What does it actually look like when a tech community stops talking about inclusion and starts building it? 🤔 Four years ago at Scottish Summit 2022, we decided to find out. We didn't just want a diverse line-up, we wanted to push the boundaries of what a community tech event could be. Looking back, that event set a new benchmark: 🛠️ We partnered with Microsoft (led at the time by Dona Sarkar) for a dedicated Accessibility Hackathon, building real-world solutions. 🤟 We witnessed history with a powerful keynote delivered entirely in sign language by the incredible @cmcginley. (Seriously, go watch it: youtube.com/watch?list=PLGVT… 📈 We embedded accessibility into the very fabric of the event. We didn't get everything perfect, but the lessons we learned were invaluable. Which is why we are thrilled to say... Scottish Summit is back for 2026 in Edinburgh! Grab your ticket - bit.ly/4vsXzcd #ScottishSummit2026 #CommunityRocks #MicrosoftCloud #EdinburghTech #Networking #M365 #PowerPlatform #Microsoft #CommunityRocks #Workshops #Sponsors

🎉Big News: Data8 joins Scottish Summit 2026 as a Gold Sponsor!🎉 We are delighted to announce @data8ltd as our Gold sponsor for Scottish Summit! We can't wait to see their team in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they'll be showcasing how they are redefining the landscape of data quality, verification, and user experiences. Optimise Your Customer Data with Data8 Data8 helps organisations get more value from their customer data. Our specialist validation, verification and enrichment tools improve data quality across your CRM, marketing platforms and wider tech stack. From removing duplicates and validating contact data to strengthening identities and powering smarter customer journeys, our solutions tackle common data challenges and help teams operate with confidence. Trusted by organisations worldwide, Data8 is the partner of choice for businesses looking to improve data accuracy, enhance customer experiences and drive better results. Ready to trust your data? Learn more about their solutions 👇 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/data-8-… Website: data-8.co.uk #ScottishSummit2026 #Data8 #ScottishSummit #GoldSponsor #Data #DataValidation #DataEnrichment #SS26 #Dynamics365 #Microsoft365 #CRM #Marketing #CustomerDynamics

🚀 First Wave of Speaker notifications will be sent out this week! Check your inboxes…🚀 The wait is over for everyone who submitted a session for Scottish Summit 2026 at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium on 2nd-3rd October. This year, the response to our Call for Speakers was absolutely unprecedented. Because our review committee uses a strict blind selection process to ensure fairness and quality, the competition was fierce. 🎯 Please note that we were only able to accept 13% of the total sessions submitted. 📧 Important Update: The first wave of acceptance emails will go out this week! If you haven't seen one yet, don't worry just yet - we will be working through the next batches over the coming weeks. If you see an acceptance email: Huge congratulations! Getting selected out of this pool is a massive achievement. Please follow the link in the email to confirm your slot ASAP so we can lock in the agenda. If you are still waiting: Hang tight! We appreciate your patience as we roll out the next phases. 🔔 Follow our page here on LinkedIn to keep up to date with future announcements! #ScottishSummit2026 #TechCommunity #MicrosoftCloud #Azure #SpeakerSelection #PowerPlatform #Dynamics365 #M365 #AI #Copilot #EdinburghTech

A huge, energetic shout-out to our very own Scottish Summit committee member @rexdekoning for bringing his superhero energy to @dynamicsminds yesterday! 💥 As you can see, Rex was buzzing, the energy was high, and what an incredible community. Huge thanks to the organisers for hosting such a fantastic event and wishing everyone a great event. This is what community is all about. We are live and the success is real! Stay tuned for more updates from the Scottish Summit team as we gear up for our own big day! Let’s keep this momentum going! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿✨ Photo credits: Thank you Areti Iles for the amazing photo and supporting the team on stand. #DynamicsMinds #ScottishSummit #Dynamics365 #PowerPlatform #CommunityRockstar #CommitteeHero #TechCommunity #Networking #legendaryexplorers #CommunityRocks #Docentric

🚀 Agent Academy Live Workshop! 🚀 Get ready for the next generation of automation with Daniel Laskewitz, April Dunnam and Mats Necker. They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Agent Academy Live" In this workshop, you will learn how to build successful agents using Microsoft Copilot Studio. Hear from our speakers below to learn more about their sessions.. 💫Click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd #ScottishSummit #Azure #DanielLaskewitz #AprilDunnam #MatsNecker #CopilotStudio #Copilot #AI #WorkshopSpeaker #SS26 #AgenticAI

