I'm Rupesh Shirke, a dedicated professional with over 16 years of experience in Critical Infrastructure Security, currently based in Bakersfield, California. My journey in operational technology (OT) security has equipped me with a deep understanding of the importance of cybersecurity in protecting essential services and infrastructure.

Throughout my career, I've taken on various roles, excelling as an individual contributor and a leader managing teams across different countries. I am committed to defending critical infrastructures against the constantly evolving landscape of security threats, driven by my passion for safety and security.

As a mentor, I am devoted to guiding the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences to inspire young minds to develop skills in this vital field. My mentorship extends beyond the workplace, as I actively engage with aspiring cybersecurity experts to encourage their growth. As a writer and speaker, I frequently participate in conferences and workshops, discussing the latest cybersecurity trends, challenges, and best practices. My ability to break down complex concepts into easily understandable information has made me a highly sought-after speaker, appealing to newcomers and seasoned industry professionals.

As a co-founder of the ISC2 chapter, I am deeply involved in enhancing cybersecurity standards and practices. I lead a vibrant community focused on continuous learning and professional development, ensuring our members are well-informed about the fast-changing cybersecurity landscape.

My commitment to lifelong learning is reflected in my pursuit of a Ph.D. in cybersecurity, where I aim to develop innovative solutions for the industry's complex challenges. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am a global advisor to various organizations on critical security matters.

My work with the ISC2 Standards & Practice Unified Body of Knowledge Technical Advisory Panel allows me to collaborate with industry leaders, helping shape cybersecurity standards that impact organizations worldwide. I am also passionate about nurturing emerging talent. I serve as a scholarship reviewer and judge for esteemed organizations like ISACA, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and the Center for Cyber Safety and Education. In this capacity, I evaluate scholarship applications, supporting deserving candidates in advancing their education and careers in cybersecurity.

Community engagement is close to my heart. I actively participate in numerous nonprofit organizations, including the United Nations Association (USA), American Red Cross, Chevron Humankind, Code.org, Belief in Me, Houchin Blood Bank, Thriving Elements, and Upchieve, dedicating my time and expertise to uplift and empower others. As a respected figure in the STEM community, I also judge competitions at various levels, from county to international events. My broad expertise enables me to evaluate innovative projects and initiatives from aspiring scientists and engineers, providing constructive feedback and guidance. Through this role, I passionately promote innovation and excellence in STEM education, motivating students to pursue their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics aspirations.

Additionally, I am an IEEE Senior member and actively volunteer with the IEEE Computer Society, IEEE Control Systems Society, Security and Privacy, IEEE Computer Society Technical Community, and other groups. My contributions within IEEE include participation in the IEEE Women in Engineering podcast, reviewing EAB TryE STEM Grant award applications, engaging with IEEE NextGenCyberSec, and working on standards development for AI and reliable power systems.

I'm Rupesh Shirke, a dedicated professional with over 16 years of experience in Critical Infrastructure Security, currently based in Bakersfield, California. My journey in operational technology (OT) security has equipped me with a deep understanding... Show more

I am passionate about technology and its endless possibilities. With a strong customer-focused mindset, I design accessible, user-friendly, and maintainable solutions that drive real impact.

I am passionate about technology and its endless possibilities. With a strong customer-focused mindset, I design accessible, user-friendly, and maintainable solutions that drive real impact. Show more

Amanda thrives at the intersection of improvisation and organizational psychology to help transform organizations. She believes the vulnerability required to improvise and create something together on stage as a team can be translated to a professional group of any size. She uses the philosophy of improvisation and the power of "Yes, And" as a catalyst for positive change within an organization. Her active listening approach to coaching focuses on teaching individuals and teams the difference between listening to respond and listening to understand.

Amanda was the Founder/CEO of Dallas Comedy House (2009-2020), where she oversaw day to day operations of DCH. She was the founder and Executive Producer of the Dallas Comedy Festival (2009-2019). She's the Co-founder of ComedyHouse, a professional training and coaching service, and the co-author of the REALway® leadership training program. She's currently a Senior Managing Consultant-HR Strategic Business Partner at IBM Consulting.

Amanda received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and a Minor in Business Administration from Texas A&M University. She completed her Masters in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Harvard University in May 2024. She earned her Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard University and a Certificate in Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace from Cornell. Amanda is an Adjunct Professor at the SMU Cox School of Business MBA program where she teaches a Management course: Organizational Change and Innovation by Design. She's a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Dallas Cohort with the Dallas Regional Chamber, where she continued her commitment as the Leadership Consultant for 2019-2020 and a member of the 2025 Leadership Texas Cohort.

