Event Schedule
Pre-Cons
Thursday 7 May 2026
Development
Development
Room: Jackson Park B
T-SQL That Doesn't Suck: Solving Performance and Concurrency Problems
Erik Darling
Darling Data
Pre-Cons
T-SQL That Doesn't Suck: Solving Performance and Concurrency Problems
Erik Darling
Darling Data
Session Goals: • Recognize and fix performance anti-patterns across joins, predicates, temp objects, CTEs, and window functions. • Understand and resolve concurrency issues including blocking, isolation levels, and lock-friendly DML. • Evaluate AI-generated T-SQL and learn to use AI tools without losing your edge.
Session Prerequisites: You should be comfortable writing T-SQL: SELECT, JOIN, WHERE, GROUP BY, and basic stored procedures. If you can read an execution plan without panicking, you're ready. This session picks up where the fundamentals leave off.
Track: Development
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Thursday -
9:00 AM-5:00 PM -
Room: Jackson Park B
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Jackson Park C
SQL Server Security vs. Security Theater: Build a Defensible Data Estate
Andreas Wolter
Sarpedon Quality Lab LLC
Pre-Cons
SQL Server Security vs. Security Theater: Build a Defensible Data Estate
Andreas Wolter
Sarpedon Quality Lab LLC
Session Goals: • How to apply Zero Trust and least privilege to SQL databases. • Know which security features to employ and what to look out for.
Session Prerequisites: T-SQL basics, fundamental understanding of SQL Server components (SQL Server, Databases SQL Server Agent, on-prem vs Azure SQL)
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 200
Theme: Security
-
Thursday
-
9:00 AM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park C
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park D
Modern Data Warehousing with Microsoft Fabric
Kristyna Ferris
P3 Adaptive
Pre-Cons
Modern Data Warehousing with Microsoft Fabric
Kristyna Ferris
P3 Adaptive
Chris Hyde
Hydrate Consulting LLC
Session Goals: Attendees will leave the session with a clear understanding of how to design and manage effective warehouses in Fabric, avoid common mistakes, and apply proven techniques that accelerate success in their own environments.
Session Prerequisites: Intended Audience – "Accidental" data warehousing professionals, or those looking for a refresher on the theory and techniques of data warehousing in Fabric. The focus is on data warehouse development and data engineering.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 100
Theme: AI + Data
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Thursday
-
9:00 AM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park D
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Hyde Park B
Adding PostgreSQL to your SQL Server Skill Set
Grant Fritchey
Redgate
Pre-Cons
Adding PostgreSQL to your SQL Server Skill Set
Grant Fritchey
Redgate
Pat Wright
Redgate
Session Goals: • Learn about the differences in language between SQL Server and PostgreSQL. • Understand what's different and unique in how PostgreSQL operates.
Session Prerequisites: General understanding of SQL Server in order to understand the mapping.
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 200
Theme: Cloud + Multi-DB
-
Thursday
-
9:00 AM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Hyde Park B
Sessions
Friday 8 May 2026
Professional Development
Professional Development
Room: Grant Park (CC12)
Redgate Keynote: The Data Professional of the Future
Kellyn Pot'Vin-Gorman
Redgate
Sessions
Redgate Keynote: The Data Professional of the Future
Kellyn Pot'Vin-Gorman
Redgate
Steve Jones
Redgate
G-Su Paek
Redgate
Track: Professional Development
Level: Level 100
-
Friday
-
9:00 AM-10:05 AM
-
Room: Grant Park (CC12)
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Jackson Park B
Demystifying SQL Server Security: What Matters in Practice
Andreas Wolter
Sarpedon Quality Lab LLC
Sessions
Demystifying SQL Server Security: What Matters in Practice
Andreas Wolter
Sarpedon Quality Lab LLC
Session Goals: You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of: • What attackers actually exploit. • How to prioritize remediation efforts. • What a defensible security posture really looks like.
Session Prerequisites: Basic security concepts and SQL Server fundamentals.
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 300
Theme: Security
-
Friday
-
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
-
Room: Jackson Park B
Development
Development
Room: Jackson Park C
A Practical Introduction to Vector Search in SQL Server 2025
Andy Yun
Everpure
Sessions
A Practical Introduction to Vector Search in SQL Server 2025
Andy Yun
Everpure
Session Goals: 1. An understanding of the building blocks of AI – vector embeddings and vector search & RAG architectures 2. Food for thought on how this can be used in a practical fashion and how it's not just hype
Track: Development
Level: Level 100
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
-
Room: Jackson Park C
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park D
No Black Box: How Fabric DW Works, Performs, and Gets Monitored Right
Mariya Ali
Microsoft
Sessions
No Black Box: How Fabric DW Works, Performs, and Gets Monitored Right
Mariya Ali
Microsoft
Session Goals: • Understand how Fabric DW's architecture drives query performance decisions. • Navigate the full monitoring stack to diagnose production issues fast. • Leave with an observability playbook you can apply on Monday.