🎮 Gamified Onboarding & Agents Workshop 🎮 Join Sandra Kiel, Anouck Fierens and Markus Franz, to explore the intersection of productivity and play. They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Gamified Onboarding & Agents Workshop" In this full-day workshop, a game designer, a Power Platform / CodeApps expert and a Microsoft 365 & Copilot expert will guide you through the complete process of designing and prototyping a Gamified Onboarding Agent that could actually live in each company. 💫 Click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd #ScottishSummit #Azure #SandraKiel #AnouckFierens #MarkusFranz #TechCommunity #M365 #SS2026 #WorkshopSpeakers #MicrosoftTech #PowerPlatform #Copilot #CodeApps

🛡️ Zero Trust, Zero Compromise Workshop🛡️ Join Jon Jarvis, Luke Evans and Marcus Burnap to learn the art of operationalising Microsoft Security for 2026. They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Zero Trust, Zero Compromise: Operationalising Microsoft Security in 2026" See Zero Trust actually run end-to-end in a Microsoft estate, get hands-on with live Conditional Access, device/risk signals, Defender XDR correlation, and demos of the newest Security Copilot agents turning policy into operational, measurable security in 2026. 💫 Click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd #ScottishSummit #Azure #JonJarvis #LukeEvans #MarcusBurnap #Microsoft365 #Cybersecurity #AI #WorkshopSpeakers #SS26 #MicrosoftSecurity

🏉 Join us at the home of Scottish Rugby! 🏉 Scottish Summit has evolved from a specialised Dynamics event into a massive, community-led Microsoft Cloud experience. Now a registered Scottish Charity, our heart is in being "Inclusive by Design." Whether you are a seasoned Architect or just starting your journey in the ecosystem, there is a place for you at @MurrayfieldStad this October. What’s on the schedule? 🔦 2nd Oct: Hands-on Workshops for those who want to get under the hood of the latest Microsoft tech. 🔦 3rd Oct: Main Conference featuring 100 international speakers. 🔦 Enjoy networking, traditional bagpipes and some Cabaret This event is powered by the community, for the community and made possible by our amazing sponsors @NetApp , mscrm-addons.com and @dox42 . Join us in Edinburgh: - Learn more about the event - lnkd.in/eRtN_kCZ - Sign up to a workshop - lnkd.in/evvvqJNG - Check out our sponsors - lnkd.in/e9VsHwgn #ScottishSummit2026 #CommunityRocks #MicrosoftCloud #EdinburghTech #Networking #M365 #PowerPlatform #Microsoft #CommunityRocks #Workshops #Sponsors

Workshop Speakers Alert! 📢 Delighted to welcome Jon Jarvis, Luke Evans and Marcus Burnap to #ScottishSummit2026 on Friday, 2nd October! They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Zero Trust, Zero Compromise: Operationalising Microsoft Security in 2026" See Zero Trust actually run end-to-end in a Microsoft estate, get hands-on with live Conditional Access, device/risk signals, Defender XDR correlation, and demos of the newest Security Copilot agents turning policy into operational, measurable security in 2026. Click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd Let’s hear from Jon, Luke and Marcus: Jon Jarvis: Hi, I’m Jon Jarvis, a Microsoft MVP in Intune and Windows 365, and an Endpoint Management Specialist at Advania UK. I spend my days helping organisations modernise how they manage and secure Windows devices, with a particular focus on Intune, Defender integration, and the messy real-world overlap between cloud-first endpoint management and traditional security tooling. You’ll usually find me on stage at community events across the UK, Europe, and the US, or publishing on LinkedIn and CloudEndpoint.ai. When the laptop closes, I run Kent Grapple, one of the larger Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu clubs in Kent, coach a youth football team, and try to keep up with two kids who have very strong opinions about Disney parks and Dragon Ball. In our workshop, we’ll go hands-on with…….. session name……. walking through the design decisions, the gotchas, and the bits the docs don’t tell you. ...................................................... Luke Evans: Hi, I’m Luke Evans, an experienced solutions architect with over 18 years of experience in Microsoft technologies, with a background in architecture and end-to-end cloud digital transformation delivery. I focus on the technologies that underpin collaboration, including Microsoft 365 infrastructure, security, identity management, and Azure, and have worked with clients ranging from 5,000 users to 100,000s. I also share practical experience through speaking, workshops, and community work. ...................................................... Marcus Burnap: Recognised MVP | MCT | CISSP | Author | AI | Cybersecurity | Defender XDR | Sentinel | Security Copilot - Marcus leads the strategy, design, and delivery of Microsoft-focused cyber defence services for large and complex organisations. He shapes modern SOC and cyber defence capabilities, ensuring technology, processes, and people are aligned with business risk and board-level priorities. Building on a strong foundation in infrastructure and security operations, Marcus now concentrates on large-scale security transformation, helping clients standardise on the Microsoft security ecosystem across Azure, Microsoft 365, Entra, Sentinel, and Defender XDR. #ScottishSummit #Azure #JonJarvis #LukeEvans #MarcusBurnap #Microsoft365 #Cybersecurity #AI #WorkshopSpeakers #SS26 #MicrosoftSecurity