Amanda thrives at the intersection of improvisation and organizational psychology to help transform organizations. She believes the vulnerability required to improvise and create something together on stage as a team can be translated to a profession... Show more

Marlene Roth is responsible for the Enterprise and Software Architecture and at Lufthansa Technik. She strives to make software engineering a cutting-edge capability of organizations.
In her current role, she drives the digital Transformation of Lufthansa Technik by leveraging Conway’s Law and combining state-of-the-art architectures and technologies with effective team topologies.
Marlene is passionate about software engineering strategy, Big Tech and lifting heavy weights.

Marlene Roth is responsible for the Enterprise and Software Architecture and at Lufthansa Technik. She strives to make software engineering a cutting-edge capability of organizations. In her current role, she drives the digital Transformation of Luf... Show more

Gabby Spurling works at VMLY&R as a Technology Director, where she focuses on architecting client projects and building teams of technical professionals to implement them. She enjoys all elements of web development, from designing delightful user experiences to using services to solve business problems. The common thread across all of her work has been creative problem solving and learning from incredible teams.

Gabby Spurling works at VMLY&R as a Technology Director, where she focuses on architecting client projects and building teams of technical professionals to implement them. She enjoys all elements of web development, from designing delightful user exp... Show more

Einar W. Høst is an architect and developer at Norkart. He enjoys collaborative modelling, API design and computer programming. He has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Oslo.

Einar W. Høst is an architect and developer at Norkart. He enjoys collaborative modelling, API design and computer programming. He has a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Oslo. Show more

Founder& CEO, KoalaLab:Software supply chain security & Open-source Security

Previously:
Head, Data Sciences @ Housing.com
Quant@Citigroup

Founder& CEO, KoalaLab:Software supply chain security & Open-source Security Previously: Head, Data Sciences @ Housing.com Quant@Citigroup Show more

Siri Varma Vegiraju is a seasoned expert in healthcare, cloud computing, and security. Currently, he focuses on securing Azure Cloud workloads, leveraging his extensive experience in distributed systems and real-time streaming solutions. Prior to his current role, Siri contributed significantly to cloud observability platforms and multi-cloud environments. He has demonstrated his expertise through notable achievements in various competitive events and as a judge and technical reviewer for leading publications. Siri frequently speaks at industry conferences on topics related to Cloud and Security and holds a Masters Degree from University of Texas, Arlington with a specialization in Computer Science.

Siri Varma Vegiraju is a seasoned expert in healthcare, cloud computing, and security. Currently, he focuses on securing Azure Cloud workloads, leveraging his extensive experience in distributed systems and real-time streaming solutions. Prior to his... Show more

Als ervaren Adviseur bij OGD ict-diensten, breng ik meer dan 10 jaar ervaring op architectuur gebied en advies met me mee. Mijn passie ligt in het helpen van organisaties om hun doelen te bereiken door middel van op maat gemaakte advies en begeleiding. Ik ben gespecialiseerd in het ontwikkelen van efficiënte en effectieve oplossingen voor complexe vraagstukken en strategieën die niet alleen de prestaties verbeteren, maar ook de organisatie verder brengen.

Als ervaren Adviseur bij OGD ict-diensten, breng ik meer dan 10 jaar ervaring op architectuur gebied en advies met me mee. Mijn passie ligt in het helpen van organisaties om hun doelen te bereiken door middel van op maat gemaakte advies en begeleidin... Show more

Kevin is a freelance solution architect, Pluralsight author & consultant, living in Antwerp (Belgium). These days he's mainly focused on architecture & security for web and mobile applications, using .NET.

He's a Microsoft MVP, and a keen proponent of open-source software.

Also: wine.

Kevin is a freelance solution architect, Pluralsight author & consultant, living in Antwerp (Belgium). These days he's mainly focused on architecture & security for web and mobile applications, using .NET. He's a Microsoft MVP, and a keen propo... Show more

A former web developer turned architecture, infrastructure & security consultant. Also a remote work evangelist.

A former web developer turned architecture, infrastructure & security consultant. Also a remote work evangelist. Show more

Banani Mohapatra is a data science leader with 12+ years of experience in e-commerce, payments, and real estate, specializing in machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, and causal AI. She leads a global data science team at Walmart, driving subscription growth with multi-billion-dollar revenue impact. Her work includes Predictive Modeling for Measurement, LLM-powered governance frameworks, and adaptive GenAI solutions that personalize user experiences and increase engagement.

