Software Development

\*\* Registratie voor deze editie gaat vier weken voor aanvang open! \*\* **17.00 - 18.00** Inloop & eten **18.00 - 18.10** Openingswoord Rubicon **18.10 - 19.00** **Stefan Strube** - *Entra Verified ID: Good, better, best option to secure issuance of Verifiable Credentials* Met Entra Verified ID kun je je eigen aangepaste Verifiable Credentials maken, en je wilt er zeker van zijn dat deze credentials aan de juiste personen worden uitgegeven. Er zijn verschillende opties om het uitgeven van Verifiable Credentials te beveiligen, en Stefan neemt je mee langs zijn good, better en best opties. Doe mee aan deze zeer technische sessie met live demo’s en leer hoe je de uitgifte van Verifiable Credentials veilig inricht. **19.00 - 19.10** Break **19.10 - 20.00** **Vito Minheere** - *Azure Managed HSM: Veilige sleutelbeheer en compliance in de praktijk* Met de komst van de Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) in 2027 en de groeiende eisen aan databescherming, wordt het gebruik van HSMs steeds kritischer voor organisaties. Maar wat is een HSM precies, en hoe pas je dit toe in Azure? Ik leg uit hoe Azure Managed HSM integreert met Azure Key Vault, en hoe je lokale en Azure RBAC kunt inzetten voor een robuust beveiligingsmodel. Tot slot deel ik praktische tips voor het beheren van HSMs met Terraform en Azure DevOps, gebaseerd op mijn ervaring hiermee in mijn dagelijkse werk. **20.00 - 20.10** Break **20.10 - 20.30** Pubquiz! **20.30 - 21.30** Borrel en einde

**Azure Heroes Netherlands – March 2026 Meetup @ i8c** Join us for the March edition of **Azure Heroes Netherlands**, an evening packed with Azure insights. Lets KICK OFF 2026 with a bang.. i8c Will be our amazing host for this event. 📅 **Date: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026** ⏰ Time: 18:00 – 21:30 (CET) 📍 Location: i8c, Utrecht, NL **Schedule:** ⏰ 18:00 - Walk-in, food, drinks and networking ⏰ 19:00 - Session 1 ⏰ 20:00 - Session 2 ⏰ 21:00 - Drinks, snacks, networking 🎤 Session 1 – **Hans Muns** [LinkedIn Here](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hans-muns-78a50b197) **Event-Driven DevOps: Automating Azure with Event Grid System Topics** Modern DevOps on Azure isn’t just about pipelines, it’s about making your platform reactive. With Event Grid system topics, you can automatically respond to changes in your Azure environment, triggering workflows the moment resources are created, updated, or deleted. In this session, we’ll cover: \- How system topics work and how they fit into DevOps workflows \- Connecting Event Grid to various automation and orchestration tools \- Different practical use cases for event\-driven automation \- A live demo where a resource change triggers a deployment\-related automation After this session, you’ll walk away with practical techniques to make your Azure platform more event-driven, reducing manual steps, closing feedback loops, and bringing DevOps automation to the next level. **🎤 Session 2 – Sagar Sharma / Steef Jan Wiggers** [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steefjan/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/steefjan/) [https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsharmasagar/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/imsharmasagar/) **Beyond Building an AI Agent!** Build and launch AI agents faster by prototyping with open models and scaling to production using Microsoft Foundry and the AI Toolkit

**\-\-\-\-\-Zugangsdaten\-\-\-\-\-** **https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/31253918688144?p=le5GqV42OefyFPk40y** **\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-** In den letzten Jahren ist das Bewusstsein für die ökologischen und sozialen Auswirkungen digitaler Technologien stark gewachsen. In dieser Session wollen wir uns wieder auf die grundsätzliche Frage besinnen: Wie bauen wir mobile Apps, die nicht nur gut laufen, sondern auch ein bisschen weniger Planet verbrauchen? Dieser Vortrag beleuchtet praxisnahe Strategien mit denen sich der ökologische Fußabdruck