DEVFEST Johannesburg 2024

Register by joining our waiting list, you will receive feedback with more event information. Should you no longer be able to make it, kindly let us know so that we can open your spot for someone else. Please be on time: Check-in opens at 08h30 and doors close at 09h00,

This event is for adults above 18, no children allowed. 

Required for entry: proof of ID and own laptop for participating in labs. 
Proof of Identification: Required for entry.
Dress code: Semi-Formal (complimentary professional headshots will be available)
Registration: No on-site registration. Limited seats, All registrations will be added to a waiting list, you will receive feedback within a week of of registration.
Admission: Free, but right of admission is reserved.
Parking is available and it is at own risk. 

To apply to be a speaker: https://www.papercall.io/devfest-johannesburg-2024 closes 10 October 2024

To apply to be a mentor or volunteer: https://forms.gle/1rj9MKwcSiTgggxs8

Join our community WhatsApp group here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BF7x2ivMLgxLPqYzGgryH4 

Photos of previous events: https://www.flickr.com/photos/200568788@N03/albums/ 

Agenda

8:30 AM: Lunch

8:00 AM: registration opens

8:30 AM: Registration

9:00 AM: Keynote address

Talk 1, Talk 2 and Responsible AI Gemma workshop

9:50 AM: Democratizing AI: Building a RAG System with Gemma and LangChain – Samuel Oladejo

Democratizing AI: Building a RAG System with Gemma and LangChain – Samuel Oladejo

9:50 AM: AI on the Edge with Google Cloud: Bringing Intelligence to the Edge Devices - Nomthandazo Tshuma

AI on the Edge with Google Cloud: Bringing Intelligence to the Edge Devices - Nomthandazo Tshuma

10:30 AM: Building Intelligent Chatbots with Google Cloud: A Journey into Conversational AI - Christian Chuks Emenike

Building Intelligent Chatbots with Google Cloud: A Journey into Conversational AI - Christian Chuks Emenike

10:30 AM: AI Orchestration: Getting super agents to complete a mission- Batandwa Mgutsi

AI Orchestration: Getting super agents to complete a mission- Batandwa Mgutsi

10:30 AM: 10:30 - 14:50 Gamified Hands on labs - Google Cloud Hero - Limited seats Mpumi Hlomuka-Peme & Marvin Ngese

10:30 - 14:50
Gamified Hands on labs - Google Cloud Hero - Limited seats
Mpumi Hlomuka-Peme & Marvin Ngese

11:10 AM: Solving Real-World Business Challenges with AI: Practical Models and Applications - Nokukhanya Makhanya

Solving Real-World Business Challenges with AI: Practical Models and Applications - Nokukhanya Makhanya

11:10 AM: Power to the people who teach the people - Sheena O'Connell

Power to the people who teach the people - Sheena O'Connell

11:50 AM: Navigating Responsible AI in a World of Pre-Trained Models: Ethical AI Integration for Real-World Applications - Marco Van der Merwe/

Navigating Responsible AI in a World of Pre-Trained Models: Ethical AI Integration for Real-World Applications - Marco Van der Merwe/

11:50 AM: Channel me perfect: the importance of app notifications and delivering them via notification channels - Ahmed Tikiwa

Channel me perfect: the importance of app notifications and delivering them via notification channels - Ahmed Tikiwa

12:30 PM: Lunch

Lunch

1:30 PM: 13:30 Gamifying the Grind: Introducing Gamification through UX design to elevate user engagement – Emma Pringle Emma Pringle

Gamifying the Grind: Introducing Gamification through UX design to elevate user engagement – Emma Pringle
Emma Pringle

1:30 PM: 6 Things making your tests slower, flakey and hard to maintain - Ruddy Marriday

6 Things making your tests slower, flakey and hard to maintain - Ruddy Marriday

2:10 PM: Demo: Keeping your nose clean with Google Gemma – Simphiwe Radebe

Keeping your nose clean with Google Gemma – Simphiwe Radebe

2:10 PM: Demo: Building a Flutter Gemini Chatbot App in 20 mins with FlutterFlow - Rob Maclean