Banani Mohapatra is a data science leader with 12+ years of experience in e-commerce, payments, and real estate, specializing in machine learning, generative AI, LLMs, and causal AI. She leads a global data science team at Walmart, driving subscripti... Show more

Tasha Anspach is a distinguished consultant with a deep acumen in D365 Business Central & Power Platform. Drawing from her experience in Dynamics SL support, ISV assistance, and crafting solutions for multifaceted industry scenarios, Tasha guides businesses towards transformative success. She is not only a beacon of sales and technological expertise but also harbors a whimsical passion for unicorns, symbolizing her unique approach to business solutions. Tasha champions organizations to realize their fullest potential through technology.

Tasha Anspach is a distinguished consultant with a deep acumen in D365 Business Central & Power Platform. Drawing from her experience in Dynamics SL support, ISV assistance, and crafting solutions for multifaceted industry scenarios, Tasha guides bus... Show more

Andrew Block is a Distinguished Architect at Red Hat who works with organizations to adopt Open Source solutions with a focus on Cloud Native, security and emerging technologies. Andrew is the author of multiple technical publications and frequently shares his knowledge and experiences related to relevant industry topics. He is a recognized leader, maintainer and contributor within the Open Source community, and partners with organizations to help incorporate Open Source practices and their benefits.

Andrew Block is a Distinguished Architect at Red Hat who works with organizations to adopt Open Source solutions with a focus on Cloud Native, security and emerging technologies. Andrew is the author of multiple technical publications and frequently ... Show more

Kevin started developing software in 1985 at the age of 10 when his new Apple IIgs booted to a command prompt and he didn't know what else to do with it. He is now the president of a St. Louis, Missouri based development firm called ArchitectNow (www.architectnow.net). At ArchitectNow, Kevin and his team specialize in a wide variety of tools and technologies while delivering applications across a variety of cloud and mobile platforms. He is an avid Telecaster player, fly fisherman, home brewer, and gamer (including everything from retro arcade games, to board games, to role playing games). When not spending time on any of those hobbies he waits patiently for a second season of Firefly.

Kevin started developing software in 1985 at the age of 10 when his new Apple IIgs booted to a command prompt and he didn't know what else to do with it. He is now the president of a St. Louis, Missouri based development firm called ArchitectNow (w... Show more

Dan has been building software since before the dot-com days, responsible for the modernization, site reliability and greenfield projects, as well as responsible for hiring software and devops engineers at various stages and skill levels, from junior to architect level. He has built a career at TRIRIGA, IBM, Wipro, and now as the Global Director of Software for Arcadis, a leading design, consultancy, engineering, project and management services across every phase of asset creation and management for projects all around the world.

Dan has been building software since before the dot-com days, responsible for the modernization, site reliability and greenfield projects, as well as responsible for hiring software and devops engineers at various stages and skill levels, from junior... Show more

Highly skilled and seasoned Cloud Engineer with a decade of experience in the Information Technology sector, specializing in Cloud Innovations. My Career journey has been marked by a deep commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and a passion for leveraging cloud technologies to drive business innovation and efficiency.

Key Acheivements
- Pivotal in successful migration of critical applications to multi cloud platforms.
- Reduce organisational cloud cost in different companies around the world by 40- 60%.
- Design and implement scalable cloud solutions that align with global organizational goals.
- Led cross-functional teams through complex Azure migration project, achieving a seamless transition and realizing significant cost savings for the organizations.
- International speaker in the field of Technology (Scottish Summit, Microsoft Lagos, MCT MVP Summit Abuja, CloudVille and Microsoft NAUG in Manchester etc).
- Contributing to the professional development of my peers, old generations and up coming sharps.
- High community engagement rate on different Platforms eg DevOps, FinOps, Microsoft, Azure, AWS, GCP etc

Highly skilled and seasoned Cloud Engineer with a decade of experience in the Information Technology sector, specializing in Cloud Innovations. My Career journey has been marked by a deep commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and a passion f... Show more

Ronen Ariely is a senior consultant and architect, in the fields of data platform and application development. He has more than 15 years' experience in variety programming languages and technologies, leading development teams, and software companies, SQL & BI enterprise level solutions. Ronen is active in communities (aka pituach) in the field of Programming, SQL Server, and T-SQL. He serves as Moderator at MSDN and as one of the Microsoft TechNet WIKI communities' leaders. Ronen writes technical blogs, TechNet articles and blogs, and has been awarded as a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional 7 times.

Ronen Ariely is a senior consultant and architect, in the fields of data platform and application development. He has more than 15 years' experience in variety programming languages and technologies, leading development teams, and software companies,... Show more

Yedidya Rashi is a full-stack developer and DevOps enthusiast. He’s passionate about sharing practical, real-world advice that helps teams work smarter and achieve more with modern tools.

