creative approach to his work. Be sure to ask him about his time in the squared circle!

An entertainer by nature and tech muse by trade, Daryl is a Seattle-based developer advocate with Google Open Source. A tech professional since 2005, his career has included roles at Amazon (Kindle for Android, Game Studios) and various teams at Goog... Show more

I’m a CTO, Microsoft MVP and technology leader working within the RPA space, delivering software that enhances day-to-day processes.
I create videos about C# and .NET on YouTube and I am currently the Head of Software Development at NexBotix

I’m a CTO, Microsoft MVP and technology leader working within the RPA space, delivering software that enhances day-to-day processes. I create videos about C# and .NET on YouTube and I am currently the Head of Software Development at NexBotix Show more

Peter Örneholm is the CTO at Budi Auktioner, dedicated to helping companies reduce waste and embrace reuse through smart digital tools. With over 15 years of experience in Microsoft-related technologies, he leverages the power of cloud solutions like Azure to drive innovation and sustainability. Peter's mission is to create impactful solutions that enable businesses to adopt more circular and sustainable practices.

Peter Örneholm is the CTO at Budi Auktioner, dedicated to helping companies reduce waste and embrace reuse through smart digital tools. With over 15 years of experience in Microsoft-related technologies, he leverages the power of cloud solutions like... Show more

Driven by the mission to make people's lives easier, Tim Damen actively advocates for and builds a web that serves everyone equally. Tim is a frontend developer, web accessibility specialist, and engineering manager from Amsterdam, the Netherlands 🇳🇱. With over a decade of experience, primarily at major financial institutions, Tim has spoken at various conferences and meetups. He also hosts "focustrap," a podcast about digital accessibility.

Driven by the mission to make people's lives easier, Tim Damen actively advocates for and builds a web that serves everyone equally. Tim is a frontend developer, web accessibility specialist, and engineering manager from Amsterdam, the Netherlands 🇳... Show more

Mark Heckler, MBA is the Senior Director of Field Engineering at Moderne.
He has worked with key players in numerous industries and organizations to develop, deliver, and maintain critical capabilities securely, on time, and on budget. Mark is an open source contributor, author of Spring Boot: Up and Running (https://bit.ly/springbootbook), and a licensed, instrument-rated pilot.

Mark Heckler, MBA is the Senior Director of Field Engineering at Moderne. He has worked with key players in numerous industries and organizations to develop, deliver, and maintain critical capabilities securely, on time, and on budget. Mark is an o... Show more

Antonio is a seasoned Agile Coach with a wealth of experience in delivery management across the UK. With a foundation as a Java Developer early in his career, he excels in bridging communication gaps between development teams and business stakeholders. Having worked in diverse environments spanning three countries, Antonio has honed his ability to appreciate varying perspectives and cultivate cultural awareness
He usually speaks about Agile, DevOps and Mental Health across Europe and US.

Antonio is a seasoned Agile Coach with a wealth of experience in delivery management across the UK. With a foundation as a Java Developer early in his career, he excels in bridging communication gaps between development teams and business stakeholder... Show more

Todd is a developer who advocates and evangelizes about interactive video streaming at Twitch. He's been writing code since 2004 and is passionate about technology, code, and helping developers learn new things. As part of his role as a Developer Advocate, he writes demos to show other developers how to use tools, languages, frameworks, and technologies to solve the problems that they face every day. Todd has a background in writing and a love for theater, so he considers himself fortunate to have found a role that lets me use those skills and passions as part of his everyday routine. He is married to his best friend and lives in the North Georgia mountains with his 2 kids, 8 chickens, 2 dogs, and a cat. When he's not working, he loves to build miniature models, cook, hike, travel, play video games and tinker with electronics and microcontrollers.

Todd is a developer who advocates and evangelizes about interactive video streaming at Twitch. He's been writing code since 2004 and is passionate about technology, code, and helping developers learn new things. As part of his role as a Developer Adv... Show more

Talia Kohan (Talia Nassi) is a Staff Developer Advocate at Postman, helping developers build, test, and scale APIs and AI-powered applications. A global keynote speaker, she works closely with the developer community to share best practices in modern software development and foster innovation through practical education and collaboration.

