Microsoft Power Platform

Hi folks! Welcome to our January Cloud Native London meetup, our first of 2026! Join us to hear from our three great speakers and network with your fellow techies over pizza and drinks, or alternatively chat and following along on Youtube! 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 Feature Flags: A Safety Net in the AI Era (Kyle Johnson, Flagsmith) 7:15 Context driven AI Agents (Shubhangi Goyal) 7:45 Break 8:00 Why Cloud Cost Assessment Must Come Before Cloud-Native Build (Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson, BrassicaPay) 8:30 Wrap up See you there! Cheryl (@oicheryl) **Feature Flags: A Safety Net in the AI Era (Kyle Johnson, Flagsmith)** Identifying new safety mechanisms for developers has become vital as AI innovation progresses at speeds previously only hypothesised and engineering teams continue to incorporate AI into their workflows. Feature flags, by separating deployments from releases, reduce the risk of releasing AI-assisted code, while also automating release strategies. The promise of AI—speed and efficiency—is, in actuality, only half true. It's fast, but it's not efficient. Teams still need to comb through, test, and fix the code. Without feature flags, the bottleneck simply moves. *Co-Founder at Flagsmith: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-johnson-56247365/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-johnson-56247365/)* **Context driven AI Agents (Shubhangi Goyal)** In this session, I will explore how agents are built and use dynamic context to execute complex tasks and deliver real value. This also includes using context engineering to move beyond single prompt based interactions. *Find me at [https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-goyal-0ab69795/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhangi-goyal-0ab69795/)* **Why Cloud Cost Assessment Must Come Before Cloud-Native Build (Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson, BrassicaPay)** Many organisations adopt the cloud-nativve architectures with scalability and speed in mind; yet only realise after launching that cloud costs have spiralled beyond expectations and many issues. This talk will explore why cost surprises are so common in cloud-native journeys and argues that cost assessment must happen before migration, before architecture decisions, and before code is written. Drawing from real-world consulting experience and industry research, the session examines how early design choices-such as service selection, consumption models, environments, and governance-directly influence long-term cloud spend across AWS, Azure, and GCP (others). We will also look at why cost alerts, budgets, and subscriptions-while valuable-are reactive controls, not substitutes for upfront cost modelling. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for embedding cost assessment into cloud-native planning, enabling teams to build scalable systems without cost becoming an after-the-fact shock. And having to explain figures and cloud spend when costs goes high. This will also help team members to be accountable is RACI models or framework are adopted in addition to cost control strategies. *Mawuko Jeffrey Wilson is a Cloud Security Lead (Engineer) and Architect with hands-on experience designing, securing, and optimising cloud-native platforms across fintech, cost-control, public sector, and product-led technology environments. He specialises in cloud governance, cost-aware architecture (FinOps), and security-first design, helping organisations align cloud adoption with financial sustainability. Mawuko has worked across AWS, Azure, and GCP ecosystems, supporting migration planning, cloud security controls, and operational optimisation. Alongside industry work, he loves networking, learning new things, and sharing, and bringing a data-driven lens to cloud decision-making-particularly around cost forecasting, security, risk, governance, and operational efficiency.* ***Check out [https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon](https://www.oicheryl.com/cloudnativelondon) if you're interested in speaking or sponsoring.***

🍻 Tech Startups in the Pub – Now Twice a Month! 🚀 We’re levelling up! After 3 years of packed evenings in Shoreditch, we’re adding a second monthly event, this time midweek in Oxford Street. That means two chances every month to meet founders, techies, and startup people over drinks. 🎉 👉 What’s New * A **fresh central-London venue**: Simmons Bar, Oxford Street * A new day: **1st Wednesday** of the month * Find one of the hosts to **grab a wristband**, it makes it easy to spot who’s part of the meetup (and not a random party). 😉 👉 What Stays the Same * No agenda, no panels, just relaxed networking with like-minded people. * Friendly hosts (look for Oliver, Pedro, Rob, or Rob) ready to introduce you. * A mix of founders, builders, operators, and curious newcomers. * Drinks, chats, and maybe some new friends. 📍 Where: Simmons Bar \| Oxford Street\, 203 Wardour St\, London W1F 8ZH 🕕 When: From 6 PM, 1st Wednesday of every month House Rules * No hard selling or heavy pitching, this is a chill after-work meetup. * Not drinking? Totally fine, come for the people, stay for the conversation. So grab a drink, throw on your wristband, and come swap stories from the trenches. See you there! 🍻

