.NET Conf 2024 MSDUG Community Edition - South Africa

30 November     Cape Town
16 November    Johannesburg
2025     Durban
120+
Attendees Per City
1
Day
2
Tracks
15+
Sessions

About .NET Conf 2024 - South Africa

Welcome to .NET Conf South Africa – where innovation meets technology in the heart of Africa! We are thrilled to bring together the brightest minds in the .NET ecosystem for a day filled with inspiration, learning, and collaboration.

With 2 tracks in each city and a lineup of 18 expert speakers, this conference is designed to provide a platform for learning, networking, and staying at the forefront of the rapidly evolving .NET landscape.

.NET 9 promises to be a game-changer, bringing cutting-edge technology to the fingertips of developers across South Africa. From enhanced performance and productivity to expanded capabilities in web, mobile, IoT and cloud development, .NET 9 is set to empower developers to create solutions that will shape the future of technology in our region.

We will feature news from the recent .NET Conf event and the release of .NET 9. This will include the new features of .NET 9, .NET MAUI, Blazor and much more!!!

So, get ready to be inspired, learn, and create at .NET Conf South Africa – where the power of .NET meets the heart of South Africa's tech community!

#DotNETConfSA #dotNET9Inspiration

Event Starts In:



Register now

This is a free event, you just need to register and join us.
Register For Johannesburg

Register For Cape Town

Coming soon (2025) for Durban

Schedule

08:30 - 09:00

Registration

Conference Area - Floor 1

09:00 - 9:45

Carike Botha
Matt Leibowitz
Allan Pead

Keynote - Welcome to .NET 9

Floor 1
Discover what's new in .NET 9 in this keynote session, where we'll unveil the latest features, enhancements, and tools shaping the future of .NET development. Join us as we explore improved performance, modernized frameworks, cross-platform capabilities, and more. Whether you're building web, mobile, or cloud-native solutions, .NET 9 brings exciting opportunities for developers to create powerful, scalable applications. Don't miss this opportunity to see .NET 9 in action and learn how it can transform your projects.

10:00 - 10:45

Neil Thompson

Unlocking Game Development: A Beginner's Journey with Unity and .NET

Floor 1
In this session, we’ll explore the exciting world of game development using Unity and .NET. Whether you’re new to coding or an experienced developer, this talk has something for everyone.
We’ll cover the basics of Unity, such as game objects, components, and scripting with C#. You’ll also see how .NET fits into the world of game development, making it easy to build and manage game logic. With a live demo, we’ll create a simple game from scratch, showcasing how to quickly bring your ideas to life. Along the way, we’ll share practical tips and best practices. Whether you’re just starting or expanding your skills, this session will give you the tools and knowledge to start building games with Unity and .NET.

11:00 - 11:45

Lemi Masalu

GenAI for Real-World Solutions: Turning Innovation into Impact

Floor 1
Discover how to harness the power of GenAI as a tool for solving real-world challenges across various industries. Learn practical applications and innovative use cases that demonstrate the transformative potential of GenAI in delivering smarter, more efficient solutions.

11:45 - 12:00

Matthew Leibowitz

Bridging Web and Native Worlds in .NET MAUI with HybridWebView

Floor 1
Discover how .NET MAUI’s new HybridWebView control opens up powerful possibilities for integrating web content directly within your cross-platform native apps. In this session, we’ll explore how to host and interact with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS content seamlessly inside .NET MAUI using C# and .NET. Learn how to integrate existing web applications, like a React JS app, into .NET MAUI while building backend logic with C#. We’ll dive into setting up the HybridWebView control in XAML, handling message passing between JavaScript and C#, and packaging everything into a single native app that’s ready for app stores. Whether you’re migrating an existing web app or adding dynamic content to a new MAUI app, this session will give you the skills to leverage HybridWebView for engaging, hybrid app experiences.

