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Tuesday, November 3
 

9:30am GMT

Welcome & i-UG "State of the Nation" Keynote
LIMITED
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

10:30am GMT

Keynote - The Future is Now: IBM i, Power, and AI—Latest News & What's Next
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Curious about the direction of your platform? Join Wennie and Scott for a dynamic, high-impact session diving into the latest and greatest news and happenings across the core pillars of the IBM Power systems. We'll cut through the noise to bring you essential updates on:
  • IBM i: Discover key enhancements, strategic roadmaps, and the future of your business applications.
  • IBM Power: Get the scoop on new hardware capabilities, performance benchmarks, and how Power continues to deliver industry-leading resilience and efficiency.
  • IBM AI Initiatives: Learn how artificial intelligence is being integrated into the Power and IBM i landscape, and what these innovations mean for your daily operations and long-term strategy.
Whether you're an administrator, developer, or IT manager, this session is a must-attend to ensure you're equipped with the knowledge to drive innovation and make informed decisions in the year ahead.
Speakers
avatar for Wennie Allen

Wennie Allen

Executive Director of Product Management, IBM Power, IBM
Wennie Allen is the Executive Director of Product Management for IBM Power. Wennie oversees teams responsible for developing and delivering impactful Power products and offerings, including the Power platform, IBM i, and AIX. She plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of IBM Power... Read More →
avatar for Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
Tuesday November 3, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am GMT
Great Hall, The Mount Hotel Country Manor

3:50pm GMT

Hidden Gems of IBM i
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
The IBM i team has been delivering new functions two times per year since 2010. New releases and technology refreshes deliver a broad range of function and sometimes the smallest line items can be easily missed. The IBM i team has reviewed the past releases/refreshes and have assembled some of their favourite hidden gems; things that you might have missed but should know. Everyone will leave with something new that will help them in their day to day work.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about some of the very useful but lesser known functions of IBM i.
2. Have fun with the 3 S's. (Steve, Scott, and Sanjula)













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 Scott Forstie

Scott Forstie

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM
Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.
Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →
avatar for Sanjula Ganepola

Sanjula Ganepola

Software Developer - IBM i App Dev & AI Toolchain, IBM
Sanjula Ganepola is a Software Developer at IBM working on IBM i application development tools. As an open-source advocate, he is an active contributor and maintainer of several Visual Studio Code extensions including IBM i Project Explorer, Code for IBM i, IBM i Testing, Source Orbit... Read More →
Tuesday November 3, 2026 3:50pm - 4:35pm GMT
Great Hall, The Mount Hotel Country Manor

4:35pm GMT

Close
LIMITED
Limited Capacity seats available
Join Mike and Steve for a recap of today's event and reminders of our events in 2024.

Don't forget to complete those feedback forms! 
Speakers
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 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 →
Tuesday November 3, 2026 4:35pm - 4:45pm GMT
Great Hall, The Mount Hotel Country Manor
 
i-UG Conference Midlands 2026
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