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43533 **Game Description:** 👟 Drills led by experienced players who also join the session. 💪 Intense volleyball skills practice for individuals. 🎮 Drills and game setting. 🌟 Positive co-learning environment for rapid improvement. 🏐 Access to 18 volleyballs. Rules \- point to 15 \- max 2 games in a row \- 3 team of 6 players \- modified games situation might be applied depending on situation \(5:1\, modified 5:1 or 6:2 etc\.\) \*Privacy policy for drills and games sessions\* You may not record any footage or take photos during the session unless explicitly authorised by the organisers.

**Unleash Your Voice at Society Speakers** > **Next Session: Wed 7th Jan \| 7PM \| Oxford St\, London** Whether you're pitching investors, cracking jokes at open mics, or giving a toast that doesn’t tank—**public speaking is your secret weapon**. And the only way to master it? Practice. (And ideally, not alone.) At **Society Speakers**, we give you the mic—and the *confidence* to own it. **Here’s what goes down:** * 3 prepared speeches (5–7 mins) * Lightning-round impromptu speeches (1–2 mins) * Constructive, empowering feedback * Laughs, insights, and mic-drop moments **As a guest:** You can chill and observe—or jump in with a mini speech if you're feeling spicy. **When & Where** Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday 7PM (doors), 7:10PM (kick-off) 📍 Speak Up London, 139 Oxford St, London W1D 2JA 🍻 **Afterglow** We wrap at 9PM and head to the pub for drinks and debriefs. Great convos, zero pressure.

**A night dedicated to spiritual uplifting, with mantra meditation, a short talk and a delicious VEGGIE/VEGAN DINNER** 🌱 SCHEDULE: * **6:30 Mindfulness Intro Meditation** We begin the session with mindfulness exercises, breath-work and a guided meditation. We create a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere that starts us on the right foot for the rest of the night 🌙 **7:00 Wisdom Talk** Every week a new guest speaker sharing ancient spiritual wisdom and philosophy. World-famous monks and yogis, authors, artists, motivational speakers, and more 👀 Check our [Instagram page](https://www.instagram.com/studio108_ldn/) to find out upcoming speakers. * **7:30 Mantra Meditation (Kirtan)** Kirtan and Mantra meditation is a beautiful process of spiritual connection through sound. We allow our ears to take in the vibration of the Mantra and then use our voices to sing out the Mantra, filling the space with an unexpected symphony 🎶 * **8:00 Veggie/Vegan Dinner** 🌱 Served in our wonderful cafe area on the ground floor. The food we serve at Studio 108 is cooked by our amazing team and always made with spiritual consciousness and love ❤️ **Ticket Price** 🎟 (includes Dinner): Door price: General £17 \| *Student £14* Online \(Eventbrite\): General £14 \| *Student £10* **Where** 📍: 57 Theobalds Road, Holborn, WC1X 8SP **When** 📆: Every Wednesday at 6.30pm (Doors open at 6.15pm) [Book online](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/studio-108-34126014551) or pay at the door🚪 [@studio108_ldn](https://www.instagram.com/studio108_ldn/) to stay up to date and find out more.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43139 **Game Description:** This is a casual but competitive mixed ability and ages game with a good group of guys 🙌 Playing on pitch 4 **Rules** \* No slide tackles. \* Shoot from outside the penalty area - attackers not allowed in the box. \* Keeper cannot come out of the penalty area or it’s a pen. \* Defenders not allowed in the area or it’s a pen. \* Rules are sometime flexed if number low or we have odd numbers.

