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DevOps Society Meetup – Wednesday 1st October @6PM

Location: Zilch Offices, London - 111 Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1W 0SR

We’re excited to invite you to our next DevOps Society Meetup, hosted by Zilch in London. This event brings together the DevOps and cloud-native community for an evening of conversation, learning, and networking.

A huge thank you to Zilch for sponsoring this event, and for providing the venue, refreshments, and support!

Format of the Meetup:

6:00pm – 6:30pm — Networking on arrival, with pizza and drinks provided by Zilch 6:30pm – 7:10pm — First speakers will take to the stage 7:10pm – 7:20pm — Break for refreshments and networking 7:20pm – 8:00pm — Second speaker will take to the stage 8:00pm onwards — More networking at the venue and then at a nearby pub

Timings can vary depending on the length of the Q&A after each talk!

We are delighted to welcome three fantastic speakers to our event at Zilch, across two talks.

SPEAKERS 1 & 2 – Nick Gilbert & Sean Hederman

Nick Gilbert – DevOps Engineer III at Zilch

Nick Gilbert is a Senior DevOps Engineer with a decade of experience working across public and private cloud systems. He has worked extensively with CI/CD and immutable infrastructure, focusing on modernising on-premise solutions into cloud-native architectures. Since joining Zilch, Nick has enhanced system capabilities to shorten feedback loops, improve the developer experience, and increase the reliability of CI/CD pipelines.

Sean Hederman – CTO at Zilch

With nearly three decades of experience in technology delivery and leadership, Sean Hederman has been instrumental in shaping Zilch’s technological evolution as Chief Technology Officer. He previously held senior roles in technology and DevOps at leading organisations, gaining deep expertise in building and scaling enterprise-grade systems. At Zilch, Sean designed and built the company’s foundational technology and platforms, scaling the team from just a few engineers to more than 120 specialists across multiple disciplines and regions. Originally from South Africa and now based in London, Sean is a recognised thought leader in AI and a leading voice in software engineering, architecture, and DevSecOps.

Talk Title: ZOE and Zephyrs: An Overview of Our Journey to Ephemeral Environments at Zilch

Nick and Sean will take us through the architecture, challenges, and triumphs of establishing ephemeral environments at Zilch.

They’ll share insights into:

• How Kubernetes, ArgoCD, and AWS power ephemeral environments at scale, at Zilch.
• The organisational and technical hurdles they had to overcome
• The wins (and lessons learned) from adopting ephemeral environments in a fast-paced fintech environment

Expect a candid walkthrough of what it really takes to make ephemeral environments reliable, scalable, and developer-friendly.

SPEAKER 3 – Dhruv Parekh

Senior DevOps Engineer at EDF

Dhruv Parekh is a Senior DevOps Engineer at EDF, specialising in cloud engineering and automation. With over 4 years of experience in building scalable DevOps solutions, Dhruv focuses on driving automation strategies that go beyond the basics of infrastructure as code, bringing a holistic approach to engineering efficiency and business value. Dhruv is also a valued member of our community, holding the "Ambassador for Terraform" title!

Talk Title: Automating Beyond Terraform

When people hear DevOps automation, many think of Terraform plans and YAML pipelines. While powerful, they’re only part of the picture. In this talk, Dhruv explores what it means to automate beyond Terraform:

• Using Python to stitch together cross-cloud tasks and business logic Terraform can’t reach
• Building dashboards with Power BI to bring automation full circle, telling the story of your platform
• Thinking like a solution architect to design scalable, observable automations that deliver lasting value, not just quick fixes

By the end of this talk, you’ll see automation not just as code, but as a way to design the entire lifecycle of change, from idea to insight.

Please RSVP to book your spot. Space is limited, so it’s first come, first served! We look forward to seeing you all there.

Ben & Vytas – Co-organisers.

Are you a cybersecurity professional looking to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and make friends? Look no further! Join us for a special edition of the Berlin Cybersecurity Social hosted in collaboration with the Venture Café Berlin and the AI Ethics Action Hub for a fantastic evening of networking.

