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48 activities across 8 years
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48 activities
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In this Coding Night ANZ talk, I explored governance and observability for production-ready AI agents. Through a practical demo, I showed how to enforce policies around agent behaviour, control tool access, inspect execution traces, and correlate logs with traces to investigate policy decisions and runtime failures.
At the AI Engineer NZ meetup in Wellington, I demonstrated how to govern and observe AI agents in production. Through a hands-on demo, I explored controlling tool access, tracing agent activity, connecting logs with traces, and investigating policy decisions and runtime failures, showing how to make agent behaviour easier to understand and troubleshoot.
I delivered a hands-on GitHub Copilot CLI workshop as part of GitHub Dev Days. We built and refined an application from the terminal, using natural language prompts, project instructions, GitHub issues, and parallel sessions. The workshop also covered planning changes, reviewing code, managing context, and using agentic workflows to take work through to a pull request.
As AI agents gain autonomy and access to tools, APIs, and real-world systems, governance becomes a practical engineering challenge. In this session, I explored the limitations of traditional AI safety approaches, introduced the concepts behind the Agent Governance Toolkit, and discussed how to build governance into agentic applications from the start.
In this hands-on session, I built an AI agent from scratch using Microsoft Foundry Toolkit for VS Code. Through concepts and live demos, we explored connecting models and tools, testing and debugging agents locally, inspecting behaviour and tool calls, and deploying to Microsoft Foundry. I also showed how agent development fits into a .NET and C# workflow.
I shared practical insights from Microsoft Build 2026 with Wellington's developer and AI community. The session explored building and deploying AI-powered solutions on Azure with Microsoft Foundry and GitHub Copilot, combining real-world use cases, live demos, and guided labs with guidance on secure, scalable applications relevant to New Zealand teams.
As part of the global GitHub Copilot Dev Days 2026 initiative, I delivered a practical workshop on AI-assisted coding. Participants explored GitHub Copilot through hands-on exercises and real development workflows, learning how to improve productivity and streamline everyday coding tasks while experimenting together with the local developer community.
At Code Camp Wellington, a free, volunteer-run tech conference for Wellington's tech community, I shared hands-on experience using Aspire in a real project. The talk explored the shift from pressing F5 to run a single service to developing distributed, cloud-native applications locally, with Aspire simplifying service connections, dependency management, and built-in observability. I also covered its support for workloads beyond .NET, including Python, and what that means for teams building mixed-stack systems.
I served as a judge for Microsoft Imagine Cup 2026.
At Wellington's .NET Conf 2025 community event, I introduced Microsoft Agent Framework and its role in .NET AI development. The session explored how developers can use the framework to build intelligent, interactive applications, with practical examples and discussion of the latest tools for developing AI agents in .NET.
I presented a hands-on introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP) as part of Microsoft's Season of AI community initiative. We explored how MCP supports AI interoperability and smarter AI-powered experiences, then worked through guided labs and exercises together. The session included community discussion and Q&A to help developers apply the concepts to their own projects.
In a joint meetup with the AI Engineer NZ User Group, I demonstrated how Azure AI Foundry helps developers build production-grade AI agents. The session covered defining and deploying agents through the portal and SDK, followed by a demo of a multi-agent application to show how the pieces work together.
In this LinkedIn Learning course, taught in Chinese, I introduce core AI concepts and their practical applications on Azure, covering generative AI, natural language processing, computer vision, document intelligence, knowledge mining, content safety, and machine learning. Demonstrations connect these concepts to Azure services, while responsible AI principles help learners understand how to apply the technologies in business.
In this LinkedIn Learning course, taught in Chinese, I demonstrate how to use GitHub Copilot for AI-assisted pair programming, covering code completion, editing, and asking questions. A hands-on project takes learners from setup through front-end and back-end development, showing how Copilot can help reduce repetitive work and support faster development and iteration.
In this Chinese-language session for Microsoft AI Genius Bootcamp, I introduced Azure AI Agent services and how they enable developers to build semi-autonomous software. The session explored how agents can work towards an assigned goal without every step being specified in advance, helping automate tasks and processes that are too complex for traditional software approaches.
At Cloud Native Summit, an independent, community-driven, vendor-neutral conference, I explored the shift from chatbots to intelligent agents. The talk covered using Semantic Kernel to integrate large language models into cloud-native applications, grounding responses with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and designing agents that make decisions and automate workflows. It examined how these capabilities are changing software development and problem-solving in 2025.
I presented From Prompts to Agents at Global AI Bootcamp 2025 Wellington. The session explored prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), function calling, and Model Context Protocol (MCP), connecting these techniques to building AI agents.
In this online, demo-driven session, I explored how GitHub Copilot Agent Mode can support a .NET development workflow beyond code completion. We built a .NET application with Copilot actively assisting the process and discussed practical tips for using its capabilities in everyday development to improve productivity.
I served as a judge for the Imagine Cup Junior AI for Good 2024 Final Competition, the Imagine Cup 2025 Idea round, and the Imagine Cup 2025 Minimum Viable Product (MVP) round.
In this LinkedIn Learning course, taught in Chinese, I guide beginners through the fundamentals of C#. The course covers setting up a development environment, writing a first program, variables and data types, conditionals and loops, string manipulation, functions and parameter passing, and classes and object-oriented programming. It provides a practical foundation for further C# development.
At After Microsoft Ignite & .NET Conf 2024 in Beijing, I showed how to build an intelligent email assistant using Semantic Kernel and an Outlook Add-in. The session covered Semantic Kernel's core capabilities, building a Web API, and integrating it with Outlook to support email writing, proofreading, and interactive AI assistance.
