Don’t delay, get your submission in for the largest global conference for Data Professionals

March 10, 2022

The doors are open – today marks the opening of our PASS Data Community Summit Call for Speakers, which takes place online and in-person on November 15-18 2022. Last year we announced that the conference will be hybrid, and I want to explain more about what that means for speakers.

In 2021 PASS Data Community Summit was the largest online gathering of data professionals and saw the most diverse line up of speakers that a PASS Summit had ever seen. It’s fair to say that a key factor that supported inclusivity and diversity in the speaker line up was that the conference sessions were either pre-recorded or delivered remotely and streamed online. As a result, the barriers to entry were far lower than they are when the event takes place in a single location.

This year, we are delighted to have a physical location, at the Seattle Convention Centre, in which to welcome all those who are keen to gather together in-person. We’re also determined to keep the inclusive benefits that come as a result of the event being accessible online, from any location around the globe. We’ll be combining our experience and knowledge of hosting a global online Summit to over 18,000 registrants in 2021 with over a decade of experience of hosting conferences in-person too. Our challenge, which we have accepted, is to provide a memorable experience for all, no matter how someone chooses to experience the Summit.

As with last year, we wanted to survey the community to help us understand the views of many and for this to guide our preparations and planning. Last week we shared the results with the community and encourage speakers to digest the information, as knowing these top insights gives you a perspective of our audience and will help guide your session submission.

To ensure that everyone has the ability to experience Summit in a way that suits them, we’ve focused our efforts on the impact that the content and program will have on a global audience. The safety of everyone involved in Summit is a top priority and, taking into account community preferences, various restrictions and accessibility differences, we’ve made the decision to include remotely-presented online sessions into the schedule, as well as live stream and onsite recorded sessions. By making provisions with regards to connectivity and production, we ensure that all those, who aren’t able to make the journey to Seattle, have the opportunity to be involved and to contribute.

Here’s a rundown of the full mix of session types that speakers can choose from when deciding how to contribute to PASS Data Community Summit 2022:

By providing a range of flexible speaking options, we hope that this will appeal to an even more diverse range of data professionals and allow for different needs and preferences. There really should be nothing stopping you from submitting a session to PASS Data Community Summit!

A new speaker benefit I want to call out is that we’re introducing a financial payment for community speakers who have sessions accepted at this year’s Summit. The amount differs depending on the type of session and the delivery format chosen. Full details are listed in the Call for Speakers Guide. As a speaker you’re welcome to decide what you do with the funds, perhaps those presenting remotely might use it to fund new lighting or video equipment, and those joining us in Seattle might wish to put it towards travel or accommodation costs, while others might wish to donate the funds to a charity of their choice. Following the Summit all speakers will receive a one-time payment, in recognition of the effort that goes into creating, building, practicing, and presenting your sessions.

We encourage all data professionals to submit a proposal for this year’s PASS Data Community Summit and to join us however you’re able, as we want everyone to feel welcome at the homecoming of data professionals. Our program themes this year, are Time-honored, Ahead of the Curve, and Revolutionary, which cross over the following tracks: Database Management​, Analytics, Architecture​, Development​, Professional development​, and Diversity equity and inclusion. The Speaker Guide outlines the type of content that fits into each of the themes so all you need to decide is whether you pick one or more to inspire your session creation and submission.

Attendees will be counting on you to help them to discover the latest trends, learn the smartest hacks, and solve their biggest challenges. Think back to the last session you consumed, whether that was online or in-person, consider what impact it made on you and how it changed your perspective, now imagine doing that for someone else. It’s a powerful thought, and no matter if you’re an experienced presenter pondering which of your latest discoveries you should share with others, or you’re new to the field of speaking and wondering if you have what it takes – speaking at Summit offers you the chance to do something amazing.

Submit a proposal today, encourage someone you know to submit a proposal or rally together with some co-workers and submit as a group. Either way, the program team and volunteer program committee are excited to receive your submission.