Session Prerequisites: Attendees should have working familiarity with SQL and basic data warehousing concepts (tables, schemas, query execution). Prior exposure to Microsoft Fabric is helpful but not required.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
-
Room: Jackson Park D
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Hyde Park A
Productivity Hacks for the Modern Data Pro
Arneh Eskandari
Redgate
Sessions
Productivity Hacks for the Modern Data Pro
Arneh Eskandari
Redgate
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 100
-
Friday
-
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
-
Room: Hyde Park A
Analytics
Analytics
Room: Hyde Park B
Power BI – How to Fix an Inherited Report
Kristyna Ferris
P3 Adaptive
Sessions
Power BI – How to Fix an Inherited Report
Kristyna Ferris
P3 Adaptive
Session Goals: • Identifying problem areas in PBI. • Leverage AI to optimize existing models. • Checklists to use when optimizing.
Session Prerequisites: Recommend having used Power BI before, come with your questions on how to fix reports that aren't working!
Track: Analytics
Level: Level 200
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
10:30 AM-11:30 AM
-
Room: Hyde Park B
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park B
Azure SQL Hyperscale: The Cloud Database for the Era of AI
Bob Ward
Microsoft
Sessions
Azure SQL Hyperscale: The Cloud Database for the Era of AI
Bob Ward
Microsoft
Session Goals: • Learn why Hyperscale is the same as SQL Server but uniquely built for the cloud. • Bust myths about how Hyperscale is priced and works for the smallest to largest databases in the world. • Learn how to take advantage of built-in AI capabilities with Hyperscale.
Session Prerequisites: A fundamental knowledge of SQL Server. A fundamental knowledge of Azure is preferred but not required.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park B
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park C
Unlocking AI-Assisted Database Migration: SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL
Vanshika Nigam
Amazon Web Services
Sessions
Unlocking AI-Assisted Database Migration: SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL
Vanshika Nigam
Amazon Web Services
Amit Arora
Amazon Web Services
Session Goals: Attendees will leave with a practical framework for tackling heterogeneous migrations, real-world examples of schema conversion challenges , and strategies for balancing AI assistance with security requirements.
Session Prerequisites: Basic understanding of database migration and cloud.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 200
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park C
Analytics
Analytics
Room: Jackson Park D
Demystifying Microsoft Fabric: Architecture and Organization 101
Chris Hyde
Hydrate Consulting LLC
Sessions
Demystifying Microsoft Fabric: Architecture and Organization 101
Chris Hyde
Hydrate Consulting LLC
Session Goals: • Understand the conceptual building blocks of a modern data warehouse system. • Understand the architecture and organization of several types of Microsoft Fabric solutions. • Understand medallion architecture and its role in a Microsoft Fabric solution.
Session Prerequisites: No prior knowledge required.
Track: Analytics
Level: Level 100
Theme: AI + Data
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Friday
-
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park D
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Hyde Park A
The MySQL to MariaDB Blueprint: Zero-Downtime Migrations and Future-Proof Roadmaps
Ben Grieser
MariaDB
Sessions
The MySQL to MariaDB Blueprint: Zero-Downtime Migrations and Future-Proof Roadmaps
Ben Grieser
MariaDB
Session Goals: Leave this session with the knowledge and architectural logic to de-risk your migration. Transition from maintaining a legacy fork to deploying advanced features like MaxScale automatic failover and Native Vector Search for the next decade of data scale.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 100
Theme: Cloud + Multi-DB
-
Friday
-
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
-
Room: Hyde Park A
Professional Development
Professional Development
Room: Hyde Park B
The Expansion Mindset: Redefining Career Growth Beyond Promotions
Andrea Kaercher
Fortified Data
Sessions
The Expansion Mindset: Redefining Career Growth Beyond Promotions
Andrea Kaercher
Fortified Data
Session Goals: • Identify personal expansion opportunities. • Develop a strategic approach to career growth aligned with personal strengths and circumstances rather than external expectations. • Learn to communicate professional development effectively during performance reviews and salary negotiations
Session Prerequisites: No prior knowledge required. This session is designed for data professionals at any career stage and role; from early-career analysts to experienced DBAs and architects.
Track: Professional Development
Level: Level 100
-
Friday
-
11:45 AM-12:45 PM
-
Room: Hyde Park B
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park B
Governing AI Agents: Designing Skills for Control and Trust
Tyler Garner
ION Storage Systems
Sessions
Governing AI Agents: Designing Skills for Control and Trust
Tyler Garner
ION Storage Systems
Session Goals: • Understand how to design skills as governed interfaces for AI agents. • Learn to implement policy-driven access, observability, and auditability. • Apply patterns to transform experimental agents into controlled, production-ready systems.