Talia Kohan (Talia Nassi) is a Staff Developer Advocate at Postman, helping developers build, test, and scale APIs and AI-powered applications. A global keynote speaker, she works closely with the developer community to share best practices in modern... Show more

Chris Hoard is a two-time Microsoft Certified Trainer Regional Lead (MCT RL), four-time Dual MVP in the areas of Microsoft 365 Apps and Services (4) and Security (2) and is a qualified secondary school teacher (QTS). With over 14 years of cloud computing experience specialising in Provisioning, Professional Services and Architecture, and over a decade of that active in the field, he has built and leads a skilling and enablement program servicing over 800 Microsoft partners for Infinigate Cloud (Tier 2 CSP) throughout the UK, Ireland and the UAE. His focus areas include Microsoft 365, collaborative workloads such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva, the whole of the SCI stack including Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Purview and Microsoft Entra as well as elements of Azure such as DevOps. Outside of work, he is very active in the Microsoft Tech Community, blogs at microsoft365pro.co.uk and since 2019 has spoken at many international events including Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft Build, Microsoft Secure, the Microsoft MVP Summit, MCT Connect and the Modern Workplace Conference Paris. As the co-creator of Teams Nation and Metaverse One, he sits on the Microsoft Certifications Advisory Board and several feedback programs including Teams, Viva and Defender.

Chris Hoard is a two-time Microsoft Certified Trainer Regional Lead (MCT RL), four-time Dual MVP in the areas of Microsoft 365 Apps and Services (4) and Security (2) and is a qualified secondary school teacher (QTS). With over 14 years of cloud compu... Show more

After a decade in social work, Magali decided to change course and became a web developper. She tries to find a delicate balance between the technical aspects of the job (fun !), the creativity (fun too !) and trying to follow her ethics and change the culture of the industry (the less fun aspects of it anyway) by being an advocate and an activist. She recently chose to specialize in web accessibility by joining Access42.

She is co-founder and president of Compositech, an organization advocating for the inclusion of women and non-binary people in tech. She also is the founder and president of La Première Ligne, a feminist magazine created by tech women and non-binary people. She has a dog, Trufa and talks either way too much about her (according to people) or way not enough (according to herself).

After a decade in social work, Magali decided to change course and became a web developper. She tries to find a delicate balance between the technical aspects of the job (fun !), the creativity (fun too !) and trying to follow her ethics and change t... Show more

Grace Okubo uses strategic foresight to tackle complex problems for organisations.

Grace Okubo uses strategic foresight to tackle complex problems for organisations. Show more

Master of Business (Global Management & Marketing) (Honours)
Master of Applied Computing

With over six years of experience in cloud services, enterprise integration, and automation, I specialise in transforming ambiguous business challenges into practical, scalable solutions. My work sits at the intersection of technology and strategy, focusing on how AI, product development, and digital systems can reshape workflows and enhance decision-making.

I have a proven track record in designing seamless connections between complex systems—whether integrating platforms, redesigning processes, or improving the way information flows across an organisation. My approach blends deep technical understanding in Oracle technologies and cloud services with strong business insight, ensuring that the solutions we build are not only functional but genuinely meaningful for the people who rely on them.

I’m deeply guided by the belief that impactful technology should be quiet, intentional, and human-centred. Through writing and speaking, I explore how AI and modern product thinking are reshaping digital experiences and the future of work.

✍️ Substack: https://elaine1233blog.substack.com

🔗 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@elainehe-thinks

Master of Business (Global Management & Marketing) (Honours) Master of Applied Computing With over six years of experience in cloud services, enterprise integration, and automation, I specialise in transforming ambiguous business challenges into... Show more

James has been working in the Cloud and with Kubernetes for many years. He helped build a private cloud at GE Appliances, and moved into consulting migrating workloads to containers and Kubernetes for Enterprises. James is a Solution Architect with Isovalent at Cisco; where he helps companies navigate their adoption of Cilium. He also co-authored O'Reilly's Networking and Kubernetes.