Lorenzo Foti (2024 and 2025 Excel World Championship semi-finalist) and Lara Holding-Jones share some of their lessons learnt from competitive excel esports Great functions we'd never use in working life but use all the time for esports (sins) and the best practices we've learnt from esports that you absolutely should use in your day job (wins). These are based on lessons they've learnt through competitive excelling, as well as broader working life. So, they will share a little bit about Excel esports, including some example questions. Great if you're thinking about signing up to the UK and/or global competitions. But, the session won't exclusively be about esports, it's about real life, so you'll find this really beneficial, even if you aren't interested in competing. This is an **in-person only** event to be held at Meeting Room 3 Canada Water Library 21 Surrey Quays Rd, London SE16 7AR

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43242 **Game Description:** Come and play in a Lower-Inter & Above indoor volleyball game on a Sunday 🙌 🚨 Be considerate & ONLY sign up to this game if you are at this level (sorry!). We have the right to cancel & refund you from this game if we think you're a beginner (you will be notified via email). This is nothing personal at all, we just need to ensure good quality games and rallies 🔥 **Directions:** 🚶‍♂️ 7 minute walk from King's Cross or Euston Station 🚿Changing rooms and showers available. **Rules** \- 3 teams of 6 \- Games up to 15 points \- Max 2 games in a row Be positive and encouraging to all players 🧡

Share, learn and network with fellow Product People at **The Product Group London** on **Thu 8th January**! **Topic of the Night: First 100 Days of Managing a Product** Sometimes you start products from scratch, but most of the time you inherit a product. So, how do you begin managing that product? How do you figure out the problems, the product, the metrics, the processes, how decisions are made, what matters, etc - all from a base of limited knowledge about the product! **Featured Guest: James Smith, Founder & CEO Human Native** James is the Co-founder and CEO of Human Native AI, the AI data marketplace that fairly benefits both rights holders and AI developers. James has a PhD in Computer Science and a decade of experience developing AI products at Google and DeepMind. James co-founded Human Native AI to address the fundamental challenges in AI-driven content monetisation, including fairness and rights holder participation. **About The Product Group London** The Product Group London is a monthly meetup designed to bring product people of all levels together for topical discussions, as a group and with our guest speakers. With attendees from startups to large enterprises, there is no shortage of opportunities to network and make new connections. And whilst the focus is on product management, we welcome product designers and engineers to join for some friendly and lively discussions. **A word about our sponsor and host, BrainStation** [BrainStation](https://brainstation.io/london) is a global leader in digital skills learning and workforce transformation. They empower businesses and professionals to succeed in the digital age. Check out their leadership series of events to join the community and conversation: [https://brainstation.io/events/london](https://brainstation.io/events/london)

These fortnightly sessions are dedicated to the discussion and exploration of an idea that I, as the organiser, have planned. No prior reading or knowledge is required. For more information, please visit https://www.think-philosophy.group/about/

We are back! This is going to be a monthly IN PERSON meet up in London. A very big thank you goes to Accurx who is hosting us in their amazing Shoreditch offices. This will include access to facilities including coffee! 😻☕️ **Want to know more? 👇** As with all CoffeeOps, this is an interactive, chatty, build your own adventure type of meet-up. Instead of booking in experts to *learn* *from*, we gather a group of practitioners to ***learn*** ***with***. We have been running for over 4 years now and often get feedback that this is the most useful meetup people join! The event is approximately 90 minutes and always starts by brainstorming topics to discuss. The group then votes on the most relevant/interesting to them and we then cycle through the topics trying to discuss each deeply, but in a time bound slot. To get an idea of topics, you can check out our remote board [here](https://easyretro.io/publicboard/h404NF84Uje4tCcxpJdHr4Ycs9B3/a4a35d2b-181b-409b-832e-a729be1af79c). The general gist is anything is fair game, though we tend to revolve around software delivery and definitely lean towards the more Ops-y or DevOps-y side of things.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE DOING SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE THIS SATURDAY, WHY NOT **COME** TO THE KNOWLEDGE BOOK REFLECTION FOCAL POINT? YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE AND RECEIVE THE BETA COSMIC ENERGY, THE FREQUENCY OF WHICH IS THE ACTIVATOR OF OUR GENETIC POTENTIAL AND THE CONNECTION WITH YOUR ESSENCE ARCHIVES. IF THIS SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT, EXPERIENCE OR QUESTION, PLEASE **COME**. For more information call Milena 07808222959