einer App spürbar senken lässt – von energieeffizientem Code und ressourcenschonendem Design bis hin zu nachhaltiger Infrastrukturwahl und verantwortungsvollem Datenmanagement. Natürlich wird auch gemessen, nicht nur gehofft: Welche Tools helfen dabei, den CO₂-Impact, den Energieverbrauch oder die Datenlast einer App zu analysieren. Am Ende des Vortrags haben die Teilnehmenden einen kompakten Überblick über die konkreten Schritte, die sie unternehmen können um ihre App nachhaltiger zu machen und wie sie diesen Fortschritt messen können. **Agenda** 18:00 Einlass & Networking 18:30 Vortrag mit einer kleinen Pause zwischendurch 21:00 Ende & Networking \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Die Veranstaltung wird von karlsruhe.digital im Rahmen des “[supported by karlsruhe.digital](https://karlsruhe.digital/supportedby/)” Programms unterstützt. Green Software Development Karlsruhe ist ein unabhängiger Teil der globalen [Green Software Foundation](https://greensoftware.foundation/) Community. Das [CyberForum](https://www.cyberforum.de/), die Wirtschaftsförderung, die [Fairantwortung](https://fairantwortung.org/) und der [ImpactHub Karlsruhe](https://karlsruhe.impacthub.net/) sorgen für eine Verbreitung des Events im Netzwerk. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-

**3D Workshop** * **Ontwerpen met Fusion360** * **Scannen in 3D** * **Het gebruik van 3D printers** **Je bent nu welkom in de nieuwe locatie NewTechPark** Je kunt ook online aan deze fysieke bijeenkomst deelnemen. De bijeenkomst is dan op de locatie te volgen. Als je [hier](w.j.put@hccnet.nl) vooraf een mailtje stuurt kun je dinsdagavond tussen 19.00 en 20.00 uur inloggen met Jitsi voor vragen, of ter kennismaking met hcc!3D. Online neem je deel aan de bijeenkomst met [https://wij.hcc.nl/3D](https://wij.hcc.nl/3D) [(Alleen toegang als je zichtbaar bent met voor- en achternaam. )](https://wij.hcc.nl/3d)

Meld je aan voor onze volgende WordPress Meetup in Utrecht op **dinsdag 3 maart 2026**. Zoals gebruikelijk zijn we weer welkom bij [Wonders of Work](https://wondersofwork.nl/), onze locatiesponsor. We beginnen om 19:30 uur (zaal open vanaf 19:00). **Programma** We hebben weer twee inspirende sprekers Je hebt vast wel eens meegemaakt dat je hostingserver trager en trager werd. **Arjan Olsder** gaat ons daarom de ins en outs van hosting uitleggen. En **Samir Rafiq**, onze builder expert, werkt inmiddels ook met Etch. Etch belooft de wereld van builders op zijn kop te gaan zetten! Je hoort wat hij ervan vindt. Om 21:30 eindigen we met een borrel die gesponsord wordt door [Klarned](https://www.klarned.is/nl/), [Webscout](https://webscout.be/) en [Kinsta](https://kinsta.com/nl/). **Hosting \| Arjan Olser** Is jouw webhosting een goed onderbouwde keuze of gewoon onderbuikgevoel? En kun je die keuze wel goed onderbouwen? Arjan Olsder bouwde 25 jaar geleden het bedrijf Digishock op. En 16 jaar geleden kwam daar WebsiteNazorg.nl bij. Binnen beide bedrijven was het een komen en gaan van webhostingbedrijven en werden keuzes door klanten vooral op emotie en ‘van horen zeggen’ genomen. Terwijl webhosting in de praktijk het meest vitale element is in de kwaliteitsbeleving van een website. En vaak ook het eerste waar iedereen op bezuinigt. Inmiddels is Arjan niet meer werkzaam in de industrie, dus tijd genoeg voor hem om een deepdive te doen en zijn kennis te delen. Hoe kies je de juiste webhost? Wat zoek je qua technologie, qua service en bereikbaarheid. En welke juridische angels kunnen op jouw pad komen. Of het pad van jouw klant. Want met de huidige geopolitieke spanningen is het belangrijk dat de Nederlandse WordPress sector weerbaar wordt en haar klanten goed kan beschermen. **Etch Builder \| Samir Rafiq** De markt zit vol met opties, elk met hun eigen aanpak. Van gebruiksvriendelijke drag-and-drop builders zoals Divi en Elementor, tot meer geavanceerde tools zoals Bricks en Oxygen voor developers. Of juist full site editing met WordPress blocks al dan niet ondersteund door een Greyd of Kadence. Samir Rafiq is ervaren