James has been working in the Cloud and with Kubernetes for many years. He helped build a private cloud at GE Appliances, and moved into consulting migrating workloads to containers and Kubernetes for Enterprises. James is a Solution Architect with I... Show more

I’m a technical writer turned software developer. I’ve always had a knack for technical things so at some point I got interested in learning how to code. My first choice was Python. The knowledge of Python opened up new career possibilities for me and sped up the process of picking up other languages. After 8 years of writing technical documentation I became a documentation tools developer. I’m currently working at Guidewire Software where I take care of the tools and infrastructure that enables writers to deliver high quality docs and clients to get information they need when they need it. In my free time, I’m the producer and a co-host of a podcast about technical aspects of delivering software documentation - “Tech Writer codes” (in Polish). I’m also a co-admin of techwriter.pl, the only Polish site about technical communication. A few years ago I wrote a short guide for tech writers who want to start coding in Python - “Tech Writer codes in Python” (in Polish). Occassionally, I publish articles related to my work, for example: https://techwriterkoduje.pl/git-team

# Speaking experience
- CAKE Conf 2025, Kraków, Poland: "Git for docs: basics, not only for beginners" (workshop)
- Content Bytes meetup 2025, Kraków, Poland: "Shocking discovery: self-organized distributed teams actually exist!"
-Soap! Conference 2022, Kraków, Poland: “Is tech writing in Central and Eastern Europe growing? This talk contains only facts”
- TC World Conference 2020, online: “Semantic testing in DITA“
- Soap! Conference 2019, Kraków, Poland: “Doing docs like code in the real world – a case study” (recording)
- Lecture for students at Silesian University 2019, Sosnowiec, Poland: “Technical Writer profession”
- Annual Translators Conference 2019, Lublin, Poland: “Technical writer profession”
- MeetContent meetup 2017, Kraków, Poland: “Automate documentation publishing with Jenkins”
- “Career in IT” work fair 2017, Kraków, Poland: “Does a good application need documentation?”

I’m a technical writer turned software developer. I’ve always had a knack for technical things so at some point I got interested in learning how to code. My first choice was Python. The knowledge of Python opened up new career possibilities for me an... Show more

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs, tech startups, and tech innovation. She is the lead organizer for STL TechWeek.

Emily Hemingway is the Founding Executive Director of TechSTL and the Wedge Innovation Center. A 20-year veteran in building innovation ecosystems around the country, Emily is driving economic growth across the St. Louis metro by catalyzing tech jobs... Show more

Frederik started programming in 8th grade, starting out programming Lego Mindstorms and later learning Java and Python for personal Projects.

16 years later Frederik is a Fullstack-Developer with 8 years of professional experience - 4 of those in Kotlin, developing cloud native applications for multiple big customers in the automotive, logistics and energy sector.
During this time he experimented with a lot of different languages and frameworks, developing a broad understanding of the Software development landscape.
4 years ago he fell in love with Kotlin and has been using it as his primary language since.

In his free time he likes to explore programming langues and frameworks, meet and chat to other software enthusiasts and play with his cats.

Frederik started programming in 8th grade, starting out programming Lego Mindstorms and later learning Java and Python for personal Projects. 16 years later Frederik is a Fullstack-Developer with 8 years of professional experience - 4 of those in ... Show more

Chad Hester has more than 20 years of development experience and 10 years focused primarily on accessibility. He combines his experience with leadership of people, processes and projects together to provide you with expertise in implementing strategies to be a better developer for your company.

Chad Hester has more than 20 years of development experience and 10 years focused primarily on accessibility. He combines his experience with leadership of people, processes and projects together to provide you with expertise in implementing strategi... Show more

Thomas is Smart Automation Lead at Miragon. For over six years he has been helping organizations digitize their processes in a structured way, automate them with purpose, and transform them sustainably.
His experience spans classical process management, methodical training in BPM, and the architecture of complex automation solutions in large organizations. As a Solution Architect he designs scalable process architectures, integrates heterogeneous system landscapes, and ensures that functional and non-functional requirements receive the same attention as governance, compliance, and operations. He regularly shares his practical insights at conferences and industry events.