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break - Floor 1

Conference Area - Floor 1

13:00 - 13:45

Stian Le Roux

Simplifying API Chaos

Floor 1
Tired of wrangling inconsistent API configurations and manually writing clients for every service? Learn how to standardize once and reap the benefits everywhere. In this talk, we'll show you how to create shared utilities that effortlessly configure all your APIs in a uniform, reliable way. Then, we'll dive into the power of auto-generating API clients, making communication between your services fast, error-proof, and future-ready. Say goodbye to duplicated code and API headaches, and hello to a streamlined, scalable solution for modern API development!

14:00 - 14:45

Allan Pead

Connecting the Dots: .NET Meets IoT

Floor 1
In this session, we’ll explore how .NET is revolutionizing IoT with the Wilderness Labs Meadow Platform and the power of the nanoFramework. Meadow is an end-to-end IoT platform that allows you to run full .NET applications on microcontrollers with defense-grade security, while nanoFramework brings the flexibility of .NET to resource-constrained devices. Together, they provide a seamless way to build robust IoT solutions.
We’ll dive deep into:
  • How the Meadow F7 Microcontrollers enable powerful IoT applications
  • The role of nanoFramework in bringing .NET to microcontrollers with minimal resources
  • Using Meadow Project Lab to accelerate development
  • Integrating with Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers
  • Building apps with Meadow.Desktop + Simulator
  • Leveraging Meadow.Cloud for scalable IoT solutions
  • Exploring IoT Accelerators and the Meadow Hack Kit for hands-on experimentation


Join us to see how you can take full advantage of .NET, nanoFramework, and the Meadow Platform to bring your IoT ideas to life!

15:00 - 15:45

Someleze Diko

Build a chat bot using Azure OpenAI, Azure Cosmos DB and Blazor

Floor 1
This session will focus on how we can leverage the power of ChatGPT from Open AI to build an intelligent chat of our own. We will walk through how to combine Azure OpenAI, Azure Cosmos DB and Blazor to build an intelligent chat bot. You’ll learn how to build conversational memory, perform summarization, and build and test system prompts for various scenarios.

16:00 - 16:45

Veliswa Boya

What's the deal with prompt engineering?

Floor 1
Prompt engineering has become the talk of the town since the popularity of generative AI. In this talk, we discuss prompt engineering, best practices related to it and what can go wrong if we don't align to related best practices. We'll also look at a no-code app I built to learn about prompt engineering and these related best practices.

08:30 - 09:00

Registration

Conference Area - Floor 1

09:00 - 9:45

Carike Botha
Matt Leibowitz
Allan Pead

Keynote - Welcome to .NET 9

Floor 1
Discover what's new in .NET 9 in this keynote session, where we'll unveil the latest features, enhancements, and tools shaping the future of .NET development. Join us as we explore improved performance, modernized frameworks, cross-platform capabilities, and more. Whether you're building web, mobile, or cloud-native solutions, .NET 9 brings exciting opportunities for developers to create powerful, scalable applications. Don't miss this opportunity to see .NET 9 in action and learn how it can transform your projects.

10:00 - 10:45

Jacqui Muller
Rechard Preston

An Extension of the Power Platform Demo: Reducing Licenses & Converting Documents to PDF

Roof
Many Power Platform solutions that aim to solve document generation require some form of PDF generation which is often costed for at an additional cost. How can we get around that? Join the demo & we'll show you!

11:00 - 11:45

Niels Berglund

Incorporate AI Into Your .NET Applications

Roof
AI is transforming how we build applications, and .NET developers are in the perfect position to take advantage of it.
This session will explore practical ways to integrate AI into your .NET apps and " peek" under the hood at how GenAI works. Whether you’re a seasoned .NET developer or just getting started with AI, this talk will provide actionable insights and real-world examples to help you harness the power of AI without needing a PhD in data science. Let’s bring AI to life in your applications and unlock new possibilities! WARNING: the talk is mostly code!

11:45 - 12:00

Jacqui Muller

Extending the Power Platform Using Coded Solutions

Roof
The Power of the Power Platform can be extended using more coded solutions that lend themselves to better performance and more efficient processing which enables seamless user experience.