low-code WordPress developer met meer dan 10 jaar ervaring als ontwikkelaar en trainer. In deze talk neemt Samir je mee in EtchWP, een opkomende builder die een frisse kijk biedt op hoe we websites bouwen. Wat maakt deze builder anders dan de rest? En is dit misschien wel de builder waar jij naar op zoek bent? **Zeepkist** Wil je een vraag stellen aan de aanwezigen op de avond? Of wil je een korte presentatie doen van het werk waar je mee bezig bent (max 10 minuten), dan willen we je ook ruimte geven om even op de zeepkist te klimmen. Meld je van tevoren aan via info@wpmeetuputrecht.nl. **Nieuwe onderwerpen voor talks** We zijn altijd op zoek naar leuke onderwerpen voor een talk. Is er een onderwerp waarover je meer informatie zou willen? Kun jijzelf misschien wat meer vertellen over WordPress, SEO, hosting, contentcreatie of iets dergelijks? Of wil je gewoon eens laten zien wat jij of jouw bedrijf maakt met WordPress? Vertel het ons via info@wpmeetuputrecht.nl. **Wonders of Work** We zijn weer welkom op de locatie van [Wonders of Work](https://wondersofwork.nl) (voormalig Seats2Meet Utrecht CS), onze locatiesponsor. WoW is gevestigd in Hoog Catharijne (Boven Vredenburgpassage, Kantoren Connect Offices R1, 6e etage). Je vindt WoW het makkelijkst als je Hoog Catharijne vanaf het Centraal Station inloopt, linksaf langs Ziggo/Vodafone, en dan net voorbij de Rituals. **WordPress Community** Wij zijn onderdeel van de wereldwijde WordPress Community. WordPress is open source en daaraan wordt belangeloos gewerkt door vele enthousiaste gebruikers over hele wereld ([https://make.wordpress.org/](https://make.wordpress.org/)). Deze Meetup wordt georganiseerd door: * Han Hegeman ([https://www.haicu.nl/](https://www.haicu.nl/)) * Roel Veldhuizen ([https://inesta.nl/](https://inesta.nl/)) * Berry van Es ([https://www.digitalfootprint.nl/](https://www.digitalfootprint.nl/)) * Frank Olthof ([https://forte.nl/](https://forte.nl/))

*(🇬🇧 English below)* Voordat een bordspel of kaartspel kan worden uitgegeven, moet er veel aan het spel getest worden om zeker te zijn dat het leuk is, duidelijk is en altijd goed werkt. Daarom komen we **elke 2 weken** met spelauteurs uit de regio samen om prototypes van spellen te testen en ze zo beter te maken en misschien ooit wel gepubliceerd te krijgen. Om 8 uur verzamelen we bij [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) voor een speltestavond. Afhankelijk van het aantal aanwezigen en prototypes dat er wordt meegenomen (neem zelf ook iets mee als je wilt) vormen we een aantal groepen. Bij kleinere spellen kun je in de loop van de avond van groep wisselen, bij grotere spellen moet je dat even overleggen. **Ook als je zelf** **geen spellen maakt** of een spel hebt dat je wilt testen, ben je natuurlijk van harte welkom. Het is voor ontwerpers heel fijn om de mening van zo veel mogelijk andere mensen te krijgen. En heel eerlijk: het testen van nieuwe spellen is ook gewoon heel leuk! We gaan door tot een uur of 11, maar voel je vrij al eerder naar huis te gaan. Er is **gratis koffie** **en thee** bij StartUp Nijmegen. Voor fris, bier of wijn wordt een kleine bijdrage gevraagd. StartUp Nijmegen ligt tegenover het station. De auto kun je parkeren in de naastgelegen Keizer Karelparkeergarage (50 cent per uur). Er is hier ook een afgesloten fietsenstalling. De testavonden in Nijmegen zijn elke **2e dinsdag** en elke **4e woensdag** van de maand. Zet die dus vast in je agenda (tip: zet met [deze iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics) ze automatisch in je agenda)! Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen maakt onderdeel van het [Nederlandse Spellenmaakgilde](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) en is onderdeel van het SAZ. Je vindt ons daarnaast ook in het #Nijmegen kanaal op de [Discord-server van het Spellenmaakgilde](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). 