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In-person
1-4 April 2025
Learn More and Register to Attend

The Sched app allows you to build your schedule but is not a substitute for your event registration. You must be registered for KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2025 to participate in the sessions. If you have not registered but would like to join us, please go to the event registration page to purchase a registration.

Please note: This schedule is automatically displayed in British Summer Time (BST) (UTC +1). To see the schedule in your preferred timezone, please select from the drop-down menu to the right, above "Filter by Date." The schedule is subject to change and session seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Wednesday April 2, 2025 17:00 - 17:30 BST
Despite many DEI initiatives, diversity in open source is still lacking. That's not only bad for underrepresented groups, it's also bad for OSS (studies have shown time and again that diverse teams produce better outcomes). While there isn't much you can do about the industry's hiring practices, you can help make a difference!

As companies scale back on DEI efforts, community-driven change becomes essential—and that’s where allies come in. Minorities are, by definition, in the minority, and their advocacy alone has limits. Allies have the power to amplify underrepresented voices, raise awareness among peers, and advocate for change. When allies take a stand for inclusivity, accessibility, and ethical responsibility, they hold the power to influence the industry's values and priorities.

Join this panel with CNCF Deaf and Hard of Hearing WG members to learn how you can drive meaningful change and contribute to a more diverse, inclusive, and innovative open-source community.
Speakers
avatar for Catherine Paganini

Catherine Paganini

CTO, Buoyant
Catherine Paganini is co-chair of the TAG Contributor Strategy, founder of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing WG and Cloud Native Glossary, and Head of Marketing and Community at Buoyant, the creator of the CNCF graduated service mesh. A marketing leader passionate about open source, Catherine... Read More →
avatar for Rob Koch

Rob Koch

Principal, Slalom Build
A tech enthusiast who thrives on steering projects from their initial spark to successful fruition, Rob Koch is Principal at Slalom Build, AWS Hero, and Co-chair of the CNCF Deaf and Hard of Hearing Working Group. His expertise in architecting event-driven systems is firmly rooted... Read More →
avatar for Sandeep Kanabar

Sandeep Kanabar

Lead Software Engineer, Gen (formerly NortonLifeLock)
Hailing from India, Sandeep is a passionate software engineer working at Gen (formerly NortonLifeLock). A frequent meetup speaker, Sandeep enjoys sharing his lessons learned from 15+ years in the tech space with the community. He's a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion and... Read More →
avatar for Anastasiia Gubska

Anastasiia Gubska

SRE/DevOps Engineer, BT Group
Anastasiia Gubska, a Deaf CNCF Ambassador and SRE/DevOps Engineer at BT Group, develops and implements best practices for software delivery at the UK-based multinational telecommunications company. Passionate about discovering new communities and embracing diverse cultures, Anastasiia... Read More →
avatar for Milad Vafaeifard

Milad Vafaeifard

Lead Software Engineer, Epam Systems
Milad Vafaeifard, a Lead Software Engineer at EPAM Systems, has 9+ years of web design and development expertise. Deaf but undeterred, he is the creative force behind Sign Language Tecn YouTube channel focused on tech content for the signing tech community. Deeply committed to creating... Read More →
Wednesday April 2, 2025 17:00 - 17:30 BST
Level 1 | Hall Entrance N10 | Room G
  Cloud Native Experience
  • Content Experience Level Any

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