Building a Flutter Gemini Chatbot App in 20 mins with FlutterFlow - Rob Maclean

3:00 PM: Closing Keynote - panel discussion

Closing Keynote - panel discussion

3:45 PM:

Networking

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Speakers

Sheena O'Connell

Software dev educator, tech-ed system builder, trainer of trainers,With over a decade of hands-on experience, this speaker blends a strong foundation in electrical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand with a deep passion for tech education. Having honed their skills across various startups, they bring comprehensive expertise in software development. For the past five years, the…

Ruddy Marriday - Bryter (Software Developer)

Ruddy is a seasoned Frontend Developer, speaker, conference organizer, and dedicated mentor. Known for crafting engaging digital experiences for clients worldwide, Ruddy’s passion extends beyond development to empowering the next generation of frontend engineers. Through mentorship and coaching, she inspires aspiring developers to unlock their potential and build standout projects."

Ahmed Tikiwa - Bol.com (Software Engineer & Google Developer Expert)

Ahmed Tikiwa is a Google Developer Expert for Android and a seasoned software engineer with over 12 years of experience. Known for his passion for impactful, world-class applications, Ahmed has developed enterprise solutions for leading telecom companies, specializing in both frontend and backend systems. Currently based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, he is also an official contributor to Google…

Emma Pringle - BBD (UX Designer)

Emma Pringle is a UX/UI designer at BBD, bringing her creative problem-solving skills to crafting engaging user journeys.. She holds a BA in Information Design from the University of Pretoria, where she explored various design fields and found her passion in UX/UI. Outside of design, Emma is a dedicated athlete, having competed in rowing through school and university, and now enjoying cycling …

Nomthandazo Tshuma

As a Data Alchemist, this speaker transforms raw data into actionable insights that drive business success. With deep expertise in data engineering and machine learning/AI, they design sophisticated models to uncover hidden patterns and strategic opportunities. Known for translating complex insights into impactful business value, they thrive in collaborative environments and lead transformativ…

Nokukhanya Makhanya - Nedbank (Data Engineer | SAISC Top Young Achiever 2019 |CFA candidate)

A versatile professional with expertise spanning finance, engineering, and technology, currently contributing her skills in the banking sector. Passionate about innovation, she explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can solve real-world business challenges and enhance decision-making. With hands-on experience developing applications that integrate advanced technology and data insights, Noku…

Samuel Oladejo - Syft Analytics (Software Engineer and GDG Organiser)

This Software Engineer specializes in developing scalable backend systems and cloud infrastructure for fintech applications. An active contributor to tech communities such as GDG Johannesburg and Deep Learning IndabaX, they are dedicated to fostering innovation and mentoring developers in AI and cloud technologies.

Batandwa Mgutsi - BBD (Junior Software Engineer)

A University of Cape Town graduate in Computer Science and Business Computing, he is an aspiring Software Engineer currently working as a Junior Software Engineer at BBD Software. Skilled in Flutter, Firebase, Google Cloud, and TypeScript, with additional experience in C++, Java, and Python, he is passionate about leveraging AI to improve everyday life."

Marco van der Merwe - DVT (Junior Java Developer)

Marco van der Merwe joined DVT’s graduate program this year, focusing on Open Source and Java. With a BSc Honours in Computer Science, he is a dedicated learner who excels in both team settings and independent work. Outside of his professional pursuits, Marco enjoys running, sketching, cooking, and hiking."