🇬🇧 **For English-speaking guests:** Before a board game or card game can be published, it must undergo extensive testing to ensure that it is enjoyable, clear, and always functions properly. Therefore, **every 2 weeks**, we gather with game authors from the region to test prototypes of games, thereby improving them and, perhaps, getting them published someday. At 8 PM, we gather at [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) for a game testing evening. Depending on the number of attendees and prototypes brought (feel free to bring something yourself), we form several groups. For smaller games, you can switch groups throughout the evening, but for larger games, you should discuss this. **Even if you** **do not design games** or have a game you want to test, you are, of course, very welcome. It is very beneficial for designers to receive feedback from as many people as possible. And to be honest: testing new games is just a lot of fun! We continue until about 11 PM, but feel free to go home earlier if you wish. There is **free coffee** **and tea** at StartUp Nijmegen. A small contribution is requested for soft drinks, beer, or wine. StartUp Nijmegen is located opposite the station. You can park your car in the adjacent Keizer Karel parking garage (50 cents per hour). There is also a secure bicycle parking facility here. The testing evenings in Nijmegen are every **2nd Tuesday** and **4th Wednesday** of the month. So be sure to mark those in your calendar (tip: automatically add them to your calendar with [this iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f@group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics))! The Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen is part of the [Dutch Game Designers Guild](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) and is also a part of SAZ. You can also find us in the #Nijmegen channel on the [Discord server of the Game Designers Guild](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). And don't worry if you don't speak Dutch! We regularly have non-Dutch speaking guests, and everyone is welcome to join and have fun with us.

*(🇬🇧 English below)* Voordat een bordspel of kaartspel kan worden uitgegeven, moet er veel aan het spel getest worden om zeker te zijn dat het leuk is, duidelijk is en altijd goed werkt. Daarom komen we **elke 2 weken** met spelauteurs uit de regio samen om prototypes van spellen te testen en ze zo beter te maken en misschien ooit wel gepubliceerd te krijgen. Om 8 uur verzamelen we bij [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) voor een speltestavond. Afhankelijk van het aantal aanwezigen en prototypes dat er wordt meegenomen (neem zelf ook iets mee als je wilt) vormen we een aantal groepen. Bij kleinere spellen kun je in de loop van de avond van groep wisselen, bij grotere spellen moet je dat even overleggen. **Ook als je zelf** **geen spellen maakt** of een spel hebt dat je wilt testen, ben je natuurlijk van harte welkom. Het is voor ontwerpers heel fijn om de mening van zo veel mogelijk andere mensen te krijgen. En heel eerlijk: het testen van nieuwe spellen is ook gewoon heel leuk! We gaan door tot een uur of 11, maar voel je vrij al eerder naar huis te gaan. Er is **gratis koffie** **en thee** bij StartUp Nijmegen. Voor fris, bier of wijn wordt een kleine bijdrage gevraagd. StartUp Nijmegen ligt tegenover het station. De auto kun je parkeren in de naastgelegen Keizer Karelparkeergarage (50 cent per uur). Er is hier ook een afgesloten fietsenstalling. De testavonden in Nijmegen zijn elke **2e dinsdag** en elke **4e woensdag** van de maand. Zet die dus vast in je agenda (tip: zet met [deze iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics) ze automatisch in je agenda)! Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen maakt onderdeel van het [Nederlandse Spellenmaakgilde](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) en is onderdeel van het SAZ. Je vindt ons daarnaast ook in het #Nijmegen kanaal op de [Discord-server van het Spellenmaakgilde](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). 