DATA ANZ Australia

Abstract:
SQL Database is one of the best general “go-to” databases on Azure for application developers and engineers alike. Out of the box it provides a huge range of resiliency and availability features to support even the most pressing demands imposed by the business. This practical session provides a technical overview and series of supporting demonstrations to showcase the most important Azure SQL DB High Availability, and Disaster Recovery features available within the service, how these operate under the hood, and how they can be combined to provide a rock-solid database platform to host mission critical applications.

Bio:
Rolf works as a Senior Cloud Architect for Microsoft in Melbourne. He has been working in the Microsoft data platform space for about 20+ years delivering hundreds of data related projects over that time, and some have even been successful! He carries a number of certifications on SQL Server, Power BI, Azure Architecture and Data Platform stacks. He has a personal interest in all things Data Warehousing, IoT, Machine Learning, Visualisation and Spatial, and in his spare time is working on a bad game of tennis!

Abstract:
This session will provide an introduction to artificial neural networks (ANNs) and their practical applications. We will discuss the basics of how ANNs work and explore how they are used in real-world scenarios such as image recognition, natural language processing, and anomaly detection.
In addition, we will cover how to develop and train ANNs on the Microsoft Azure platform, including using Azure Machine Learning to build, train, and deploy ANNs. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned practitioner, this session will provide valuable insights into the world of ANNs and their applications.

Bio:
Haritha Thilakarathne is a Microsoft MVP in Artificial Intelligence based in Melbourne. He is currently serving as a data & AI consultant at Arinco. Haritha is reading for his PhD on Deep Learning and having years of experience with Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Azure AI stack.

Abstract:
T-SQl Window Functions are amongst some of the most innovative and useful features in the SQL Language.
They allow a range of problems to be solved that might otherwise require complex iteration. They will allow you to do such things as:

Order data in different ways with the same query

Partition data wihin a query

Access diffferent rows fro within the same query without iterating

Find gaps in data

Simply (and efficiently) define running totals within a query

Solve complex business problems more easily

This session will look at a range of implementations - from basic to advanced and will demonstrate some real-world problems that were solved using T-SQL Window Functions

Bio:
Microsoft Data Platform MVP since 2014.
Co-Lead Data Platform DownUnder

Abstract:
Power BI Deployment Pipelines is a Premium feature that allows you to separate your dev, test, and prod workloads and properly manage the promotion of artifacts from one stage to the next. In this session, Craig will introduce you to Deployment Pipelines and demonstrate how they work and how they can be invoked manually or automatically.

Bio:
Craig Bryden is Chief Executive: Data Strategy at Brisbane based consultancy BiTQ (www.bitq.com.au). Craig has been a BI / Data Analytics specialist for over 20 years. Craig is a current Microsoft Data Platform MVP and is the founder of the QLD Power BI User Group.

Abstract:
We are all used to ARM Templates as the mechanism to deploy our Azure resources. However, the templates are verbose, difficult to follow, complex to manages - especially dependencies - and although they can be modularised, each module still suffers from the same issues.
BICEP is a declarative language that helps to make the programmatic of ARM resources simpler, clearer and quicker.
In this session, I will start from an ARM Template based deployment of Azure SQL and associated resources, then introduce the components of BICEP and show how we can then simplify the same deployment code with BICEP modules.

Bio:
Martin has over 15 years of experience in SQL Server technologies. His experience spans both the Database Engine and infrastructure requirements, and Data Warehousing and BI implementations. He has worked across many industry sectors including London’s global financial institutions and both State and Federal Government Departments.
He is a Data Platform MVP, and an experienced conference presenter, having presented at PASS Summit, SQLBits, and SQL Saturday events and User Groups round the world He also runs the Microsoft Data Platform User Group in Melbourne and the Melbourne SQL Saturday event and continues to have rings run around him on the football field.

Abstract:
Did you know that you can use multiple products to achieve business success. Let's look at how we can use Power BI with Power Automate and Power Apps to achieve different business use cases, why not throw Microsoft Teams into the mix. All these together can help you Power Up your business.
Its one thing to read about the different Power Platform tools but even better to see them in action to solve real world use cases. Come to this session to see the art of the possible.
At the end of the session you will have an understanding of how the tools can work together to achieve a use case that you can then use for your future projects and tasks.

Bio:
Heidi Hasting is a Business Intelligence professional and former software developer with over seven years experience in Microsoft products. She is an ALM/DLM enthusiast and Azure DevOps fan and co-founder and organiser of the Adelaide Power BI User Group. Heidi is a regular attendee at tech events including Azure Bootcamps, DevOps days, SQLSaturdays, Difinity and PASS Summit.

Abstract:
Many enterprises today are running a hybrid architecture — data warehouses for business analytics and data lakes for machine learning and data engineering. But with the advent of the data lakehouse, you can now unify both on one platform.
Join us in today’s session to learn more about how Databricks can unify your data, analytics, and AI in one platform, and how to run Analytics at scale.

Abstract:
Join a cohort of MVPs ranging from data platform, business applications and AI in a panel session.

Abstract:
What are Data Lakehouses? When and why should you use this design pattern? How are they different from Data Warehouses?
This session will answer these questions and expand on how new architecture design patterns can help you solve some of your business problems and prepare for the future.
You may have heard about Data Lakes and data warehouses, but as technology evolves, there are new design patterns like Data Lakehouses that you should take into account when building data solutions.
This session is for beginners who want to create a data lakehouse with Azure Synapse analytics.
80% Demos 20% Fundamentals

Bio:
David Alzamendi is an Independent Data Architect and Data Consultant at Actionable Data Analytics. He is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Delivering Business Intelligence and Data Analytics Solutions with On-Premises and Cloud technologies since 2011, David is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert and event speaker who solves problems with best practice procedures and the latest technology. David is passionate about the positive impact data can have on our lives, businesses, economy and the environment. He prides himself on using his creativity and optimism to solve what others thought impossible.

Abstract:
Cloud solutions - especially those involving machine learning - can often be viewed as enterprise only solutions. However, there are countless use cases where it should be utilised in everyday life to make things more accessible. Azure ML has been making large headway in making this a possibility with low code solutions.
Join me in a session as I go through how I leverage Azure Cognitive Services in my life to transcribe a podcast in efforts to make it as inclusive and accessible as possible. See how you could have a speech to text service up and running in minutes.

Bio:
Akanksha is a Data Consultant, a Microsoft AI MVP and an international speaker. After studying Financial Maths and Actuarial Science at UCC, Ireland, she realised she wanted to work with people as well as numbers. As a consultant, she works with clients to help them solve problems by making more informed decisions with data.
She is a firm believer of diversity and inclusivity. She loves machine learning, and that it is becoming more accessible to everyone. She is an avid advocate for women in STEM and is currently the network director of Women Who Code Melbourne and advisory board member for Tech Diversity Lab.

Abstract:
A demo based overview of managing databases, cloud services, monitoring and reporting options with Powershell .

Bio:
Database Administrator with 20+ years experience working with Microsoft Data Platforms.

Abstract:
Everyone has been talking about ChatGPT and there's good reason! In session we'll explore the world of "Prompt Engineering" and how you can use this emerging skillset to massively increase your efficiency in writing proposals, gathering requirements and building mockups that will delight your users.

Bio:
Founder and Principal Consultant for Dear Watson Consulting, Greg has spent a lifetime in IT and more recently as a passionate advocate for Microsoft Power BI and the Power Platform. Greg has extensive experience in developing and deploying Power Platform solutions to a wide array of industries and organisations. Trainer, Speaker, Content Creator and Data Platform MVP 2020-2021