Yedidya Rashi is a full-stack developer and DevOps enthusiast. He’s passionate about sharing practical, real-world advice that helps teams work smarter and achieve more with modern tools. Show more

DeVante Pickering, a St. Croix native, is a Microsoft-certified technology leader with over a decade of experience delivering innovative solutions across startups, Fortune 50 companies, and the public sector. He began his career developing an EdTech startup in collaboration with his alma mater, UNCW. DeVante went on to contribute to major financial institutions, including participating in Wells Fargo's prestigious Emerging Talent Program and supporting initiatives at Barings (MassMutual) and Ally Lending, where he was an early engineer at a fintech startup later acquired by Ally. As Head of Technology at Disctopia, he spearheaded the platform’s expansion from music streaming into podcasts, audiobooks, and video.

Today, DeVante serves as President and Co-Founder of Pick 2 Solutions, where he leads the delivery of automated cloud solutions for small to mid-sized businesses and public sector organizations. He specializes in building secure, scalable infrastructure in highly regulated environments across finance, healthcare, and government. With deep expertise in cloud architecture and secure development practices, DeVante has also led distributed and offshore teams, driving digital transformation initiatives with precision and efficiency.

DeVante Pickering, a St. Croix native, is a Microsoft-certified technology leader with over a decade of experience delivering innovative solutions across startups, Fortune 50 companies, and the public sector. He began his career developing an EdTech ... Show more

David Rivera
Arquitecto de IT con más de 30 años de experiencia en el sector de Tecnología de la Información. Durante los últimos 20 años, me he especializado en arquitectura de infraestructura y gestión de proyectos, liderando iniciativas tecnológicas estratégicas y transformando entornos digitales con soluciones innovadoras. Actualmente, soy responsable del área de Sistemas en Compensa Capital Humano, donde impulso la eficiencia operativa y la optimización de infraestructura para garantizar el crecimiento y la evolución tecnológica de la empresa.

David Rivera Arquitecto de IT con más de 30 años de experiencia en el sector de Tecnología de la Información. Durante los últimos 20 años, me he especializado en arquitectura de infraestructura y gestión de proyectos, liderando iniciativas tecnológi... Show more

Industrial Engineer by profession with a Master’s in Project Management, and a firm believer in optimal project management and Agile methodologies. Since beginning my career in 2010, I have participated in various international projects, with three years in Panama as the most significant experience, along with shorter assignments in Latin America and Mauritania. Whether applying PMI® or Agile methodologies, depending on client needs, my blended profile grants me a comprehensive view of each framework, enabling the optimization of their use and drawing insights on what works best in different sectors and industries.

In addition to my Master’s in Project Management, I hold the following certifications, which support my candidacy as a speaker:

• SAFe® 6 Release Train Engineer (2024)
• Certified Blockchain Expert (2023)
• SAFe® 5 Product Manager / Product Owner (2022)
• SAFe® 5 Scrum Master (2020)
• Agile Coach Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2019)
• DevOps Culture Certified Trainer (2019)
• Product Owner Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2017)
• Scrum Master Profesional Certificate (CertiProf®) (2016)
• Project Manager Professional (PMI®) (2012)

Industrial Engineer by profession with a Master’s in Project Management, and a firm believer in optimal project management and Agile methodologies. Since beginning my career in 2010, I have participated in various international projects, with three y... Show more

With over three decades of software development experience, Tally remains passionate about crafting elegant solutions and robust architectures. As a software craftsman and technical architect, Tally champions software quality through comprehensive testing strategies and thoughtful system design.
A dedicated advocate for JavaScript and its ecosystem, Tally actively mentors other developers in building maintainable, well-tested applications.
Recognized as both a Playwright ambassador and Microsoft MVP, Tally continues to share expertise in testing, architecture, and engineering excellence with the broader development community.

See conference and meetups talks on https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwwCtx3xQxlVMZzS4oi2TafVRngQ1wF_0

With over three decades of software development experience, Tally remains passionate about crafting elegant solutions and robust architectures. As a software craftsman and technical architect, Tally champions software quality through comprehensive te... Show more

I really enjoy helping organizations grow their business with solutions based on more than 12 years of experience. Passionate about helping other professionals and exchanging ideas and practices. Experience in SMEs and business organizations with more than 400 users, presenter in local user groups for Dynamics, founder of Empowering-U, an organization that brings technology to students from different universities with free talks and workshops.