🇬🇧 **For English-speaking guests:** Before a board game or card game can be published, it must undergo extensive testing to ensure that it is enjoyable, clear, and always functions properly. Therefore, **every 2 weeks**, we gather with game authors from the region to test prototypes of games, thereby improving them and, perhaps, getting them published someday. At 8 PM, we gather at [StartUp Nijmegen](https://startupnijmegen.nl/) for a game testing evening. Depending on the number of attendees and prototypes brought (feel free to bring something yourself), we form several groups. For smaller games, you can switch groups throughout the evening, but for larger games, you should discuss this. **Even if you** **do not design games** or have a game you want to test, you are, of course, very welcome. It is very beneficial for designers to receive feedback from as many people as possible. And to be honest: testing new games is just a lot of fun! We continue until about 11 PM, but feel free to go home earlier if you wish. There is **free coffee** **and tea** at StartUp Nijmegen. A small contribution is requested for soft drinks, beer, or wine. StartUp Nijmegen is located opposite the station. You can park your car in the adjacent Keizer Karel parking garage (50 cents per hour). There is also a secure bicycle parking facility here. The testing evenings in Nijmegen are every **2nd Tuesday** and **4th Wednesday** of the month. So be sure to mark those in your calendar (tip: automatically add them to your calendar with [this iCal link](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/c_d2267afce516f9296468270649b3f44da6c06cbc0bc3de05f049992373db5f4f@group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics))! The Spellenmaakgilde Nijmegen is part of the [Dutch Game Designers Guild](https://spellenmaakgilde.nl/) and is also a part of SAZ. You can also find us in the #Nijmegen channel on the [Discord server of the Game Designers Guild](https://discord.gg/6JzD6Sz2m5). And don't worry if you don't speak Dutch! We regularly have non-Dutch speaking guests, and everyone is welcome to join and have fun with us.

***In this meetup, we explore why traditional feedback systems fail and what it really takes to build a culture of dialogue.*** ***\*\*\*Attention! This is an in-person event only. We need a minimum of 10 attendees for gaining the most value (besides the hosts). We will notice you in advance for a go/no go around February the 20th, 2026 \*\*\**** *Drawing from real consultancy experience and organizational case studies, we’ll unpack how feedback is shaped by deeply embedded systems of judgment, social conditioning, business culture, and biological responses to threat.* **Cool concrete case studies shared of different organizations with a diversity of challenges.** Let’s be honest: the word “feedback” can make your stomach clench. We brace for awkward conversations that end in painful silence, or we swallow our frustration to keep the peace. We worry about disrupting relationships or being misunderstood, so we often say nothing at all. But what is the true cost of this silence? Misunderstandings fester, trust erodes, and team morale quietly slips away. Ironically, by avoiding feedback to protect our relationships, we often end up creating the very disconnection we feared. As a result, we've developed a deeply unhelpful relationship with feedback treating it as a confrontation to be dreaded rather than a conversation for connection and growth. **Shift consciousness, habits, and leadership behavior at every level. Explore how to create cultures of dialogue instead of confrontation, where people feel seen, heard, and able to grow.** *** ### **Agenda** 17:30 - 18:00 Walk in 18:00 - 18:45 * Welcome & personal story * Current Systematics of Feedback 18:45 - 19:15 FOOOOD 19:15 - 20:30 * Clear Case Studies Example(s) of Feedback Systematics * Change the System of Feedback 20:30 Netwerk + Walk Out 21:00 Please go home you lovely people **Who Should Attend:** * Leaders * HR Professionals * Scrum Masters * Agile Coaches * Change Agents * Anyone who want to move beyond labels and is interested in creating a feedback culture.