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break - Floor 1

Conference Area - Floor 1

13:00 - 13:45

Carike Botha

Build your own copilot using Teams AI library and .NET

Roof
Session Abstract: Unlock the potential of your .NET apps by crafting a custom copilot using Teams AI library, Teams Toolkit, and Azure OpenAI. In this session, you will learn how to integrate advanced AI capabilities with .NET, enhancing productivity and collaboration within Microsoft Teams. We'll explore how to leverage the Teams AI library for intelligent features, utilize the Teams Toolkit for streamlined development, and harness the power of Azure OpenAI to bring in Generative AI models. Join us to gain practical insights and skills to create impactful, AI-powered custom copilots tailored to your organization’s needs.

14:00 - 14:15

Alan Jacobs

Azure Linux on-Prem with Containers as a bridge from Prem to Cloud

Roof
In this concise but comprehensive session, we'll explore how containers can serve as an elegant bridge between on-premises Linux environments and Azure cloud services, creating a hybrid solution that combines the best of both worlds. The presentation will demonstrate practical strategies for organizations looking to modernize their infrastructure while maintaining existing on-premises investments. The goal of the session is to help Microsoft developers embrace WSL and the broader Microsoft ♥ Linux paradigm.
Key Topics:
  • Containerization as a stepping stone to cloud adoption
  • Managing hybrid Linux workloads across on-prem and Azure
  • Real-world migration patterns and anti-patterns
  • Cost optimization strategies for hybrid environments

15:00 - 15:45

Gomolemo Mohapi

Podcast Copilot with Azure OpenAI Service, .NET, and Copilot Studio

Roof
Let’s explore the integration of Azure OpenAI Service advanced AI models with .NET and Copilot Studio by creating a dynamic custom agent that takes in a podcast URL and quickly generates a social media image and post promoting the latest episode of that podcast.
In this session, we’ll be accomplishing this by:
  • Introducing the Azure OpenAI Service, describing the models and creating AI deployments
  • Creating a .NET API using the .NET Azure OpenAI SDK and creating a Custom Connector from Visual Studio
  • Building a custom agent with Copilot Studio that leverages the Azure OpenAI Service through the .NET API
Sounds good? Then why don’t you join me in discovering that building intelligent agents has never been easier with the Microsoft Cloud + AI.

16:00 - 16:45

Nichael Johnson

5 types of databases you should consider for you next project

Roof
For over 40 years, the relational database has been the de facto database architecture used by organizations large and small to power their applications. More recently, however, we have seen other alternatives emerge that could be better suited to the application requirements. This talk will look at 5 types of databases that may be better alternatives.

08:30 - 09:00

Registration

Reception - Foyer

09:00 - 09:45

Carike Botha
Matt Leibowitz
Allan Pead

Keynote - Welcome to .NET 9

Auditorium
Discover what's new in .NET 9 in this keynote session, where we'll unveil the latest features, enhancements, and tools shaping the future of .NET development. Join us as we explore improved performance, modernized frameworks, cross-platform capabilities, and more. Whether you're building web, mobile, or cloud-native solutions, .NET 9 brings exciting opportunities for developers to create powerful, scalable applications. Don't miss this opportunity to see .NET 9 in action and learn how it can transform your projects.

10:00 - 10:45

Matthew Leibowitz

Exploring What’s New in .NET 9: From C# 13 to Cloud-Ready Apps

Auditorium
Get ready to dive into the latest innovations in .NET 9! This session will walk through the exciting new features and enhancements that make .NET 9 a game-changer for developers across all application types—from web and mobile to cloud-native and embedded systems.
We’ll cover updates across the full .NET ecosystem, including C# 13 language enhancements, improved tooling, the latest runtime optimizations, and expanded cloud-native capabilities with .NET Aspire. Discover how .NET 9 refines cross-platform app development in .NET MAUI, streamlines APIs in ASP.NET Core, boosts ML.NET’s AI capabilities, and brings new options for handling JSON, LINQ, and cryptography. Join us as we explore how these updates help you build high-performance, versatile applications. With improvements like workload version management in the SDK, enhanced garbage collection, and the latest in priority queues and reflection APIs, .NET 9 offers even greater efficiency and control. Whether you’re interested in developing cloud-native, mobile, or web apps, this session will give you a comprehensive overview of everything .NET 9 brings to the table.