Workshop Speakers Alert! 📢 Delighted to welcome Daniel Laskewitz, April Dunnam and Mats Necker to #ScottishSummit2026 on Friday, 2nd October! They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Agent Academy Live" In this workshop, you will learn how to build successful agents using Microsoft Copilot Studio. Hear from our speakers below to learn more about their sessions.. 💫Click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd Let’s hear from Daniel, April and Mats: Daniel Laskewitz: Hi, I’m Daniel Laskewitz! By day, I’m a Principal Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, focused on the Power Platform, Copilot Studio, and the world of AI. I spend most of my time helping makers and developers turn ideas into working solutions, from low-code apps to advanced agents, while making complex topics practical and accessible. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me at a live concert somewhere in Europe or in the stands cheering on my favorite football club (GO AJAX!). I love the atmosphere, the community, and the shared experience - whether it’s music or football. Together with April Dunnam and Mats Necker, I will be bringing Agent Academy to Scottish Summit. In this hands-on workshop, we will guide you through building real AI agents step by step and equip you with the skills to launch your own agent missions with confidence. ...................................................... April Dunnam: Hi, my name is April Dunnam, and I’m a Principal Cloud Advocate at Microsoft, and co-founder of Agent Academy. I spend my days building curriculum, making YouTube videos, speaking at conferences, and generally trying to make AI and agents less intimidating and more useful. Off the clock, I'm probably playing a show with my band, chasing down a Funko Pop, or being bossed around by Jingles, my very opinionated Maine Coon. In this workshop, Daniel Laskewitz, Mats Necker, and I will take you from your first agent all the way to multi-agent orchestration and enterprise integrations in a hands-on, no fluff approach. ...................................................... Mats Necker: Hey, my name is Mats Necker and I'm the founder of ColorCloud and dhino. I worked for over 15 years in the Microsoft business applications ecosystem and have done almost all the roles and technologies there are, in the end I'm fascinated by combining different things to create great products and solutions. Personally I'm excited of exploring who AI can help with that, making it easier to get comfortable in new tech areas and changing a lot of my traditional use cases. So, I'm looking forward to continuing this with you all in this workshop together with the amazing April and Daniel where we talk about our experiences with agents and how you can actually use them in real life. #ScottishSummit #Azure #DanielLaskewitz #AprilDunnam #MatsNecker #CopilotStudio #Copilot #AI #WorkshopSpeakers #SS26 #AgenticAI

Workshop Speakers Alert! 📢 Delighted to welcome Sandra Kiel, Anouck Fierens and Markus Franz to #ScottishSummit2026 on Friday, 2nd October! They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Design and Build a Gamified Onboarding Agent with M365, Copilot and Power Platform." In this full-day workshop, a game designer, a Power Platform / CodeApps expert and a Microsoft 365 & Copilot expert will guide you through the complete process of designing and prototyping a Gamified Onboarding Agent that could actually live in each company. By the end of the day, you’ll have a tangible prototype (or high-fidelity concept, depending on your starting point) of a gamified onboarding agent, a repeatable framework for building gamified agents, and a shared language for collaboration between business, IT and experience design. 🚀 Ready to get hands-on? Click the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4mw5r8W Let’s hear from Sandra, Anouck and Markus: Sandra Kiel: Hi, my name is Sandra Kiel, and I’m a Workplace Experience Architect and Founder of Event Punks. I design playful learning and adoption experiences using Microsoft 365, Power Apps, Power Automate, Teams and yes, even Minecraft - all with one goal in mind: turning “we have to learn this” into “wait… this is actually fun.” When the laptop closes, you’ll usually find me in or near the water, out walking with my dog, or playing competitive Minecraft with my son. In our workshop, we’ll build a gamified onboarding agent that lives in Teams, transforming day‑one paperwork into a quest people actually want to complete and come back to. ...................................................... Anouck Fierens: Hi, my name is Anouck Fierens, and I’m a Digital Workplace Consultant and the founder of ANFI Solutions. I specialise in SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and the Power Platform, helping organisations build intuitive digital workplaces where information is easy to find and collaboration feels natural rather than forced. My journey into IT wasn’t a straight path, but that curiosity‑led background shapes how I work today: practical, user‑focused, and always open to rethinking the obvious. Outside of work, I enjoy travelling and discovering places with a strong sense of history and character. ...................................................... Markus Franz: Hi, my name is Markus Franz, and I work as a Digital Workplace Solution Architect at a global manufacturing company. In my role, I design and deliver smart, scalable solutions across Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform, helping make every day work simpler and more efficient for colleagues across the organisation. Outside of work, I’m a proud father of two amazing girls, and as a family we love to travel - having been fortunate enough to explore every continent together. #ScottishSummit #Azure #SandraKiel #AnouckFierens #MarkusFranz #TechCommunity #M365 #SS2026 #WorkshopSpeakers #MicrosoftTech #PowerPlatform #Copilot #CodeApps