Hello architecture enthusiasts! We're excited to announce our next meetup exploring the emerging world of AI agent platforms and orchestration! Join us for an evening where we'll tackle the architectural challenges of moving from standalone AI models to connected, intelligent ecosystems. Makan will share insights on how a capability mesh could solve today's AI orchestration challenges, while Pascal will dive into the practical patterns, protocols, and standards for building AI agent platforms. Come hungry for both knowledge and food — we've got plenty of both, plus drinks and great networking opportunities at OpenValue's Utrecht office. Both sessions will be presented in English. RSVP now for an evening of learning and connection! **Getting Here** Directions: [https://www.openvalue.eu/route/#utrecht](https://www.openvalue.eu/route/#utrecht). Parking is free. The office is within walking distance of Utrecht Zuilen train station. **Agenda** 17:30 Doors open 18:00 Food 18:30 Talk 1: Capability Mesh: Enabling Orchestration through Semantic Integration 19:30 Break 19:45 Talk 2: Building AI Agent Platforms: Architecture, Communication, and Standards 20:45 Drinks, fun, networking **Talk 1: Capability Mesh: Enabling Orchestration through Semantic Integration** *Makan Sepehrifar, Principal Engineer at Code Nomads* Ten years ago, microservices chaos led to "Service Mesh" solving the discoverability problem by replacing network endpoints with meaningful references, enabling scalability and observability. It worked brilliantly for connecting services. Today we're living through the same cycle with Generative AI and Agents, but the chaos is about integration, not networking. The old problems discoverability, scalability, observability are back because orchestrators now pick agents by capability, not name. Plus we face new challenges: explainability of agent actions and the possibility of unintended actions due to the non-deterministic nature of large language models. We need the same evolutionary leap from "Service Mesh" to "Capability Mesh" shifting from technical service contracts to semantic capability integration for autonomous AI. Key Topics and Take Aways: * From OpenAPI to MCP: The Protocol Shift in Agentic AI * MCP Gateways: The New Control Plane * Capability Hierarchies: Composing Agents at Scale * Human-on-the-Loop: Redefining Our Role in Agent Systems * Policy as Code: Governing Autonomous Agents * Observability & Safety: Tracing Agent Behavior *About Makan* Makan Sepehrifar is a software architect whose fascination with the intricacies of organizational behavior and cognitive psychology has led him to redefine the way technology interfaces with human understanding. Looking at software architecture as a craftsmanship process, he realized that the more abstract you look at it, the more complexities arises. His career has been a testament to his commitment to bridging the gap between technology and human behavior, resulting in innovative software solutions that not only work efficiently but also self-adaptive teams that embrace the mindset of agile. **Talk 2: Building AI Agent Platforms: Architecture, Communication, and Standards** *Pascal Wilbrink, Senior Software Engineer at OpenValue* AI systems evolve from standalone models into connected, agent-based ecosystems, new architectural patterns, protocols, and standards are emerging. Concepts such as AGUI, A2A, A2UI, and MCP-based applications are changing how intelligent systems are designed and integrated. This presentation explains how these approaches affect system structure, responsibilities, and interoperability. Using architectural diagrams, it shows how AI agent applications communicate and collaborate through standardized interfaces, and provides guidance on building scalable and maintainable AI platforms. *About Pascal* Pascal is a senior software engineer at OpenValue with over a decade of experience and a strong interest in applied AI and intelligent automation. He enjoys exploring how technology can make developers’ lives easier and software more resilient. When he’s not experimenting with new ideas or building open-source tools, Pascal likes to learn by doing and turning complex problems into practical solutions.

Hey Everyone! 👋 **Location:** \- On\-site: Dataroots Offices\, Arnould Nobelstraat 32 Leuven \- Online: Zoom link TBA **Practicalities for the evening on Thursday, March 5th:** \- 18:00: Doors Open\, pizza & drinks \- 19:00: Speaker Talks \- 20:30: Networking & Drinks **Welcome to edition 14 of the Generative AI Belgium Meetup! 🚀** This time, we go on a quest. Many epics speak of the brave and the adventurous going on a quest to conquer, slay, tame, or train a dragon along the way. The last three years of AI developments have their own stories of creativity, novel paths, and unforeseen challenges that seemed too big to tackle. In this edition, we want to bring some stories of people and teams who didn't choose the easiest path, but the most interesting one. Join us on March 5th at Dataroots, Arnould Nobelstraat 32, Leuven, to meet these brave souls and get a feel for what it takes to tackle a challenge from scratch. Whether it's navigating the dragon that is the EU AI Act, training and running a custom language model, or building production-ready systems, every path has its own fire-breathing challenges. See you there! **Line-up:** \- 🐉 [Niels Tack](https://www.linkedin.com/in/niels-tack/): Taming The EU AI Act - Compliance as code \- 🏰 [Sohum Bhatt](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sohum-bhatt-530114230/): Taming Local LLMs to build applications \- ⚔️ [Maarten Vandeperre:](https://www.linkedin.com/in/maarten-vandeperre/) Taming AI Sovereignty \- 🤺[Lode Nachtergaele:](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lodenachtergaele/) Taming Agentic RAG - How Agentic Beats RAG Big thanks to Dataroots for hosting us and to our sponsors: In The Pocket, BruCON, Red Hat, Collibra, Plainsight & Volta Ventures for supporting the community.