11:00 - 11:45

Niels Berglund

Incorporate AI Into Your .NET Applications

Auditorium
AI is transforming how we build applications, and .NET developers are in the perfect position to take advantage of it.
This session will explore practical ways to integrate AI into your .NET apps and " peek" under the hood at how GenAI works. Whether you’re a seasoned .NET developer or just getting started with AI, this talk will provide actionable insights and real-world examples to help you harness the power of AI without needing a PhD in data science. Let’s bring AI to life in your applications and unlock new possibilities! WARNING: the talk is mostly code!

11:45 - 12:00

Hennie Francis

Is .NET Aspire really that inspiring?

Auditorium
Join me as we dive into the world of .NET Aspire and explore whether it lives up to its inspiring reputation. As a software engineer navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape, I’ll share my insights on the event's impact on professional growth, networking, and skill enhancement. From real-world experiences to key takeaways, we’ll uncover how .NET Aspire can empower developers to embrace innovation and elevate their careers. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, let’s discover together if this platform is the spark that ignites your passion for .NET development!

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break

Food Truck - Outside

13:00 - 13:45

Someleze Diko

Build a chat bot using Azure OpenAI, Azure Cosmos DB and Blazor

Auditorium
This session will focus on how we can leverage the power of ChatGPT from Open AI to build an intelligent chat of our own. We will walk through how to combine Azure OpenAI, Azure Cosmos DB and Blazor to build an intelligent chat bot. You’ll learn how to build conversational memory, perform summarization, and build and test system prompts for various scenarios.

14:00 - 14:45

Wouter Grove

Platform Design as a wicked problem: Why we need to zoom out when we design and build.

Auditorium
Platform design is increasingly recognized as a wicked problem, characterized by complex, interconnected challenges that resist straightforward solutions. Designing and building scalable digital platforms is critical for driving innovation and economic growth in South Africa's rapidly evolving digital economy. This practically focused presentation argues for the need to "zoom out" in platform design—adopting a more holistic perspective that considers the broader socio-technical, economic, and environmental ecosystems within which platforms operate.

Based on research done over the last six years we will present the Emerging Digital Platform Design Lenses (EDP) as useful tool for practitioners. The presentation highlights the importance of co-creation, iterative design, and the consideration of unintended consequences, proposing a framework for platform designers to navigate the complexity. Ultimately, this session underscores that zooming out is not a luxury but a necessity for designing platforms that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, particularly in contexts where digital ecosystems intersect with significant societal and institutional disparities. This approach not only enhances platform success but also ensures long-term relevance and impact in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

15:00 - 15:45

Alistair Pugin

Implementing Zero Trust for Containers - A Best Practice Guide

Auditorium
Customers have been modernizing applications since the advent of Microservices and Serverless but have struggled with implementing Zero Trust at a container level.

In this session we uncover:
  • What Zero Trust Architecture is
  • How to secure your container infrastructure with Zero Trust
  • What options are available in Microsoft Azure for locking down containers
  • How to monitor and manage container security
    • By implementing Zero Trust best practices, companies are able to mitigate their cybersecurity risks and achieve a higher Cloud Security Posture state. Come along to this session to find out how.

16:00 - 16:45

Neil Thompson

Unlocking Game Development: A Beginner's Journey with Unity and .NET

Auditorium
In this session, we’ll explore the exciting world of game development using Unity and .NET. Whether you’re new to coding or an experienced developer, this talk has something for everyone.
We’ll cover the basics of Unity, such as game objects, components, and scripting with C#. You’ll also see how .NET fits into the world of game development, making it easy to build and manage game logic. With a live demo, we’ll create a simple game from scratch, showcasing how to quickly bring your ideas to life. Along the way, we’ll share practical tips and best practices. Whether you’re just starting or expanding your skills, this session will give you the tools and knowledge to start building games with Unity and .NET.