Workshop Speakers Alert! 📢 Delighted to welcome Rex de Koning, Sara Fennah and Kevin McDonnell to #ScottishSummit2026 on Friday, 2nd October! They will be leading a pre-event workshop: "Microsoft Community New Speaker Workshop" This workshop is for you if you are just getting started on your speaker journey and looking to polish your skills, or not yet a speaker and looking to get into speaking at events, but don’t know how to get started. 💫 Find out more and click on the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd Let’s hear from Rex, Sara and Kevin: Rex de Koning: I'm Rex de Koning, Senior Cloud Engineer at a Dutch MSP called InSpark. During the daytime I help our clients with everything Azure Infrastructure related, besides that I'm also active in the Microsoft Community. Organizing different community events, helping out at event and being volunteer and speaker at events. So, you can say Microsoft is a big part of my private and business life. That is why I became an MVP in Azure Networking. In the rare moments I’m not behind a computer, I’m probably watching some tv series, reading a book or walking the dogs :-) ...................................................... Sara Fennah: Hi, I’m Sara Fennah. I’m a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft MVP specialising in Microsoft 365, Copilot, governance, and adoption. By day I help people and organisations build skills and confidence with the Microsoft 365 toolkit, turning complex technology into practical, repeatable ways of working. Outside work you’ll usually find me travelling, reading in the garden, exploring nature, or enjoying a glass of white wine. I also love a good self‑build project and have somehow ended up being in the middle of building a home for the 3rd time. Join our New Speaker Workshop to get clear, practical steps that make speaking at tech events truly achievable. ...................................................... Kevin McDonnell: I’m Kevin McDonnell, UK Copilot and Agent Lead for Avanade, M365 Copilot and Copilot Extensibility MVP and co-host of the Copilot Connection podcast. Yes, that’s helpful means that I spend all day speaking to people about Copilot and Agents for my job and then spend evenings and weekends speaking to people about Copilot and Agents for fun! I speak at conferences across the UK and Europe as much as my wife, three boys and two cats let me as I love sharing knowledge, hearing what is blocking people and getting the chance to see new places. In between that, I also run a Cub Scout pack where I have been known to force Power Point and Copilot on the more unsuspecting kids. I also feel like I have a full-time role correcting all those CoPilot, Co-pilot and even Copillot spellings out there. #ScottishSummit #Azure #RexDeKoning #SaraFennah #KevinMcDonnell #TechCommunity #M365 #SS2026 #WorkshopSpeakers #MicrosoftTech #PowerPlatform #Copilot #SpeakerWorkshop #AI

🎉Big News: mscrm-addons.com joins Scottish Summit 2026 as a Gold Sponsor!🎉 We are delighted to announce @mscrmaddons as our Gold sponsor for Scottish Summit! As we look toward the future of technology at @MurrayfieldStad, we are thrilled to have a trusted Microsoft Partner with a long history of innovation joining us. Optimise Your Dynamics 365 Experience mscrm-addons.com is a trusted Microsoft Partner with a long history of delivering solutions for Dynamics 365 CE, Business Central and the Power Platform. Our certified, customizable add-ons streamline workflows and boost productivity, helping organizations get the most from their Dynamics 365 investment. From simplifying document creation to managing data capacity and beyond, our solutions address common challenges and support businesses in reaching their goals. With more than 5,000 satisfied customers worldwide, mscrm-addons.com is the partner of choice for organizations looking to optimize their Dynamics 365 experience. Ready to streamline your workflows? Learn more about their solutions here: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/mscrm-a… YouTube: youtube.com/user/mscrmaddons Website: mscrm-addons.com #ScottishSummit2026 #mscrmaddons #ScottishSummit #GoldSponsor #BusinessCentral #PowerPlatform #MicrosoftAdvocate #SS26 #DataCapacityManagement #Data #Workflows #ScottishSummit

