My journey from Solution Architect to Trusted Advisor

What separates a solid Solution Architect from a true Trusted Advisor? It’s not just technical mastery. It’s mindset, communication, and learning from the mistakes that hold many architects back.

Ben Yu (LinkedIn) is an accomplished Enterprise Architect and host of the Solution Architect Show podcast. In this session, Ben will share insights from his career designing enterprise solutions, data strategies, and integration frameworks across government and commercial organisations. Beyond the diagrams and roadmaps, Ben’s focus is on the human side of architecture - building trust, saying "no" with confidence, staying professional under pressure, and finding mentors who accelerate growth.

Drawing on stories, hard-won lessons, and a few common pitfalls, Ben will help you see the path from "solution expert" to "strategic partner". Expect practical advice, honest reflections, and plenty to take back into your own practice.

Everyone is welcome - if you are in an IT/Digital role or considering one, you do architecture and you should come along and meet us. This talk will be particularly useful for folks considering an Architect role or wanting to know what Architects do.

This talk will be both in person and remote via Teams. I'll post links to the Teams session closer to the time.