08:30 - 09:00

Registration

Reception - Foyer

09:00 - 09:45

Carike Botha
Matt Leibowitz
Allan Pead

Keynote - Welcome to .NET 9

Auditorium
Discover what's new in .NET 9 in this keynote session, where we'll unveil the latest features, enhancements, and tools shaping the future of .NET development. Join us as we explore improved performance, modernized frameworks, cross-platform capabilities, and more. Whether you're building web, mobile, or cloud-native solutions, .NET 9 brings exciting opportunities for developers to create powerful, scalable applications. Don't miss this opportunity to see .NET 9 in action and learn how it can transform your projects.

10:00 - 10:45

Tatenda Magondo

Strengthening Cloud Security with AWS: Best Practices and Hands-On

Lab
As organizations increasingly adopt cloud computing, robust security practices are critical to safeguard data and ensure compliance. In this presentation, we will explore AWS's comprehensive approach to cloud security, focusing on the shared responsibility model and the suite of security services available to users. Attendees will gain insights into securing their AWS environments through identity management, threat detection, network protection, and compliance measures.
The session includes a live demo showcasing how Amazon GuardDuty can detect and analyze suspicious activities, on EKS offering actionable insights into responding to potential threats. Whether you're new to cloud security or looking to deepen your understanding of AWS's capabilities, this presentation provides actionable guidance to enhance your organization's security posture.

11:00 - 11:45

Carike Botha

Build your own copilot using Teams AI library and .NET

Lab
Session Abstract: Unlock the potential of your .NET apps by crafting a custom copilot using Teams AI library, Teams Toolkit, and Azure OpenAI. In this session, you will learn how to integrate advanced AI capabilities with .NET, enhancing productivity and collaboration within Microsoft Teams. We'll explore how to leverage the Teams AI library for intelligent features, utilize the Teams Toolkit for streamlined development, and harness the power of Azure OpenAI to bring in Generative AI models. Join us to gain practical insights and skills to create impactful, AI-powered custom copilots tailored to your organization’s needs.

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch Break

Foyer

13:00 - 13:45

Andre La Grange

What's Old is New Again: .NET in a Multi-Polar Computing World

Lab
In an era where cloud platforms, containerization, and cross-platform development dominate the technological landscape, .NET has undergone a remarkable transformation from its Windows-centric origins to become a versatile, open-source platform powering solutions across the computing spectrum. This talk traces .NET's evolution from a proprietary Windows framework to its current incarnation as a modern, cloud-native platform that seamlessly bridges traditional enterprise development with emerging paradigms.
We'll explore how .NET's journey mirrors the broader shifts in the software development landscape: from monolithic applications to microservices, from on-premises to cloud-native, and from platform-specific to truly cross-platform development. We'll examine how recent innovations in .NET 8 and beyond are positioning the platform for the challenges of modern software development, including:
  • The convergence of different .NET flavors into a unified platform
  • How .NET's embrace of containerization and cloud-native principles has renewed its relevance
  • The platform's adoption of modern development patterns and tools
  • The impact of AI and machine learning integration through projects like ML.NET
Through practical examples and real-world scenarios, we'll demonstrate how .NET's evolution has made it uniquely suited for today's multi-polar computing world, where applications must seamlessly span mobile, cloud, edge, and traditional environments. Whether you're a seasoned .NET developer or new to the platform, this talk will provide valuable insights into how .NET's past has shaped its present and is informing its future in our increasingly diverse computing landscape.

14:00 - 14:45

Stian Le Roux

Simplifying API Chaos

Lab
Tired of wrangling inconsistent API configurations and manually writing clients for every service? Learn how to standardize once and reap the benefits everywhere. In this talk, we'll show you how to create shared utilities that effortlessly configure all your APIs in a uniform, reliable way. Then, we'll dive into the power of auto-generating API clients, making communication between your services fast, error-proof, and future-ready. Say goodbye to duplicated code and API headaches, and hello to a streamlined, scalable solution for modern API development!

15:00 - 15:45

Michael Johnson

5 types of databases you should consider for you next project

Lab
For over 40 years, the relational database has been the de facto database architecture used by organizations large and small to power their applications. More recently, however, we have seen other alternatives emerge that could be better suited to the application requirements. This talk will look at 5 types of databases that may be better alternatives.