Agenda:

• 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM: Welcome
• 5:15 PM – 5:50 PM: Lightning Talk: AI Threat Modeling: how to bring the right mindset to detect and prevent AI risk - Iryna Schwindt In this talk, we'll explore the full spectrum of AI risks—not just security-related ones—and why understanding the application context is critical. You'll learn: - What are the types of AI risks (not only security risks) - Why AI application context matters - How to identify potential threats\, apply effective controls and guardrails - Cultivating the right mindset to detect and prevent AI risks *
• 5:50 PM - 6:30 PM: Panel: AI Meets Cybersecurity: Building Smarter, Safer Systems at Scale - Jose Quesada, Diana Waithanji, Ali Yazdani, Pranav Vattaparambil As AI rapidly integrates into every layer of digital infrastructure, the stakes for cybersecurity have never been higher. This panel brings together experts from across the security spectrum—ranging from DevSecOps and enterprise risk to cybersecurity strategy—to explore how AI is transforming threat detection, governance, and secure system design. We’ll dive into real-world use cases, emerging risks, and what it takes to build scalable, intelligent, and secure systems in an increasingly AI-driven world.
• 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Breakout Session: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: Ethics & Human-Centered Future *Featuring Azer Aliyev (speakinprivate.com), Gunay Kazimzade (Mercedes-Benz Consulting), and Justin Shenk (AI Salon Berlin), this fast-paced session brings together innovators, researchers, and tech leaders to explore how to build AI systems that protect privacy, bolster trust, and keep humans at the heart of digital transformation.

*This session is organised by the AI Ethics Action Hub

About the Speakers:

Iryna Schwindt is a Cybersecurity engineer currently at Vodafone and a co-author at the OWASP AI Exchange (https://owaspai.org/) project, contributing to the EU AI Act security standard and AI Red Teaming.

Jose Quesada is the founder and director of Data Science Retreat (DSR), an advanced ML bootcamp that has helped over 300 professionals land data science roles. With a PhD and 20+ years in machine learning, Jose brings a unique blend of technical depth and creative flair—he’s also a former photorealism artist. He has advised on impactful projects ranging from malaria diagnostics to sustainability-focused robotics.

Diana Waithanji is a Cybersecurity Engineer at SAP SE, with experience working across Europe and Africa. She is an advocate for data privacy as a fundamental human right and serves on two technical committees at the Kenya Bureau of Standards. Diana is also a board member at Nivishe Foundation, where she supports youth mental health through safe spaces. Her work bridges global standards, social impact, and cutting-edge security practices.

Ali Yazdani is a seasoned security professional with over a decade of experience spanning offensive security and secure development practices. Starting his career as a penetration tester, he now specializes in building scalable DevSecOps programs and embedding security into engineering workflows. Ali brings deep technical knowledge and a pragmatic approach to security culture. His mission is to empower teams to build safer software at scale and is currently a founder at Scandog.io

Pranav Vattaparambil is Chief Security Officer at Unosecur (https://www.unosecur.com/) as well as a security and product strategist with deep expertise in fintech. Formerly VP of Cybersecurity at the EU’s largest Banking-as-a-Service company, he also advises multiple startups on navigating security, risk, and go-to-market strategy. Pranav bridges the gap between technical execution and business impact, especially in regulated industries like banking and crypto. His focus is on helping companies build secure, scalable products from day one.

About Venture Café Berlin: Venture Café Berlin connects a community of innovators and entrepreneurs with free high-impact programming and events. Venture Café is a part of the CIC network, whose mission is to fix the world through innovation.

About Berlin Cybersecurity Social: This meetup is open to cybersecurity professionals of all levels, from beginners to experts. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your journey in the field, this event is the perfect opportunity to connect with others who share your passion for cybersecurity.

About the AI Ethics Action Hub: A global, interdisciplinary collective dedicated to advancing ethical, inclusive, and accountable AI. We believe technology should be designed to respecting human dignity, planetary well-being, and intergenerational justice.