Simphiwe Radebe - Standard Bank South Africa (Android Developer | GDG Organiser | Speaker |)

Simphiwe Radebe discovered his passion for programming at 14, quickly making his mark by creating a website for his school—a project that gained media attention. By 17, he had developed his first mobile app to solve a real-world problem, reflecting his commitment to practical innovation. With eight years of experience, Simphiwe specializes in Java, Kotlin, and Flutter (Dart) and brings a strong U…

Olivier Leplus - AWS (Developer Advocate @AWS | Web Google Developer Expert | Women Techmakers Ambassador | Speaker)

All the way from France with over a decade of experience across leading tech companies, this speaker is a seasoned Developer Advocate and community leader with a strong foundation in software engineering and developer relations. Currently at Amazon Web Services (AWS), they empower developers worldwide to leverage AWS technologies effectively. Previously, they played pivotal roles in developer …

Christian Chuks Emenike Emenike - BMW Group (Software Engineer Cloud Defense)

This speaker is an experienced Software Engineer specializing in cloud defense and conversational AI solutions at BMW Group. With expertise in designing secure, scalable cloud architectures and deploying enterprise solutions, they have developed innovative chatbot and virtual assistant technologies using platforms like Azure Kubernetes and C# .NET. Previously a Cloud Solution Architect at Go C…

Rob Maclean - App Developer Studio (CEO & FlutterFlow Expert)

Rob is the CEO of App Developer Studio, a full-service agency based in Johannesburg that designs, develops, and launches smartphone apps. Since founding the company in 2008, Rob has grown App Developer Studio into a leading player in the app development space, with a diverse client base that includes multinational corporations and local startups. Leveraging a mix of in-house and offshore devel…

Panelists

Nhlanhla Lucky Nkosi - BBD (Software Engineer)

A qualified Game Designer and Software Engineer, this speaker brings extensive experience in .NET and a wide array of web technologies, currently focusing on web-based front-end systems in the Research and Development Unit at BBD Software Development. With over eight years in enterprise banking software, they excel in solution architecture, agile development, and strategic technology evaluation. …

Kutlwano Ngwarati - High Risers (AI Strategy Expert | Founder of High Risers | Empowering Leaders in the AI Era)

The Founder and CEO of High Risers, this speaker is an acclaimed AI Strategy and Education Expert dedicated to empowering business leaders in the age of AI. Through High Risers, they deliver strategic AI consulting, executive education, and innovative microlearning experiences, helping organizations bridge the gap between AI knowledge and practical application. Previously, they served as Head of …

John Kimani - Google (Senior Developer Ecosystem Program Manager with the)

John is a Senior Program Manager with the Developer Ecosystem at Google leading developer engagement programs across Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to joining Google, he was a Developer Advocate at Microsoft and had spent 5 years before that as a software developer building enterprise solutions. John is passionate about technology-driven innovation and has spent the last decade enabling developers in …

Hosts

Michelle Piliso - Clowdy (Technical Operations Manager | Google Developer Group Organiser)

This speaker is an accomplished Operations Manager at Clowdy, leading project management, delivery, and cloud integration initiatives. With over a decade of experience in tech, finance, and insurance sectors, they excel in process optimization, strategic planning, and customer satisfaction. As a GDG Johannesburg program coordinator, they actively foster community engagement through workshops a…

Tswello Moreki - TransUnion (Business Analyst: Solution Design and Business Analysis | TEDx Curator | Google Women Techmaker)

As a Business Analyst, this speaker specializes in crafting precise documentation of business requirements and identifying optimal solutions to meet stakeholder needs. Skilled in translating requirements for IT teams, they serve as a vital liaison during development, ensuring clarity and seamless delivery. Holding an AWS Cloud Practitioner certificate and expertise in SQL, Oracle Apex, and ana…

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Partners

BBD (https://bbdsoftware.com/)
Speaker gift sponsor

DVT (https://www.dvt.co.za)

Google (https://www.google.com)
Financial assistance

Offerzen (https://www.offerzen.com)
Swag

FlutterFlow (https://www.flutterflow.io/)
FlutterFlow helps you build high quality, customized apps quickly

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Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-johannesburg-presents-devfest-johannesburg-2024/.