16:00 - 16:45

Allan Pead

Connecting the Dots: .NET Meets IoT

Lab
In this session, we’ll explore how .NET is revolutionizing IoT with the Wilderness Labs Meadow Platform and the power of the nanoFramework. Meadow is an end-to-end IoT platform that allows you to run full .NET applications on microcontrollers with defense-grade security, while nanoFramework brings the flexibility of .NET to resource-constrained devices. Together, they provide a seamless way to build robust IoT solutions.
We’ll dive deep into:
  • How the Meadow F7 Microcontrollers enable powerful IoT applications
  • The role of nanoFramework in bringing .NET to microcontrollers with minimal resources
  • Using Meadow Project Lab to accelerate development
  • Integrating with Raspberry Pi and other single-board computers
  • Building apps with Meadow.Desktop + Simulator
  • Leveraging Meadow.Cloud for scalable IoT solutions
  • Exploring IoT Accelerators and the Meadow Hack Kit for hands-on experimentation


Join us to see how you can take full advantage of .NET, nanoFramework, and the Meadow Platform to bring your IoT ideas to life!
Register For Cape Town    Register For Johannesburg

Cape Town Speakers

The amazing lineup for Cape Town!
Alistair Pugin
Microsoft MVP | Speaker | Blogger | Podcaster | Founder @YMD
His current position as a Microsoft MVP in South Africa, provides him with a mechanism to assist companies with architecting their SharePoint environment using "best of breed", proven methodologies to foster innovation and growth through an ECM framework while incorporating a Knowledge Management strategy.
Allan Pead
CTO, Dev, Lecturer, MVP of IoT, Dev Technologies & Azure
Allan Pead is a CTO, architect and software developer with more than 20 years commercial experience. The love for programming started with writing that first BASIC program on a ZX Spectrum as a child.
Lemi Masalu
Information and Technology Student.
Lemi Masalu is a dynamic and passionate third-year ITM student with a keen interest in technology since the age of 15. With a natural curiosity and a drive for innovation, Lemi has been actively involved in exploring various facets of technology and its applications.
Niels Berglund
Software Architect Lead at Derivco, Microsoft Data Platform MVP
Niels is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and works as Software Architect Lead at Derivco in Durban, South Africa. He and his team design and develop highly performant iGaming systems. Apart from being a SQL Server "nerd," Niels now spends a lot of time in the real-time / stream processing world working with Kafka, ksqlDB, Flink, Azure Data Explorer, etc.
Matthew Leibowitz
Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft building .NET MAUI
I am a principal software engineer at Microsoft, working on .NET MAUI and SkiaSharp. My day job is where I build libraries and tools for cloud, web and mobile. I have been coding since I can first remember, and I don't think I will ever stop loving it.
Someleze Diko
Cloud Advocate, Microsoft
Someleze Diko is a Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, where he helps developers and data professionals to leverage the power of the cloud and AI for their projects. He is part of the Data Advocacy team, which focuses on empowering data communities with the latest tools and technologies for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. He is also an active speaker, blogger, and mentor, who shares his knowledge and experience with various audiences across Africa and beyond.
Stian Le Roux
Be Better: Tech enthusiast, mentor, and proud dad – Building the future one PR at a time
As a consultant at Entelect, I’m passionate about tech especially .NET and mentoring the next generation of developer. I believe in empowering others to push boundaries and constantly improve, both in tech and in life. Balancing family life as a proud dad, I strive to inspire those around me to "Be Better" every day, whether in coding or personal growth.
Michael Johnson
SQL User group lead and Microsoft data platform MVP
Michael Johnson, a Microsoft data platform MVP and leader of the Johannesburg SQL User Group, is a business intelligence consultant at SQLSA. Michal regularly presents at many of the local user groups and SQL Saturday events in South Africa.
Hennie Francis
Solutions Architect | Principal Engineer | AWS & Microsoft Certified
Hennie Francis is a highly experienced Principal Engineer and Solutions Architect. He also has his own technology startup, dotcore Solutions. With over 18 years of extensive commercial experience, his journey reflects a remarkable fusion of innovation and expertise.
Carike Botha
(Carike_B) iSolve Business Solutions, Software Development Consultant
Power Platform enthusiast, a C# developer, who can build things in K2, and a BIG Disney fan...Yes, musicals if you must know.
Neil Thompson
Managing consultant at Accso
I see myself as a full-stack developer. I enjoy both front and back end work. in my free time I always play with game development and other small applications.
Andrew La Grange
Co-Founder & Director @ Full Stack | Bespoke Software Development
I have spent two decades working in the technology sectors of finance, media and performance marketing. I have led development projects across the African continent and around the globe integrating with systems from blue chips such as Sanlam, Diageo, and Bloomberg amongst others.
Wouter Grove
UWC Future-Innovation Lab
Wouter is the Western Cape CoLab Coordinator and Manager of the UWC Samsung Future-Innovation Lab. The Future-Innovation Lab is a multi-year software development and digital social innovation skills development programme funded by Samsung and hosted by the Office of the Deputy ViceChancellor: Research & Innovation at UWC.
Wouter has a burning passion to understand better how fast evolving digital technologies, specifically digital platforms, impact society, social inclusion and democratic governance. He finds that working in the inspiring CoLab national and international ecosystem provides opportunities to engage with these issues through a multi-disciplinary lens and build research-driven interventions to contribute to inclusive digital and social innovation.
Wouter has lectured in various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Information Systems. His research interests include digital inclusion, knowledge management, inclusive innovation, designed serendipity, games in civic engagement, game-based learning and leadership development. He started numerous businesses and worked in higher education, management consulting, risk management and finance, as well as with various technology start-ups.
He holds a joint PhD awarded by UWC (PhD in Information Systems) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Doctor of Media and Communication Studies).
Tatenda Magondo
Cyber Security Enthusiast
Cloud Engineer with 3 years of experience in system administration, deploying and monitoring IT infrastructure and applications across multiple platforms (Linux, Windows) and in the cloud (AWS). Strong perseverance and diligence towards challenging goals and possess good communication skills, together with the ability to quickly learn and adapt.