📣 Exciting Announcement: AI Professionals Network Partners with TechEx! 📣

BONUS: Free GOLD Pass for Community Members!

TechEx North America Is Just 3 Weeks Away – Join Us in Santa Clara! June 4–5 \| Santa Clara Convention Center

Get ready for TechEx North America 2025 — the ultimate enterprise tech showcase, bringing together 8,000+ business leaders, IT professionals, engineers, and data experts across AI, Big Data, Cybersecurity, Intelligent Automation, Edge Computing, and more.

This multi-track conference features 250+ expert speakers from industry powerhouses including Starbucks, IBM, Capital One, PepsiCo, Walmart, and many more. The agenda is packed with real-world case studies and deep technical insights into how AI is transforming industries — from predictive analytics and generative AI to enterprise integration and automation.

🧠 Conference highlights include: ✅ Keynotes & panels from global enterprise leaders ✅ Practical sessions on AI, digital transformation, and automation ✅ Access to actionable insights, strategic roadmaps & innovations

💡 Plus – explore the free-to-attend exhibition with 200+ leading tech companies, from AI startups to major enterprise platforms. Get hands-on with the tools shaping the future of enterprise tech.

🎤 Featured Speakers Include: 🌟 Jaishankar Sundararaman – Senior Director of Engineering, Google 🌟 Taimur Rashid – Managing Director of GenAI Innovation & Delivery, AWS 🌟 Bruno Aziza – Group VP, Data, BI & AI, IBM 🌟 Jacqueline Karlin – Senior Director of AI Product, PayPal 🌟 Shardul Desai – Director of Enterprise Data Strategy, Bank of America 🌟 Alisson Sol – VP of Software Engineering, Capital One 🌟 Tanping Wang – Senior Director, ML and AI Development, Visa 🌟 Naresh Dulam – VP of Software Engineering, JPMorgan Chase 🌟 Rooshana Purnyn – Director of Data Architecture, Hyatt Hotels Corporation 🌟 Eleonore Fournier-Tombs – Head of Innovation, United Nations 🌟 Aishwarya Srinivasan – Head of AI Developer Relations, Fireworks AI 🌟 Maya Ackerman – Founder & CEO, WaveAI 🌟 Venkatesh Shivanna – Senior Technical Director, Electronic Arts (EA) 🌟 Morgan Brown – VP Product & Growth, Dropbox 🌟 Marat Valiullin – Head of AI/ML Platform Development, Ancestry 🌟 Tirthankar Lahiri – SVP, Data & AI Engines, Oracle 🌟 Animesh Singh – Executive Director, AI and Machine Learning Platform, LinkedIn

🎟️ Complimentary GOLD passes ($999 value) are available for our community members: JOIN OUR FREE COMMUNITY!

2 Days Hands-On Online Workshop: Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio Bootcamp Date: 29-30 May 2025, 9 AM to 5 PM Central Time Level: Beginners/Intermediate Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-on-azure-ai-foundry-and-copilot-studio-bootcamp-tickets-1267311596099?aff=oddtdtcreator Who Should Attend? This hands-on workshop is open to developers, senior software engineers, IT pros, architects, IT managers, citizen developers, technology product managers, IT leaders, enterprise architects, chief analytics officers, chief information officers, chief technology officers, and decision-makers interested in learning how AI Agents and Generative AI can help infuse artificial intelligence into next-generation apps and agents. Experience with C#, Python, or JavaScript is helpful but not required. You don't need prior knowledge of AI either. Although this isn't a data & analytics-focused workshop, data scientists, data stewards, and technically-minded data protection officers will also find it very valuable Description: With ChatGPT and other large language models, generative AI has captured the attention of global consumers, enterprises, and C-suite executives. AI has a significant role in the enterprise space and is evolving rapidly. Without understanding the concepts behind these advanced technologies, developers and administrators might find it challenging to assess the true impact of emerging tools and solutions. An AI agent is a powerful companion capable of managing a variety of interactions and tasks—from handling complex conversations to autonomously deciding the best actions based on instructions and context. Agents coordinate language models along with instructions, context, knowledge sources, topics, actions, inputs, and triggers to achieve your desired outcomes. Copilot Studio is a graphical, low-code tool designed for creating agents, including building automations with Power Automate and extending Microsoft 365 Copilot with your own enterprise data and scenarios. One standout feature of Copilot Studio is its ability to connect to other data sources through either prebuilt or custom plugins, as well as integration with Azure AI Foundry. This flexibility allows users to easily build sophisticated logic, ensuring that agent experiences are both powerful and intuitive. Azure AI Foundry is a unified AI platform that includes the Azure AI Foundry portal (formerly Azure AI Studio) and the Azure AI Foundry SDK—a unified SDK featuring pre-built app templates. This SDK gives developers easy access to popular models through a single interface, simplifies the integration of Azure AI into applications, and helps evaluate, debug, and improve application quality and safety throughout development, testing, and production. In this two-day virtual hands-on workshop, Microsoft AI and Business Applications MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer, Prashant G Bhoyar, will cover these topics in detail:

1. What are multimodal GenAI applications?
2. What are AI agents?
3. What are autonomous agents?
4. What are custom Copilots?
5. Introduction to Copilot Studio: Learn to create agents, build automations with Power Automate, and extend Microsoft 365 Copilot using enterprise data. Discover how to use prebuilt and custom plugins alongside Azure AI Foundry for powerful, intuitive agent experiences.
6. Azure AI Foundry: An in-depth overview of Azure AI Foundry.
7. Azure OpenAI Services: Explore these services, their architecture, and their role in the broader AI ecosystem.
8. Using models from DeepSeek, Llama, Hugging Face, and other open-source models via Azure AI Foundry.
9. Prompt engineering: An in-depth look at creating effective prompts, understanding their importance, and the factors influencing their performance.
10. Use cases and common architectures: Hands-on labs demonstrating real-world implementations.
11. How to evaluate use cases and determine ROI.
12. Azure OpenAI Service embedding models.
13. Customizing Azure OpenAI Services: Configuration to deployment tailored to specific business needs.
14. Deep dive into Azure OpenAI Services: A detailed look at popular models like o1, GPT, Ada, and DALL-E, discussing their unique features and ideal use cases.
15. Using Azure OpenAI Service to access company data.
16. Azure AI Services overview: Language, Speech, and Vision services and their real-world applications.
17. Conversational AI: Design, train, and refine AI capable of human-like interactions.
18. Azure AI Search: Creating advanced search experiences.
19. Document Intelligence Service: Extracting key-value pairs and table data from documents using machine learning.
20. Azure AI Agent Service: Feature-rich managed capabilities combining models, data, tools, and services for automating complex business processes.
21. Semantic Kernel: An open-source SDK for combining AI services (OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Hugging Face) with programming languages like C# and Python to create advanced AI applications.
22. Model Context Protocol ( MCP )
23. Responsible AI: Ethics and responsible practices in AI use.
24. Enterprise-level applications, Custom Copilots, and AI agents: Learn to develop scalable, multimodal applications using Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry, emphasizing industry requirements and best practices.

By the end of the workshop, you'll have practical experience building next-generation multimodal applications, Custom Copilots, and AI Agents using Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry. Workshop Resources: Access to Copilot Studio, Azure, and Azure OpenAI services (valued at USD 500) will be provided for hands-on labs, allowing you to build enterprise-grade multimodal applications and agents. However, you're encouraged to use your own Copilot Studio and Azure subscriptions if available. Attendee Workstation Requirements: You must bring your own computer (Windows or Mac) with:

• Camera, speakers, microphone, and a reliable internet connection. Tablets will not work for this workshop.
• A modern browser (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
• Access to www.azure.com and https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com.
• Nice to have is the ability to run C# 10 or Python code, using Visual Studio 2022, VSCode 1.66+, Visual Studio for Mac, Rider, or similar IDE.

This event is an open discussion around creating a collaborative and inclusive future in technology. We have a brilliant panel of 4 guests, who are all in leadership roles, and will be sharing their experiences.