## 🎨**Activity for EXPATS & English Speakers** ☕ Are you an art enthusiast living in or around **Amersfoort, Hilversum, Utrecht, Nieuwegein, IJsseltein, De Bilt and the rest of cities of the Utrecht's province** who love painting or drawing? Maybe you've felt the joy of creating but struggled to find others who share your passion and speak **ENGLISH**? **You're not alone! 😉** ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## 🖌️**About this event** You will meet other Art Lovers like you to Draw, Paint and have some drinks Together ! Our events are not just about sketching or creating art—they’re about building connections. Every two weeks, we meet at a café to have a relaxing time drawing a painting. Please keep on mind that **ENGLISH i**s the official language we will use to integrate everyone in our conversations. ⭕⭕⭕➡️ **IMPORTANT ⬅️** ⭕⭕⭕⭕ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**Book formally your Seat 🪑via [WHATSAPP](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** **If you want to confirm officially your attendance and separate your seat🪑. Book your seat in meet-up, and contact us via [WHATSAPP HERE](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f) to receive more information on the address of our activities.** **Thanks a lot for your understanding!** 💐🥰 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 👩🏻‍🎨**How Does It Work?** This event is simple, this initiative takes 2 Hours. Most of the participants use pencils, water pencils or watercolours. Main aim is to socialize while we draw. There will be plenty of time to talk and get to know each other. We have to mention that this event is suitable for all levels. Many have started to draw in our event actually. Also it is very important that you **[JOIN US AT OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITY](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f),** to stay up to date on our upcoming events and participate in our Drawing and Painting Contests! **👉: [https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f](https://bit.ly/3BXXE0f)** 🍀 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### ☕**Where?** We will meet in different cafes mainly in the *center of Amersfoort ( and some occasions in other cities around)*. I will inform you of the exact place some days in advance this event. The place will depend on the number of attendees. ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### **🎟️ What is included?** 🟢 **2 HOURS TO HAVE FUN!** 🟢 **15 mins warming-up creative activity and paper material**🖌️🎨 🟢 New friendships and **conversations in ENGLISH** in a relaxed atmosphere 🟢 **Souvenir picture** with you and the rest of Art Lovers 📷 🟢 Exclusive **access to our Art Lovers Community** on which you will receive: ***\~\~\~ Drawing challenges,*** ***\~\~\~ Training content,*** ***\~\~\~ FREE Entries only to members*** ***\~\~\~ Drawing Competitions*** 🟢 Time to **create alongside fellow artists and amateurs** 🟢 The freedom to **work at your own pace** 💃🕺🎈 ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ### 🖼️**Art Materials?** Bring your own practical art materials to be adaptable to sketch on a coffee table. Like your sketchbook, pencils, watercolor, markets, pencils, your Tablet..etc ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ ## **See you to Paint, Draw, and drink together!🌟☕🍷🍪🍰**

We’re heading out onto a **brand new trail** on the Veluwe, one we’ve never walked before. That alone makes this hike extra exciting. New paths, new views, and that lovely feeling of discovery from start to finish. From the start we dive **straight into the forest**, following winding woodland paths that slowly pull us deeper into the heart of the Veluwe. The forest feels calm and spacious, and with spring just around the corner you’ll notice nature quietly waking up. Budding trees, fresh greens, birds getting busier. It’s that in between season where everything is preparing itself. After several kilometers of forest walking, the landscape opens up as we reach the **Hoog Soerensche Veld**. Wide open fields, big skies, and that classic Veluwe contrast between forest and heath. From here we continue towards the **Asselsche Heide**, one of the quieter and more scenic parts of the Veluwe. This section offers lovely viewpoints, open heathland, and long sightlines that really give you that spacious Veluwe feeling. We finish where we started, completing a **full loop hike** through forests, open fields, and heathland. **📍When and where to meet?** We’ll meet at 11h30 at busstop Hoog Buurloseweg https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 ⏰ **We start walking a few minutes after meeting up** — we don’t wait for latecomers, as the forest calls and daylight is short this time of year. **🚗 Coming by car?