Will you make a splash in Edinburgh? 🐉 Ever stood on the shores of Loch Ness and felt that sense of wonder, never knowing what amazing thing might surface? That is the exact energy @MarcoDalPino finds every time he steps into Scottish Summit. For Marco, this event is unique because of the magic that happens when a world-class community connects. It isn't just about the sessions, it’s about the unexpected conversations and the welcoming atmosphere that leaves every attendee and speaker feeling inspired. From the deep waters of the Azure cloud to the heights of the Microsoft ecosystem, we want to see what you’ve been building. 📅 Deadline: 30 April 🔗 Apply here: bit.ly/4cW8GUb 🎤 Check our guide: bit.ly/4b5aOGx #ScottishSummit2026 #MicrosoftDeveloper #MicrosoftAdvocate #MarcoDalPino #CommunityRocks #AI #Dynamics365 #PowerPlatform #Microsoft #Azure #SS26 #EventSpeaker #MVPs #CommunityEvent #Copilot #CloudTechnology

Thinking about submitting a session for Scottish Summit 2026, but feeling a bit of stage fright? You aren't alone, and you certainly won't be flying solo. Take it from speaker alumnus Dan Barber 🇺🇦. For Dan, Scottish Summit is an "unbeatable environment" where knowledge is crammed into every space. But what really stands out isn't just the tech - it's the atmosphere. Whether you’re looking to dive into the social circuit or you're like Dan and need those quiet "recharge" spaces to plug in and find your focus, this event is designed to support every type of speaker. From human-centric stories to deep-dive technical sessions, there is a place for your voice. 📅 Deadline: 30 April 🔗 Apply here: bit.ly/4cW8GUb 🎤 Check our guide: bit.ly/4b5aOGx #ScottishSummit2026 #MicrosoftDeveloper #MicrosoftAdvocate #DanBarber #CommunityRocks #AI #Dynamics365 #PowerPlatform #Microsoft #Azure #SS26 #EventSpeaker #MVPs #CommunityEvent #Copilot #CloudTechnology

Workshop Speakers Alert! 📢 Delighted to welcome Chris Lloyd-Jones and Josh McDonald to #ScottishSummit2026 on Friday, 2nd October! They will be leading a deep-dive, pre-event workshop: "Building an AI Superhighway: Hands-On Enterprise AI Gateway with Azure API Management." In this session, you'll build a working AI gateway that routes every AI call—models, MCP tools, and A2A agents - through a single control plane. You’ll deploy infrastructure, write policies, break things, and fix them. We use APIM not because it's new, but because applying its battle-tested governance to AI workloads is transformative. 🚀 Ready to get hands-on? Click the link to purchase your ticket bit.ly/4vsXzcd Let’s hear from Chris and Josh! Chris Lloyd-Jones: Hi, I'm Chris! By day, I'm VP of AI Consulting Transformation at Kyndryl, where I lead our Forward Deployed Engineering capability - engineers embedded with clients to build, ship, and own outcomes, not just advise. I'm a six-time Microsoft MVP in AI and spend most of my time helping enterprises make agentic AI actually work in production, with governance that ships rather than stalls. When the laptop closes, you'll find me lifting weights, chasing drum and bass, or working on my doctorate in Green Software Engineering. Getting outside - whether that's sedately walking my dog or hiking - is how I reset. I'm also a tabletop RPG enthusiast, which probably explains why our podcast on AI governance and security, Securing the Realm, is D&D-themed. Come to our workshop to get hands-on with Azure API Management as an AI Gateway - the missing governance layer that lets you ship agents at speed without losing control. ...................................................... Josh McDonald: Hello, I’m Josh! At work I lead Platform Security for Avanade’s Agentic Platform, as well helping clients secure their data and AI agents, products and platforms. I became a Microsoft MVP in the Trustworthy AI category and now Microsoft Foundry, so it’s always fun to help organisations realise their ambitions with scalable custom agents on the platform. As part of this, I’m one part of Securing the Realm, a podcast/collaboration focused on the three S’s of good AI - secure, scalable, and slop-free! When I’m not doing this, I’m probably trying to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, working out, vibe coding my roleplaying game or cooking in the kitchen - my form of meditation. Since they came out last November, I’ve refused to be quiet about AI Gateways powered by Azure APIM - and at Scottish Summit 2026, our workshop is on exactly that! Come and find out how to build an AI superhighway for your organisation, wherever you build. #ScottishSummit #Azure #ChrisLloydJones #JoshMcDonald #TechCommunity #MicrosoftMVP #SS2026 #WorkshopSpeakers #MicrosoftTech #AzureExperts