I really enjoy helping organizations grow their business with solutions based on more than 12 years of experience. Passionate about helping other professionals and exchanging ideas and practices. Experience in SMEs and business organizations with mor... Show more

Achint Satsangi is a Senior Developer at FINN.no with nearly 18 years of experience delivering scalable, high-performance systems across domains like finance, e-commerce, and logistics. At FINN, he works on communication systems that enable seamless user interactions across platforms, focusing on backend development using Java, Kotlin, Node.js, and infrastructure tools like Kafka, Redis, and Kubernetes. Achint is a strong advocate for clean code, test-driven development, and pragmatic engineering. A thoughtful AI skeptic and enthusiastic observer of its evolution, he brings a grounded perspective to how emerging technologies intersect with software development. Outside of work, he enjoys running, swimming, and gardening.

Achint Satsangi is a Senior Developer at FINN.no with nearly 18 years of experience delivering scalable, high-performance systems across domains like finance, e-commerce, and logistics. At FINN, he works on communication systems that enable seamless ... Show more

Eugene Chang is the embodiment of elegance and persuasive expertise in the forensic engineering landscape, akin to the Sherlock Holmes of this domain. With an illustrious 18-year career as a serial entrepreneur, he has pioneered groundbreaking ventures in construction, blockchain, and drone technology. Eugene's academic credentials are equally impressive, boasting an MBA from UIC, a Master of Science, and dual degrees in Law and Civil Engineering from Taiwan University.

Eugene Chang is the embodiment of elegance and persuasive expertise in the forensic engineering landscape, akin to the Sherlock Holmes of this domain. With an illustrious 18-year career as a serial entrepreneur, he has pioneered groundbreaking ventur... Show more

Dorice Horenstein, Oy to Joy Champion Catalyst, is an international speaker, Positive Intelligence® expert, and author of Choose to Be Your Own Champion and the best-selling Moments of the Heart. With infectious energy, humor, and practical wisdom, Dorice brings a wealth of experience from her 30-year background in educational leadership, equipping leaders and organizations with the mindset and tools to turn stress into strength and setbacks into opportunities. Her mission is to ignite resilience, boost productivity, and elevate leadership through transformative storytelling, actionable strategies, and a joy-filled approach. Whether on stage or in workshops, Dorice empowers people to uncover their inner champions, cultivate meaningful relationships, and lead with confidence, purpose, and joy.

Dorice Horenstein, Oy to Joy Champion Catalyst, is an international speaker, Positive Intelligence® expert, and author of Choose to Be Your Own Champion and the best-selling Moments of the Heart. With infectious energy, humor, and practical wisdom, D... Show more

As a Senior Consultant at AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, Mariusz helps AWS customers accelerate the adoption of Generative AI and take it into production. He has 19+ years of experience in IT and delivered many international projects. During his career Mariusz was a developer, tester, maintenance engineer, integration/delivery specialist and architect. He has been a speaker on multiple events and conferences, such as AWS Summit Amsterdam, AWS Cloud Day - Athens, Prague, Warsaw, Code Europe, AWS Pop-Up Hub or AWS DevDay.

As a Senior Consultant at AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, Mariusz helps AWS customers accelerate the adoption of Generative AI and take it into production. He has 19+ years of experience in IT and delivered many international projects. During hi... Show more

Thiago is an AWS Senior Migration and Modernization Solutions Architect renowned for his data and AI/ML expertise. His empathetic, equitable approach is a hallmark of his leadership, guiding teams at prominent organizations like ASML, KLM, and Nike. Thiago is at the vanguard of integrating fast flow and Team Topologies into data and AI/ML initiatives, emphasizing kindness and empathy in tech management.

Thiago is an AWS Senior Migration and Modernization Solutions Architect renowned for his data and AI/ML expertise. His empathetic, equitable approach is a hallmark of his leadership, guiding teams at prominent organizations like ASML, KLM, and Nike. ... Show more

Ivan Walllis is primarily responsible for working closely with customers worldwide as they adopt their code signing strategy as part of their cloud-native security strategy.

He is currently Senior Architect, Cloud Native
Solutions at Venafi (A CyberArk Company).

For more than 20+ years, Ivan has been a trusted advisor to some of the largest enterprise customers with PKI, code signing, SSH, TLS, and cryptographic systems, and is passionate about helping security teams acquire and implement machine identity management solutions.

Ivan is also an active contributor to the open-source community, especially around the Notary v2 and Sigstore projects.

Ivan Walllis is primarily responsible for working closely with customers worldwide as they adopt their code signing strategy as part of their cloud-native security strategy. He is currently Senior Architect, Cloud Native Solutions at Venafi (A Cy... Show more