This event is for everyone to come together and discuss allyship, inclusivity, and how we should treat each other in the wonderful world of technology.

There is a particular focus around DevOps and AI.

Huge thanks for Avanade for sponsoring this event, and to Civo Tech Junction for hosting! Massive thank you to Magda for co-organising too.

Format of the meetup event will be as follows:

6pm – 6:30pm - Networking on arrival coupled with some snacks provided by ReVybe IT and Avanade.

6:30pm - 7:10pm - Panel discussion

7:10pm -7:20pm - 10-minute break

7:20pm - 7:50pm - Q&A - We strongly encourage the audience to get involved in this!

7:50pm -8:50pm - Pizza, refreshments, and networking.

8:50pm - Event close - networking continues at "Angel London EC1", a GastroPub round the corner.

Session Abstract:

- Career growth in the DevOps space - Inclusivity in DevOps teams - Future of Women in DevOps - Challenges in AI Development - How to foster an inclusive culture within tech businesses - Personal experiences and advice - Why allyship is crucial in building an inclusive environment - Navigating leadership in tech as a women.

Panel Host:

Magdalene Amegashitsi - Data and AI Senior Manager @ Avanade

Magda is a multi-award winner and senior leader in Tech, helping Companies realise their Data ad AI ambitions by developing Strategies and driving impactful and complex digital and data transformations. She is an advocate for Women looking to build a career in Tech and values leadership greatly. Magda is a co-chair for the Women’s Employee Network across Avanade Europe and the Middle East. Furthermore, Magda is the Founder of the Global Queens Community, a Charity which aims to bridge the gap for the underrepresented and inspire women to discover the next best version of themselves.

Panelists:

#1 - Prathy Kamasani - Director @ Avanade

Prathy Kamasani, a Director at Avanade and 7X Microsoft MVP who specializes in Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and Azure data solutions. With extensive experience in MSBI and the Power BI platform, she crafts custom, high-quality BI systems that empower organizations to make informed decisions.

Her approach is both design-centric and user-focused, ensuring that her BI solutions are not only functional but also visually appealing. Prathy collaborates with clients across diverse sectors, helping them harness the power of data.

Beyond her professional role, Prathy is an active member of the BI community. She shares her insights through her blog, prathy.com, where she delves into topics related to Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and more. Her passion extends to community engagement, including participation in the London Fabric User Group and speaking at industry events like SQLBits, the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference, and Microsoft Business Applications Summit.

#2 - Valentina Vacca - Director of Technology

Valentina held senior leadership positions at several renowned organizations, including, 8x8, Currencycloud, Inmarsat, and Ladbrokes Coral. Her expertise in cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and enterprise architecture, combined with a deep understanding of companies' needs has made her a very effective technology leader

Beyond the technical acumen, Valentina has 10+years of experience in building and leading high-performing teams. She has a proven track record in coaching and developing talent, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and preparing the next generation of technology leaders.

#3 - Samer Naqvi - Principal Consultant @ GlobalLogic

Samer is an international speaker with over 16 years of comprehensive experience as a Test Architect, specializing in refining QA practices and empowering teams to achieve excellence through cutting-edge tools and methodologies. Beyond Samer's professional pursuits, she is deeply passionate about advocating for Women in Tech. Through speaking engagements at colleges, organizations, and prominent conferences, she actively raises awareness and motivates the next generation of young women to embrace and excel in the dynamic field of technology.

P.S. Please provide full name and email address for access to the Civo Tech Junction building

Address: First Floor, 32-37 Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4AW

Join us at the Capgemini Holborn Office February 7th for an evening of talks, food, and conversation with ML and AI industry pros.

Agenda

06:30pm - Doors open, food and drink served

07:00pm - Welcome

07:15pm - Henry Musto, PhD candidate at Goldsmiths University of London, "Artificial Intelligence in Alzheimer's modelling - Challenges and missteps"

07:55pm - Break

8:10pm - Jackson Gabbard, Cord "Why are embedding vectors so absurdly useful?"