** You can park here but please also do your own research: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sCMJ8Kg7MTUcYu1j7 **⏸️ Planned Breaks** After 9 km: 30 min lunch break in nature After 15 km: 15 min break in nature **💸 Payment** Please pay as soon as you sign up: To keep things fair for everyone, if we don’t receive your payment within 48 hours, we will need to remove you from the participant list. If there’s a waiting list, this will happen sooner (in less than 48 hours). If that happens, no worries — you’re always welcome to sign up again if there’s space. 🌟 Early Bird Deal! Join now for just €4 — available for 3 days (72h). After that, the price will be €5. Please pay here: [https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp](https://tikkie.me/pay/jto80gauep7vg7g1s9gp) **👟 Good to know** * Refund policy: Cancellations are fully refundable up to 1 week before the event (This is Monday 2 March at 23h59). After this period, the fee becomes non-refundable. * Hike difficulty: Our hikes are moderately challenging. Please only join if you’re confident you can keep up with the group’s pace (5 km/ h)— it’s more fun for everyone when we can walk together without long waits. * If the pace is too challenging: We may kindly suggest you continue at your own pace. We’ll give you clear directions to the nearest bus or train so you can return comfortably. * At your own risk: You participate at your own risk, so please make sure you have appropriate insurance coverage for outdoor activities. * Payment note: With Tikkie we only see initials (e.g., J. Doe instead of John Doe). Please include your Meetup name in the payment note so we can match it easily. * Friends joining: If you bring a friend, make sure they also register and pay. * What to bring: Snacks, lunch, and water/ or hot thee/ coffee. * Stay connected: Join our WhatsApp group to be the first to hear about future hikes — ask for the QR code during the hike. * T-shirts: Fairwear-certified organic cotton, eco-friendly inks — €25. Sustainable, odor-resistant, and perfect for hiking. Let us know your size and we’ll bring one for you.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that. As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact? Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization. We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM. 📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St Located in: The Shops at Worthington Ample parking is available. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

We're excited to launch **GitHub Copilot Dev Days**, a global in‑person community event series running **March 15 – April 30**! Let's come together as developers, grow our local community, and showcase the power of GitHub Copilot with **free, high‑quality training materials** from Microsoft + GitHub. * GitHub Copilot in VS Code * GitHub Copilot CLI … and more! * **Intro Talk (30–45 min):** GitHub Copilot + AI development * **Local Community Talk (30–45 min):** NOT ME, **[Matt Eland](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteland/)** * **Hands‑on Workshop (1 hour):** Practical exercises using GitHub Copilot * **SPECIAL GUEST** **(virtual)**: **[Andrea Griffiths](https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolombiadev/)** (Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub) ***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (non-AI-generated) code!*** Food and drinks will be available. **LOCATION:** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 **FREE PARKING:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017

**Web Design Decoded: Tools, Practices, and Proven Processes:** **Semantic HTML** At WebDev Columbus, we are exploring some of the most important topics of professional high-end web design and page building. Primarily focused on site building in the WordPress environment, our group explores tools, tips, and techniques for building the best WordPress sites possible. Additionally, we focus on disciplines and technologies that take website design from visually appealing to optimized spaces for delivering you and/or your client's message effectively and with a nod towards extended reach. Each session combines practical demonstrations with real-world insights, giving you actionable knowledge you can apply immediately. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to enhance your design skills or a newcomer wanting to understand design best practices, this series offers valuable insights for every skill level. **What to expect:** * Hands-on demonstrations of popular design tools * Best practices for design-to-development workflows * Tips for creating responsive, accessible designs * Real-world problem-solving scenarios * Interactive Q&A sessions * Networking opportunities with fellow developers **Each meetup features:** 60 minutes of focused presentation 30 minutes of live demonstrations 30 minutes for questions and discussion **See you there!** Our casual, collaborative environment encourages learning from both presenters and fellow attendees. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and connect with Central Ohio's web development community! **Stay tuned for specific session topics and dates.**