Johannesburg Speakers

Come join us and learn even more about .NET in Johannesburg!
Allan Pead
CTO, Dev, Lecturer, MVP of IoT, Dev Technologies & Azure
Allan Pead is a CTO, architect and software developer with more than 20 years commercial experience. The love for programming started with writing that first BASIC program on a ZX Spectrum as a child.
Neil Thompson
Managing consultant at Accso
I see myself as a full-stack developer. I enjoy both front and back end work. in my free time I always play with game development and other small applications.
Rechard Preston
Power Platform Developer, UiPath Certified
Automation Developer with expertise in Power Platform, UiPath RPA, Nintex Cloud and IoT systems. Skilled in process automation, solution architecture, and system analysis. Passionate about building motion systems and electronic projects. Strong problem-solving abilities and excellent interpersonal skills.
Stian Le Roux
Be Better: Tech enthusiast, mentor, and proud dad – Building the future one PR at a time
As a consultant at Entelect, I’m passionate about tech especially .NET and mentoring the next generation of developer. I believe in empowering others to push boundaries and constantly improve, both in tech and in life. Balancing family life as a proud dad, I strive to inspire those around me to "Be Better" every day, whether in coding or personal growth.
Gomolemo Mohapi
Cloud Advocate at Microsoft.
Gomolemo is a young South African who is determined to make a long-lasting impact on the world through technology. A .NET developer with a history of creating written programming tutorials for university students and conducting multiple coding workshops, hackathons and speaking at various conferences across the globe. Gomolemo eventually fell in love with the Power Platform, because it was a low-code platform which gave way for him to empower and upskill not just those with a technical background, but anyone from any industry who was looking to learn how to build applications.
Jacqui Muller
Changing the world one solution at a time
Passionate about automation and building a business to support clients on their digitisation/optimisation journeys while working with the youth in preparation for their entry into industry.
Someleze Diko
Cloud Advocate, Microsoft
Someleze Diko is a Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, where he helps developers and data professionals to leverage the power of the cloud and AI for their projects. He is part of the Data Advocacy team, which focuses on empowering data communities with the latest tools and technologies for data analysis, visualization, and machine learning. He is also an active speaker, blogger, and mentor, who shares his knowledge and experience with various audiences across Africa and beyond.
Veliswa Boya
Developer Advocate at AWS
I am a Senior Developer Advocate working especially with - but not limited to - developers in the sub-Saharan Africa region. Formerly an AWS Community Hero - first woman out of Africa, to be named an AWS Hero. My tech background includes software developer, business and systems analysis, solutions architecture and cloud engineering. I love working with those who are new to tech in general - and currently focusing on those who are new to AWS.
Michael Johnson
SQL User group lead and Microsoft data platform MVP
Michael Johnson, a Microsoft data platform MVP and leader of the Johannesburg SQL User Group, is a business intelligence consultant at SQLSA. Michal regularly presents at many of the local user groups and SQL Saturday events in South Africa.
Matthew Leibowitz
Principal Software Engineer at Microsoft building .NET MAUI