8:50pm - Ruby Stoddart, Datasparq "Scalable Optimisation of a Dynamic Pricing Model"

09:00pm - Wrap up, drinks at The Sir Christopher Hatton

Our hosts require that we provide a list of all attendees, please ensure that you register with a name that matches your government issued ID or bank card: if you do not we cannot guarantee you entry to the building.

Please RSVP for the event well in advance if you plan to attend in person and unRSVP if you can no longer attend as limited spaces are available.

Live stream link - https://meet.google.com/ock-yrcg-ebk

Join us at the Daemon Paddington Clubhouse Wednesday December 6th for an evening of talks, food, and conversation with ML and AI industry pros.

Agenda

06:30pm - Doors open, food and drink served

07:00pm - Welcome

07:15pm - Damien Jade Duff, Daemon & Jenny Vega, AWS "Integrating Huggingface TGI and the latest Sagemaker features for fast, cheap, and generic inference and chat"

07:55pm - Break

08:10pm - Ben Linden & Jordan Plamer, Datasparq "Dynamic Allocated Seat Pricing Using Reinforcement Learning"

8:40pm - Lawrence Knight, Head of Health Data Science Vitality "What you need to know if you want to think about AGI"

8:50pm - Daniel DeBurgo, Daemon "Blog automation with ChatGPT"

09:00pm - Wrap up, drinks at The Bear

Our hosts require that we provide a list of all attendees, please ensure that you use your real name on your Meetup account otherwise you may be unable sign in at the venue.

**Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are unable to provide a live stream or recording of this Meetup**

Please RSVP for the event well in advance if you plan to attend in person and unRSVP if you can no longer attend as limited spaces are available.

Join us at J Sainsbury PLC on Wednesday 13th September for an evening of talks, food, and conversation with ML and AI industry pros.

Building security require that we provide a list of all attendees, please ensure that you use your real name on your Meetup account otherwise you may be unable sign in at the JS Sainsbury's Holborn office.

If you can't join us in person you can watch remotely via Google Meet or alternatively watch the recording on our YouTube channel (typically available within 48hrs of the event).

Please RSVP for the event well in advance if you plan to attend in person and unRSVP if you can no longer attend as limited spaces are available.

Agenda

06:30pm - Doors open, food and drink served

07:00pm - Welcome

07:05pm - Caspar Chater, Kew "Forest-Risk Commodity Traceability using AI"

07:45pm - Break

08:00pm - Daniel Hulme, Chief AI Officer at WPP "Rethinking AI and it's impact on Business and Society."

08:40pm - Daisy Riley, AWS "The Impact of Generative AI on Retail"

09:00pm - Wrap up

This event will be broadcast live via Google Meet, more details below

Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning for Enterprise #8 @ J Sainsbury PLC

Wednesday, 13 September · 7:00 – 9:00pm

Time zone: Europe/London

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: meet.google.com/uuy-sofy-wer

Join us at The Health Foundry on Wednesday 16th August for an evening of talks, food, and conversation with ML and AI industry pros. If you can't join us in person you can watch remotely via Google Meet or alternatively watch the recording on our YouTube channel (typically available within 48hrs of the event).

Please RSVP for the event well in advance if you plan to attend in person and unRSVP if you can no longer attend as limited spaces are available.

Agenda 06:30pm - Doors open, food and drink served 07:00pm - Welcome 07:05pm - Ben Gamble, Aiven "ML powered data matching to make real time decisions" 07:45pm - Break 08:00pm - Sha Ali,Elf Kare "Beyond the Hype - Tech for Good using practical AI" 08:40pm - Fran Knight, Daemon, "AI meets Neuroscience: would you let chatGPT read your mind?" 09:00pm - Wrap up

This event will be broadcast live via Google Meet, more details below Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning for Enterprise #8 @ The Health Foundry Wednesday, 16 August · 7:00 – 9:00pm Time zone: Europe/London Google Meet joining info Video call link: meet.google.com/uuy-sofy-wer