I shared highlights from .NET Conf 2024 with Wellington developers at this local community event. We explored what's new in .NET 9 and C# 13, along with updates across ASP.NET Core, .NET Aspire, AI, and MAUI, connecting the latest platform announcements with practical discussion and learning.
I demonstrated how to build a custom copilot that turns a podcast URL into a promotional social media image and post. The session connected Azure OpenAI models with a .NET API and a Visual Studio custom connector, then used Copilot Studio to bring the workflow together into an interactive AI experience.
I took part as a mentor in the virtual celebration and networking session for Microsoft's 2024 Winter School Data & AI Bootcamp. The session connected students with industry professionals through a group career coaching and mentoring circle, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and discuss career development.
I introduced Microsoft's AI capabilities as part of the Season of AI community pilot. The session explored Azure OpenAI, Semantic Kernel, and AutoGen, alongside key AI concepts, use cases, and best practices. Participants could experiment with demos on their own laptops and discuss ways to apply Microsoft's AI tools to their projects.
At Global Azure Day 2024 in Beijing, I introduced large language model fundamentals and explored how to build AI applications around them. The talk examined LLM limitations, how Semantic Kernel can extend an application's capabilities, and how retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) adds relevant context to model responses. I also introduced AI applications in New Zealand.
I spoke at Code Camp Wellington, an annual free event organised by community members that brings together Wellington's emerging talent and technical speakers from across New Zealand, with a commitment to an inclusive, harassment-free experience for everyone. My session explored how to enhance applications with AI and Semantic Kernel, an open-source SDK for building AI agents with large language models. I discussed how these tools can unlock new application capabilities and improve user engagement.
In this LinkedIn Learning course, taught in Chinese, I demonstrate how to use GitHub Copilot to explore solutions for your code and improve development productivity.
At Wellington's local recap of .NET Conf 2023, held in January 2024, I presented how Azure OpenAI and Semantic Kernel can help developers build AI applications. My session formed part of a community evening covering the latest .NET ecosystem updates, alongside talks on .NET 8 containers and ASP.NET Core 8.
I delivered a hands-on workshop introducing Azure OpenAI and the Semantic Kernel library. We explored the service's features and capabilities, then used guided labs to build AI applications with Semantic Kernel. The workshop welcomed developers at all experience levels and combined practical experimentation with discussion of Microsoft's AI tools.
At Wellington's local .NET Conf 2022 recap, held in January 2023, I presented what's new in .NET 7. The event brought developers together to review the platform's latest updates, alongside sessions on WebAssembly in C# and real-time 3D cloud applications with Azure, .NET, and Unity.
I joined the panel discussion at this joint online Microsoft Ignite after-party with the Auckland .NET User Group. Following selected conference videos, we discussed modern .NET application development, cloud-native patterns, scalability, and the architecture of Visual Studio, helping the community explore the ideas and practical takeaways from Ignite.
In this joint online session with Coding Night NZ and the Wellington .NET User Group, I explored how Dapr simplifies building distributed applications. We discussed its language-agnostic building blocks and demonstrated how to use them in applications, allowing developers to focus on business logic while supporting the needs of cloud-native architectures.
I presented .NET Learning Path at Chinese IT Association NZ.
I presented Introduction to Dapr - A Distributed Application Runtime at Cloud Native Summit 2022 Australia & NZ.
I contributed to the Q&A at this joint Microsoft Build 2022 after-party with the Auckland and Wellington .NET and Azure communities. Following a conference session on modern containerised applications, we explored Azure Container Apps as a fully managed serverless container service, including when to use it and questions about its cost.
I presented Introduction to Azure DevOps at Wellington IT Students Meetup Group.
I contributed to the Q&A at a joint online Microsoft Ignite 2021 after-party with the Auckland and Wellington .NET and Azure communities. Following the conference session on cloud-native and open-source application development on Azure, we discussed its ideas with Microsoft advocates, technology specialists, fellow MVPs, and the local community.
I presented the technical introduction and helped lead discussion at Wellington's Microsoft Build 2021 watch party. We watched Scott Hunter's session on the future of modern application development with .NET, then discussed .NET 6's unified platform, web and native applications, cloud-native development, and moving .NET Framework applications forward with the .NET Upgrade Assistant.
I presented a local recap of .NET Conf 2020, bringing its highlights to Wellington developers in January 2021. The session reviewed exciting updates from the .NET ecosystem following the launch of .NET 5, with opportunities for the community to learn and discuss the latest platform developments.
I presented Building Serverless applications with Blazor, Functions and Static Web App at Virtual Azure Community Day.
I presented Building Serverless applications using Functions at Create: Serverless Online Summit China.
I presented Azure Show at Azure Show.
I presented Building Web Apps on Container with Azure DevOps Pipelines at Virtual Azure Community Day (China).
I presented Open Source & Microsoft Learn at Chinese IT Association NZ.
I presented Consuming Azure Cognitive Services in your modern Application at Global AI Bootcamp Wellington 2019.
I presented Discover the world of .NET —— .NET Conf Overview at Chinese IT Association NZ.
I presented highlights from .NET Conf 2019 at a local Wellington .NET User Group event. The session brought updates from the free, community-focused developer conference to Wellington developers, providing an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in the .NET ecosystem and connect with the local community.
Beyond individual talks
Organising local conversations about .NET, DevOps, and AI, and supporting connections between Wellington developers.
OrganiserSpeaker
Visit community (opens in a new tab)MVP community record (opens in a new tab)Contributing to the community through co-organising and speaking.
Co-organiserSpeaker
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