Thomas is Smart Automation Lead at Miragon. For over six years he has been helping organizations digitize their processes in a structured way, automate them with purpose, and transform them sustainably. His experience spans classical process managem... Show more

Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented Cyber security professional who spent more than 32 years in the IT sector, 22 years as a contractor and founder of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in Netherlands (Europe) and 12 years in the Cyber Security area as Ethical Hacker, Penetration tester, PKI/Cryptography specialist, Senior Security Engineer, Senior SOC Specialist. He has experience in a number of industries such as Finance and Banking, Energy, Government, Healthcare, Education and Consulting and a lot of international experience to work in teams and individually, in multiple countries and several cultures: France, Germany, UK, The Netherlands, Belgium, India & Dubai.

• Worked 7 + years for the European Power & Gas exchange market, Worked 5+ years in the IT & Cybersecurity Training & Education field – International (Dubai & India), Worked 3 + Years for the Government of The Netherlands – Division: Ministry of Justice and Security for customers as Custodial Institutions Agency (All Prison of NL) as Senior SOC Security Engineer & Penetration Tester, Worked 16 months as freelance Senior security engineer (Malware & DLP team) for ABN-AMRO Bank, Worked 14 months as freelance Senior PKI Cryptography specialist for Dutch Central Bank, Currently, since Oct 2022, working as freelance PKI & Cryptography Architect for Government of Defence in The Netherlands
• Hold 29 International cybersecurity valid certifications, such as (CEH) Ethical Hacker, RCCE, CCISO, CHFI, Microsoft Azure & Security SC-100, SC-200, AI-102, Mobile Forensics, cryptography & advanced penetration testing etc.
• He is certified Trainer for PECB, EC-Council & Rocheston Cybersecurity training.

• Technical & Keynote Speaker on Cybersecurity conferences on CYBERSEC Asia 2025, CYBERSEC Netherlands 2024, CyberWiseCon 2024, IT/CS University’s in Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bangalore, NMITCON 2023+2024, Bangalore, AsiaTech Singapore 2023, C0c0n 2022 by Kerala Police in India, Diversec-con, IEEE India, Rocheston Reinvent, Next Generation CyberMinds, Malaysia, Asia Conference etc.

• He has delivered (virtual) workshops, cybersecurity training, speaker on conferences and webinars for IT Professionals, colleges & universities in Netherlands, USA, Suriname, India, Ghana, Lithuania, Bangkok, Singapore & Malaysia.

Soenil Soebedar is a solution-oriented Cyber security professional who spent more than 32 years in the IT sector, 22 years as a contractor and founder of SOEBIT Cybersecurity in Netherlands (Europe) and 12 years in the Cyber Security area as Ethical ... Show more

Joel brings 25 years of global experience, supporting Fortune 500 companies and thousands of participants. He specializes in empowering leaders and teams with effective communication skills, fostering more impactful collaboration and motivation. His expertise lies in enabling individuals to authentically influence others towards deeper business relationships, fostering trust and enhancing engagement.

Joel thrives to lead engaging and interactive sessions based on 'Learn, Laugh, and Do!'

When you communicate effectively, people feel heard, seen, and understood- mutual respect is created, and you start connecting and unlocking the motivators for you and the other.

Drawing from his background as a former professional actor and improviser- Joel brings unique tips and activities for everyone to practice and implement.

You can listen to or watch Joel as the host of "The Great Canadian Leadership" and "This Feels Right" Podcasts and YouTube – interviewing leaders and experts on influencing and communications skills."

Joel brings 25 years of global experience, supporting Fortune 500 companies and thousands of participants. He specializes in empowering leaders and teams with effective communication skills, fostering more impactful collaboration and motivation. His ... Show more