In 2008, Larry Ellison (Oracle CEO) said according to the Wall Street Journal[1]: “The computer industry is the only industry that is more fashion-driven than women’s fashion. Maybe I’m an idiot, but I have no idea what anyone is talking about. What is it? It’s complete gibberish. It’s insane. When is this idiocy going to stop?”. He was, of course, talking about Cloud Computing.
Cloud Computing wasn’t the first or last (over?) hyped technology, and Larry was poking fun at the “Amazing new XYZ product now with Cloud!” marketing. We have seen similar things happen with eCommerce late 1990’ies (online shopping using Windows 98 and 56 kbps modem?), Quantum Computers (IT industry’s version of Schrödinger’s cat), distributed ledgers were predicted to transform $2 trillion online economy in mid 2010s[2], metaverse (what exactly was that anyway?), digital twins (‘must have’ for CEOs[3]), and recently (dare I say it?) AI.
This session will explore early warning signs and provide some practical advice on how to foster a constructive discussion within your organisation to avoid the worst of software misapplications:
[1] CNET (Sept 2008): “Oracle’s Ellison nails cloud computing”
[2] Accenture (2016): “Editing the uneditable blockchain – Why distributed ledger technology must adapt to an imperfect world”
[3] AFR (Feb 2026): “3 things these bosses plan to do differently this year”
As AI systems become deeply embedded in software development, the question isn’t whether machines will assist us, it’s how we ensure they do so responsibly.
Trustworthy AI isn’t just about algorithms; it’s about preserving human judgment, creativity, and ethics in every loop.
This talk explores practical strategies for building AI-driven solutions that prioritize transparency, fairness, and accountability while amplifying human potential.
We’ll dive into:
Attendees will leave with actionable insights to craft systems that are not only intelligent but also aligned with human values because in the age of AI, trust is the ultimate feature.
Remote work might now be considered the norm, but many software teams have been doing it since “before it was cool”!
That’s not to say everyone does it well, though…
In this session Callum shares his near-decade of experience leading successful software teams distributed across vast time zones and continents (UK and Australia). He’ll reveal his approaches to implementing processes, coding standards, and collaboration tools to keep teams running like a well oiled machine despite physical distance.
Let’s discuss some tried and tested approaches for ensuring remote teams thrive – with a particular focus on supporting mental health, team wellbeing, and adjusting ways of working to support neurodiversity like ADHD.
Additionally we’ll explore ways to maintain a strong, supportive team culture despite physical distances – including tips for remotely onboarding new colleagues. Whether an engineer or a manager, you will leave inspired with ideas for how to improve collaboration and quality across your team.
As AI accelerates software development, writing code is no longer the hardest part, but alignment, context, and decision-making are.
In this keynote, Jovana explores how intelligent systems are reshaping the entire software lifecycle, from planning to production, and why human judgment, reasoning, creativity, and empathy are a requirement.
This talk reframes AI as an amplifier, not a replacement, offering practical insights on building more intentional, traceable, and human-centered engineering workflows.