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-london-business-networking-director-connector-at-iod-champagne-tickets-1972405825921?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-london-business-networking-director-connector-at-iod-champagne-tickets-1972405825921?aff=meetup)** Network with like minded company directors, founders and entrepreneurs in a reserved area at the Institute of Directors Join **entrepreneurs, directors, investors, and professionals** at the prestigious Institute of Directors in London for high-level connections, strategic partnerships, and premium networking opportunities. Looking to make powerful business connections in London? Join **London Connector®** at the **exclusive Champagne Bar, Institute of Directors (IoD), 116 Pall Mall**, for a premium networking evening in one of the city’s most prestigious venues. This is not your average networking night. Hosted in the historic IoD building, usually reserved for members only, this event gives you a **rare opportunity** to step inside a venue that symbolizes professional prestige and British business excellence. Surrounded by refined interiors and an elegant atmosphere, you’ll be part of an evening designed to help you build **meaningful relationships, discover new opportunities, and grow your network** at the highest level. ## **Who You’ll Meet** Our events are carefully curated to ensure quality conversations and valuable connections. Expect to meet: * **Entrepreneurs & Startup Founders** – looking for investors, collaborators, and strategic partners * **Company Directors, CEOs & Executives** – seeking growth opportunities and alliances * **Investors & Advisors** – scouting new ventures and partnerships * **Professionals across industries** – including tech, finance, law, media, sustainability, marketing, and healthcare * **Business Owners & Consultants** – expanding their client base and building trusted connections Every London Connector® event brings together **forward-thinking, opportunity-driven professionals** who believe in collaboration and supporting one another’s growth. ## **Why Attend?** ✅ **Prestigious Venue Access** – Network at the Champagne Bar inside the Institute of Directors, a landmark in London’s business world that is rarely open to non-members. ✅ **High-Caliber Networking** – Connect with entrepreneurs, decision-makers, and innovators who are shaping the future of business. ✅ **Pre-Event WhatsApp Group** – Start networking before the event with fellow attendees in our private group. ✅ **A Hosted, Structured Evening** – With facilitated introductions and a relaxed yet professional setting, everyone feels included. ✅ **Premium Experience** – Limited capacity (60 guests) ensures quality interactions instead of crowded, impersonal networking. ⚠️ This event has **sold out more than once in the past**. Early booking is strongly advised as tickets are limited and non-refundable. ## **Who Should Attend?** This event is perfect if you are: * An entrepreneur or startup founder seeking investors or collaborators * A director, CEO, or executive looking for new partnerships and opportunities * An investor, consultant, or advisor scouting fresh talent and ideas * A professional in tech, finance, law, sustainability, or marketing expanding your network * A business owner looking to meet like-minded achievers in an elegant setting ## **What Makes London Connector® Events Unique?** Unlike traditional networking events that feel rushed or overcrowded, **London Connector®** creates experiences where genuine conversations and valuable relationships flourish. We focus on **quality over quantity**, ensuring each attendee gets the chance to build connections that matter. Our track record speaks for itself: * Consistently **sold-out events** at prestigious venues * A curated guest list of **decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors** * A welcoming atmosphere where introductions are facilitated, and no one feels left out * Post-event connections supported through our curated WhatsApp groups 📸 **Photography & Video Disclaimer** Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event to capture the energy of the evening. These may be used on our website, social media, and future promotional materials. If you prefer not to appear in any content, simply inform one of our event hosts upon arrival and we will ensure your preference is respected. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networking/) * [#startup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23startup/) * [#investors](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23investors/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#london](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23london/) * [#director](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23director/) * [#october](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23october/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#business_growth](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_growth/) * [#business_professional](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_professional/)