I am a principal software engineer at Microsoft, working on .NET MAUI and SkiaSharp. My day job is where I build libraries and tools for cloud, web and mobile. I have been coding since I can first remember, and I don't think I will ever stop loving it.
Lemi Masalu
Information and Technology Student
 Lemi Masalu is a dynamic and passionate third-year ITM student with a keen interest in technology since the age of 15. With a natural curiosity and a drive for innovation, Lemi has been actively involved in exploring various facets of technology and its applications.
Niels Berglund
Software Architect Lead at Derivco, Microsoft Data Platform MVP
Niels is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP and works as Software Architect Lead at Derivco in Durban, South Africa. He and his team design and develop highly performant iGaming systems. Apart from being a SQL Server "nerd," Niels now spends a lot of time in the real-time / stream processing world working with Kafka, ksqlDB, Flink, Azure Data Explorer, etc.
Carike Botha
(Carike_B) iSolve Business Solutions, Software Development Consultant
Power Platform enthusiast, a C# developer, who can build things in K2, and a BIG Disney fan...Yes, musicals if you must know.
Alan Jacobs
Director | Technologist | DevOps | Retro Gamer
Alan Jacobs is a technologist with 15+ years of experience in DevOps, with hopes of driving innovation and transformation within the IT industry. He has a deep fascination for exploring new technologies, with a potential to reshape industries. Constantly seeking opportunities to learn, adapt, and innovate, embracing the ever-changing technological landscape with enthusiasm. A retro gamer when he gets the moment, and full time dad when the moment passes.

Sponsors

This event would not be possible without the help of our sposors.

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Cape Town Venue

Univeristy of the Western Cape

Robert Sobukwe Rd, Bellville, Cape Town, 7535





Parking

  • Parking is opposite the Samsung Future Innovation Lab Building.
  • Entering from the UWC Robert Sobukwe entrance: Take first left and follow the road (which bends right). Life Sciences building will be on your left. At the end of the road the parking area will be in front of you.
    If you see a BrewDubs truck and bright yellow building labelled Samsung Future Innovation Lab, you have found the parking.
    There will also be signage showing where to go.
    Registration will be in the foyer of the CAMS building. This is next to the Samsung Future Innovation Lab.



Catering

  • Please come early as ONLY the first 120 attendees will receive Food Vouchers for lunch.
  • There will also be additional food and beverages for sale during the day at the BrewDubs

    BrewDubs Coffee and Tea
    Pastries and Muffins
    Assorted Sandwich and Wraps


    Service will be cashless. Please ensure you have a card to pay with you.

Map



Johannesburg Venue

BBD Johannesburg Offices

The Zone Boulevard, Cnr Cradock &, Tyrwhitt Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196

Parking

  • Please park at The Zone Rosebank, walk from The Zone to the NewsCafe, and enter BBD through NewsCafe.
  • After entering BBD take the lift or stairs to Floor 1.

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Your Team

We are so excited to be your organization team with the support of our amazing volenteers.
Allan Pead
CTO, developer, lecturer, Microsoft Internet of Things MVP, Microsoft Dev Technologies MVP, Microsoft Azure MVP
Carike Botha
Development Consultant at iSolve Business Solutions an IQbusiness Company