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Welcome & i-UG "State of the Nation" Keynote
LIMITED
Tuesday November 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am GMT
Great Hall, The Mount Hotel Country Manor @ Mount Rd, Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton WV6 8HL, UK
Limited Capacity seats available
Mike and the Board of i-UG will combine to outline the ‘State of the Nation’ for i-UG at this time,

Mike will open by covering all the points relating to general activity of the group giving an update on the progress of our Education programme.  Here he will be joined by Colin Spofford to cover of some more detail on the Education Programme, how it came about and where it could go. ?? – Senior Lecturer on Computing Science at University of Wolverhampton –will further underline where we are at with the current, running course and where he (and the University) want to get to with this initiative... and we might get the odd Student to comment on the course so far...

Steve Cast will then join us to cover the i-UG general marketing improvements, the increased membership benefits being introduced including access to the COMMON USA library and will cover the up-coming events for 2025.

Andy Youens will now build on this momentum, offering a detailed insight into next year’s conference schedule and the strategic planning currently driving its development.

To complete the set, Steve (Brad) Bradshaw will cover off the technical side with particular attention to how we are using our POWER 9 and how YOU can use it too – including using it for Open Source education. Brad also wants to remind us about CEAC and how we engage.

Finishing off, Mike will introduce the main Keynote speaker – ?? – and give a flavour for the days Conference. We’ll see you there.
Speakers
avatar for Steve Bradshaw

Steve Bradshaw

Friendly Techie, RowtonIT.com
My latest work as the Friendly Techie, includes assisting IBM i with the design and testing with IBM i 7.6 as both Beta Tester and Redbook Author, and as assistant in the design and testing of the new IBM i Migrate While Active tool and the AI based RPG Code Assistant.

I have worked in the IBM Business Partner world for over thirty years now and despite IBM's best attempts I still love them ;-) My career started as an RPG developer but for the last twenty years I have specialised in System Design, installation and management. In 2008 I founded my

... Read More →
avatar for Steve Cast

Steve Cast

Practice Director/Treasurer Common Europe, Fresche Solutions
I lead the European team at Fresche Solutions, one of the world's largest IBM i dedicated teams outside of IBM.

In my role as Practice Director of Fresche Europe, I continue to build on the success of my 40+ years of working in this sector, by combining the comprehensive IBM i too

... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Liam Naughton

Dr. Liam Naughton

Senior Lecturer Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Wolverhampton
avatar for Mike Ryan

Mike Ryan

CEO/Chairman, Essist Omikron Group/i-UG
Mike Ryan has been associated with the IBM Mid-Range since 1977 and has made a career in Systems and Data Management. Mike has grown with the IBM Midrange and POWER systems, always seeking out the best way to configure, implement and get the very best out of all the systems, new... Read More →
avatar for Colin Spofford

Colin Spofford

Finance Director, i-UG
Colin has had a long history in IBM i, running well known, successful businesses like Springstone Software Services Ltd. before retiring. It is there where his love of education was forged.

Colin has been a member of the i-UG for over 30 years and he has been the Board Secretary o
... Read More →
avatar for Andy Youens

Andy Youens

Owner, FormaServe
IBM Champion. Over 45 years IBM i developer. Open Source on i guru. Ex Royal Navy. Editor of PowerWire. Certified IBM I developer & redbooks author.

Tuesday November 3, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am GMT
Great Hall, The Mount Hotel Country Manor
  Keynote Presentation

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