The conference agenda contains agenda items in a matrix up to 18 sessions wide and over 30 rows. Each cell in this matrix is one agenda item. It is coloured and, in some cases, uses abbreviations to denote the working group or stream arranging and presenting this agenda item. The following table explains the abbreviations and colour code.
Stream / WG | Abbreviation | HashTag | Objectives | Chair / Co-Chair | Agenda Colour |
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Waze101 | 101 | #GS£101 | The 101 working group is designed for individuals new to the mainframe space. It offers introductory sessions and workshops covering various aspects of the mainframe, aimed at encouraging new talent | Niall Ashley Elitsa Popova |
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Waze102 | 102 | #GS£102 | The 102 stream is a follow-on to the 101 stream, offering more detailed general training in system z and associated technologies | Chris Knowles Lewis James |
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AI | AI | #GS£AI | A dedicated stream on artificial intelligence and its underlying technologies has been introduced at the conference. This track is designed to accommodate participants at all experience levels, from beginners to seasoned experts. | Al Stephens Henri Kuiper Ben Davies |
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Application Development | AppDev | #GS£AppDev | As mainframe application development remains vital to the global economy, our goals are to attract developers of all ages to the z platform, showcase modern mainframe tools, and build a strong community of practitioners and mentors. | Stuart Ashby Joe Winchester Louisa Seers |
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CICS | CICS | #GS£CICS | The GS UK CICS Working Group is dedicated to the IBM CICS Transaction Server and its related tools and products, facilitating the exchange of knowledge on emerging features, concepts, and innovations. | Rob Stroud Jenny He Steve Foley |
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Db2 | Db2 | #GS£Db2 | The Db2 Working Group is dedicated to the IBM Db2 database management system and its related tools and products. The group facilitates the exchange of knowledge regarding new features, strategies for feature adoption, ideas, challenges, innovations, and user experiences. | Marcus Davage Colin Knight Karen Wilkins |
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Hybrid Cloud | #GS£Cloud | Hybrid Cloud enables organisations to harness the unique strengths of a variety of compute platforms, from mainframe to public cloud. As mainframe continues its evolution, and public cloud adoption matures, the industry has moved beyond either/or decisions, and is embracing both in order to deliver a seamless enterprise IT model. This GSUK working group/stream will focus on architectures and technologies that show how mainframe can be first class citizen in the Hybrid Cloud era. |
Brian O'Shea Jakob-Julius Storgaard |
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IMS | IMS | #GS£IMS | The IMS Working Group is dedicated to the implementation and continued support of the IMS Transaction Manager, Database, and related products. The group facilitates the exchange of information on both current and emerging features, best practices for feature utilization, as well as discussions around challenges, innovations, and user experiences. | Dominic Jackson Neil Price Dougie Lawson |
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Large Systems Working Group | LSWG | #GS£LSWG | The GSE UK Large Systems Working Group discusses recent advancements in the z/OS enterprise, including major subsystems like JES2 and related products from IBM and other vendors. The group is intended for system programmers of all experience levels. | Eddie Roe Zakeer Suleyman Anji Stephens |
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Mainframe Audit | Audit | #GS£Audit | This conference stream is intended for business and infrastructure auditors who are experienced in their fields but have limited familiarity with IBM mainframe controls, with the aim of supporting skill development in mainframe auditing. | Dave Ahearn James Harper |
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Stream / WG | Abbreviation | HashTag | Objectives | Chair / Co-Chair | Agenda Colour |
RGB |
Mainframe Skills & Learning | Mainframe Skills & Learning | #GS£MFSkills | Mainframe systems depend on skilled professionals for ongoing success. This stream covers education and skills development to address current and future mainframe challenges. We invite talks relevant to mainframe professionals at all career stages, with a focus on developing new talent. Join our events if you're interested in training and sustaining expertise on the platform. | Herb Daly | ffff99 | |
MQ | MQ | #GS£MQ | The MQ stream is designed for technical professionals who are responsible for developing, administering, or managing enterprise messaging environments, as well as developers working with IBM messaging technologies. Participants gain access to up-to-date insights on MQ and related solutions, in addition to the opportunity to engage with the expertise of the IBM Messaging team. | Daniel Bradbury Brian O'Shea |
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Network Management Working Group | NMWG | #GS£NMWG | The GS UK Network Management Working Group convenes to address and deliberate on all activities and issues pertaining to z network related activities and issues. | Niall Buchanan Aileen Wynne |
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New Technologies | NewTech | #GS£NewTech | The New Technologies stream provides insight into exciting and new developments not only in the mainframe world but also from many other worlds. | Keith Banham | 33cccc | |
Open Mainframe Project | OMP | #GS£OMP | This conference stream is about open source on the mainframe, including Linux on Z and projects linked to the Open Mainframe Project. As modern tools become more popular for mainframe work, our goals are to encourage all types of developers and organizations to use open source tools, show how modern mainframe tools work, and build an active community. This stream is open to everyone, from beginners to experts. | Donna Hudi Maemalynn Meanor |
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Security Working Group | SWG | #GS£Security | The GS UK Security Working Group brings together mainframe security experts, system programmers, auditors, and managers to help organisations protect their data and systems. The group aims to build skills and share knowledge about security and compliance, helping members solve problems and use best practices. | Rui Feio Sue Parsons Mark Nelson |
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Storage Management Working Group | SMWG | #GS£SMWG | The GS UK Storage Management Working Group addresses mainframe storage software from IBM and independent software vendors, as well as storage hardware connected to mainframes and other topics relevant to storage management. | Mikhael Liberman | ff0000 | |
Service Management | SysMan | #GS£SvrcMan | This stream is dedicated to products related to system automation, monitoring and analytics, as well as workload scheduling on system Z. It provides comprehensive knowledge on new versions, their features, and effective methods for their utilisation. | Anna Dawson Matt Roseblade |
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Women in IT | WIT | #GS£WiT | This stream connects, advocates for, and promotes the role of women in IT, with a mainframe focus. It Is vital that we continue to attract & retain more women, new people and returners to mainframe careers by championing the importance of greater diversity in STEM. | Aileen Wynne | 349967 | |
zCapacity & Performance | zP&C | #GS£zC&P | The capacity planning and performance management working group aims to enhance the skills of capacity planners with sessions on cutting-edge techniques and best practise processes. | Nathan Appleby Martin Packer |
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