SQL Server 2025 delivers a major round of improvements across performance, security, manageability, and hybrid connectivity, and this session gives you a practical, no‑nonsense tour of what matters most. We’ll cover enhancements to the core engine, query processing, storage, and availability that benefit DBAs and developers regardless of where SQL Server runs. You’ll see how SQL Server 2025 aligns with Azure SQL’s roadmap while still supporting strong on‑premises and VM‑based deployments. We’ll highlight new management, monitoring, and troubleshooting capabilities designed to simplify operations and reduce firefighting. AI‑powered features exist in this release, but the focus here is on the foundational improvements you can use immediately. Whether you’re modernizing, maintaining, or planning your next upgrade cycle, this session will help you understand what’s new and how to prepare your environment and your team.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/

Agenda 3 - Welcome and announcements 3:10 - Partners not Providers: The new standard for implementation success - Brendan Murphy 3:45 - Break 3:50 - Immersive Home and Security Role License features you might have missed - Mark Zerr 4:30 - Closing 4:40 - Networking at Four Day Rays

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** GitHub Copilot is rapidly changing how developers write, understand, and maintain code. Powered by generative AI and deeply integrated into modern development environments, Copilot acts as an intelligent coding assistant, helping developers move faster while maintaining quality and focus. In this session, we’ll explore what GitHub Copilot is, how it works, and where it fits into a real-world developer workflow. We’ll break down what Copilot can (and cannot) do, where it can be used, and how licensing differs for individuals and organizations. Most importantly, this talk goes beyond theory with a live, hands-on demo showcasing Copilot inside the IDE and on GitHub, demonstrating how it can assist with code generation, refactoring, learning new APIs, and accelerating day-to-day development tasks. Designed for developers, technical leads, and engineering managers, this session provides a practical introduction to AI-assisted development, highlights best practices for getting value from Copilot, and closes with guidance on how to continue learning and evolving alongside this rapidly advancing tool. Attendees will leave with a clear understanding of how GitHub Copilot can enhance productivity, improve developer experience, and fit into modern software teams today, not someday. **YouTube Link** TBA

* Who Can Attend * The Central Ohio .Net Developers Group meetings are free and open to the public! All developers; professional, student, and hobbiest are welcome and encouraged to attend. * When we meet * The Central Ohio .Net Developers Group meets on the 4th Thursday of every month. * Where we meet * Please check our Meetup group link below for location details! * Join our Meetup Group * https://www.meetup.com/Central-Ohio-NET-Developers-Group-CONDG/

**Doing KPIs Right: a KEY to Analytics (and AI!) Impact!** On the one hand, KPIs are such a Business 101 concept that it may seem a little silly to dedicate an entire session to the topic. On the other hand, KPIs get handled so poorly so often that a case could be made that this meetup could just be one of the most impactful sessions of the entire year! We’re starting off the year at a new location: [COhatch Upper Arlington](https://www.cohatch.com/locations/columbus/upper-arlington/) but with a familiar speaker, Tim Wilson! We’ll be back at Rev1 in February, when the speaker will presumably not be Tim. Tim will make the case that effectively measuring performance of projects, campaigns, and initiatives (and even meetups!) should be a foundation for any data analytics program. Topics covered will include: the “two magic questions” of performance measurement, how to help business partners distinguish between outcomes and outputs, and effective tactics for collaboratively establishing KPI targets. He will also stick his neck out by demonstrating some of these techniques in real-time by measuring whether his talk lives up to the promise of this description! All CBUSDAW events are free thanks to our 2026 Sponsors: Clarivoy, Conductrics, What Box Consulting Group, and Piwik PRO. Check out [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com) for more information.

Coming in January 2026: a warm, reflective gathering to close one chapter and open another. More details coming soon. Together, we look back at the moments, shifts, and practices that shaped the past year—what worked, what surprised us, and what we’re ready to release. Then we lean forward into who we want to become: the intentions, experiments, and stories we want next January’s version of ourselves to be telling. A gentle, inspiring circle that invites clarity, connection, and shared wisdom.Check us out on Meetup to learn more and rsvp #womeninagilecolumbus #womeninagile