Session Prerequisites: Familiarity with SQL, basic API concepts, and general understanding of AI/LLM use cases. No prior experience building AI agents is required, but attendees should be comfortable with architectural concepts and data system design patterns.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
2:30 PM-3:30 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park B
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Jackson Park C
Highlights and Hidden Gems in SQL Server 2025
Matt Gordon
Lean TECHniques
Sessions
Highlights and Hidden Gems in SQL Server 2025
Matt Gordon
Lean TECHniques
Session Goals: • Learn features in SQL Server 2025 that can improve performance right now. • Learn what AI support in SQL Server 2025 really means. • Understand features that you should be aware of, but aren't production-ready just yet.
Session Prerequisites: • Previous SQL Server knowledge helpful, but not required • Basic knowledge of concepts of relational databases
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 200
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
2:30 PM-3:30 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park C
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Jackson Park D
SQL Server Versioning Explained
Bob Ward
Microsoft
Sessions
SQL Server Versioning Explained
Bob Ward
Microsoft
Session Goals: • Understand how versioning works in SQL Server • Learn how using various database options control versioning and affect performance • Bust myths about how versioning can negatively affect your application
Session Prerequisites: Fundamental understanding of SQL Server.
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 300
Theme: Cloud + Multi-DB
-
Friday
-
2:30 PM-3:30 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park D
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Hyde Park B
SQL Security from Top to Bottom
Ben Johnston
I-Tech Solutions, Inc.
Sessions
SQL Security from Top to Bottom
Ben Johnston
I-Tech Solutions, Inc.
Session Goals: • Understand SQL options for connecting to the database (authorization). • Understand how logins, users, roles and directly applied security interact. • Methods to verify security.
Session Prerequisites: • Basic TSQL skills. • No prior SQL security knowledge is needed.
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 200
Theme: Security
-
Friday
-
2:30 PM-3:30 PM
-
Room: Hyde Park B
Development
Development
Room: Jackson Park B
Vector Defense: Engineering Reliable Search in SQL Server
Erik Darling
Darling Data
Sessions
Vector Defense: Engineering Reliable Search in SQL Server
Erik Darling
Darling Data
Session Goals: • See how duplicate vectors silently collapse DiskANN recall. • Build T-SQL triggers that validate and quarantine bad vectors at ingestion. • Detect staleness and duplicates with content hashing — using skills you already have.
Session Prerequisites: Some knowledge about how RAG and vector search work is probably good.
Track: Development
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
4:00 PM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park B
Architecture
Architecture
Room: Jackson Park C
From SQL Server to PostgreSQL: Navigating the Migration Minefield
Poulami Maity
Amazon Web Services
Sessions
From SQL Server to PostgreSQL: Navigating the Migration Minefield
Poulami Maity
Amazon Web Services
Vanshika Nigam
Amazon Web Services
Session Goals: Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the migration patterns and challenges that surface most often in real SQL Server to PostgreSQL projects, and hard-won lessons from real enterprise migrations including real-world gotchas from SQL Server to Aurora PostgreSQL on AWS.
Session Prerequisites: Understanding of SQL Server concepts.
Track: Architecture
Level: Level 300
Theme: Cloud + Multi-DB
-
Friday
-
4:00 PM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park C
Database Management
Database Management
Room: Jackson Park D
Always On Availability Groups and Failover Clustering Internals
Edwin M Sarmiento
15C
Sessions
Always On Availability Groups and Failover Clustering Internals
Edwin M Sarmiento
15C
Session Goals: • Learn the interaction between SQL Server and the Windows Server Failover Cluster to achieve high availability. • Avoid performing administrative tasks that jeopardizes availability of SQL Server databases. • How to use the cluster error log with SQL Server logs to troubleshoot availability issues.
Session Prerequisites: Attendees should have experience deploying SQL Server Always On Availability Groups on Windows Server Failover Clusters
Track: Database Management
Level: Level 400
-
Friday
-
4:00 PM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Jackson Park D
Analytics
Analytics
Room: Hyde Park B
Real Time Analytics in Microsoft Fabric: From Events to Action
Jeremy Nathan
JN Training Inc
Sessions
Real Time Analytics in Microsoft Fabric: From Events to Action
Jeremy Nathan
JN Training Inc
Session Goals: • Understand how real‑time analytics works in Microsoft Fabric, from event ingestion to visualization. • Identify when to use real‑time or near‑real‑time analytics versus batch BI. • Apply practical guidance for designing scalable, reliable real‑time solutions in Fabric.
Session Prerequisites: Attendees should have a general understanding of data analytics concepts and familiarity with Power BI or SQL‑based analytics. Basic awareness of Microsoft Fabric or cloud data platforms is helpful but not required.
Track: Analytics
Level: Level 300
Theme: AI + Data
-
Friday
-
4:00 PM-5:00 PM
-
Room: Hyde Park B