Discover practical solutions to common challenges in roundtable discussions
Learn from seasoned professionals and thought leaders who bring years of experience to round-table discussions. Whether it’s AI integration, leadership, or compliance, you’ll gain invaluable insights to propel your career and business forward.
Sessions are open to everyone. Just head to the Hot Topic Workshop area and book a seat with our host for a 40 minute live workshop. Availability of 10 seats per session.
Wednesday 17 April
Workshop 1
To CMDB or not to CMDB: Optimising Its Role in a Dynamic IT Landscape
Company
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Lansweeper
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Maarten SaeysChief Product Officer, LansweeperChief Product Officer at Lansweeper, driving product management, strategy, and innovation. Passionate about transforming IT asset management through technology asset intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, security, and strategic planning. A technology neophile with deep expertise in product marketing and UX, dedicated to empowering IT teams with actionable insights.
A CMDB is essential for scalable ITSM, yet gaps in data accuracy, integration, and scope limit its effectiveness. This roundtable will explore how the CMDB can better support core ITSM use cases while debating which gaps should be closed and which should remain open. We’ll also examine adjacent use cases like SAM, BCDR, and network management, questioning where the CMDB should extend and where its limits should be set.
Ensuring Compliance with Your Employees and Your Clients
Company
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GTIA
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Chris JohnsonSr. Director of Cybersecurity Compliance Programs, GTIAChris Johnson is a cybersecurity compliance strategist at heart. As a former MSP, MSSP, champion of peer groups and community, Johnson is focused on helping small to mid-size MSPs to make the strategic IT decisions and technology implementations to improve their cybersecurity posture. He is currently GTIA’s Senior Director of Cybersecurity Compliance Programs with a focus on bringing the GTIA Cybersecurity Trustmark to all Solution Providers across the globe. In this role, he champions the abilities of MSPs looking to focus more on cybersecurity.
In today’s regulatory environment, ensuring compliance is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reputation of any organization. This facilitated session will explore strategies and best practices for achieving compliance both internally with employees and externally with clients.
Attract, Convert, Retain: A Growth-Driven Marketing Framework for MSPs
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Mark LeechSwingate Marketing and Design20 years of digital marketing experience has allowed Mark to deliver effective, bespoke marketing strategy for huge IT/tech firms, global eCommerce brands and B2B industrial/manufacturing businesses, across both in-house marketing teams and agency partners.
With a specialism in marketing sales, Mark knows what it takes to attract key audiences, build the right solution for prospects, communicate it, and convert it.
How to set up a useful CMDB without losing your mind
Company
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ITSM Partner
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Richard FriedlITSM Preacher, ITSM PartnerIndependent Service Management Trainer, Consultant. Certifications in IT service management (ITIL 4 Master & Trainer, ITIL V3 Expert & Trainer, ITIL V2 Service Manager & Trainer, ISO20000, COBIT, etc.). Over 30 years of experience in ITSM. Degrees in business administration and business psychology, University lecturer.
Workshop 2
Thursday 18 April
Workshop 1
To CMDB or not to CMDB: Optimising Its Role in a Dynamic IT Landscape
Company
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Lansweeper
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Maarten SaeysChief Product Officer, LansweeperChief Product Officer at Lansweeper, driving product management, strategy, and innovation. Passionate about transforming IT asset management through technology asset intelligence to enhance operational efficiency, security, and strategic planning. A technology neophile with deep expertise in product marketing and UX, dedicated to empowering IT teams with actionable insights.
A CMDB is essential for scalable ITSM, yet gaps in data accuracy, integration, and scope limit its effectiveness. This roundtable will explore how the CMDB can better support core ITSM use cases while debating which gaps should be closed and which should remain open. We’ll also examine adjacent use cases like SAM, BCDR, and network management, questioning where the CMDB should extend and where its limits should be set.
The AI-Human Service Desk Duo – A Match Made in Heaven?
Company
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Uptime Labs
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Mike HillBoard Advisor & Service Management Consultant, Uptime LabsMike is a seasoned IT Service Management consultant with over 12 years of experience in service operations, incident management, and service improvement. He has led transformational change across public and private sectors, helping organisations enhance resilience, streamline operations, and integrate AI-driven solutions for incident response and service excellence.
AI is reshaping the Service Desk—but does it empower agents or make them obsolete? Join us for an interactive, no-hype discussion on AI’s impact, the skills agents need to thrive, and how to ensure AI enhances, rather than replaces, human expertise. Expect lively debate, valuable insights, and real-world takeaways to future-proof your Service Desk.
What is DEX and why is it a trending topic?
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Samuel LegrandField CTO, ControlUp
In today’s hybrid work era, employee experience is more critical than ever. Digital Employee Experience (DEX) has emerged as a key focus area for IT and business leaders aiming to enhance productivity, engagement, and overall workplace satisfaction. But what exactly is DEX, and why is it gaining so much attention?
In this session, we’ll demystify DEX, explore why it has become a top IT priority, and discuss how organizations can measure and improve it. We’ll also highlight real-world examples of how ControlUp helps IT teams optimize digital experiences proactively—reducing downtime, streamlining troubleshooting, and ultimately ensuring employees have a seamless and frustration-free work environment.
Join us to understand why DEX is more than just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer for modern enterprises.
AI’ll take it from here – Automating your least favourite tasks with AI
Company
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Atomicwork
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops
Speaker
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Sajeesh SahadevanHead of Brand Strategy, AtomicworkSajeesh leads the brand and thought leadership org at Atomicwork. His primary goal is to shape thought leadership and educational content to help the IT community stay updated with the latest developments and applications of AI in ITSM.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how you can use a combination of rule-based workflows and AI-driven workflows to take the mundane out of your day-to-day operations. From automating simple tasks like password resets to streamlining processes like employee onboarding, this workshop will show you how to leverage AI for your least favourite tasks. With real-world use cases, hands-on experience, and plenty of opportunities for learning and collaboration, you’ll leave with a fresh perspective on how to put AI to work for your IT team.
Workshop 2
Leveraging IT automation for help desk efficiency
Company
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NinjaOne
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops - Workshop 2
Speaker
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Simon KoekoekMarketing Manager North Europe, NinjaOne
In today’s fast-paced technological landscape, IT helpdesks are faced with a constant influx of support tickets, often leading to overwhelmed staff and prolonged resolution times. Leveraging IT automation presents a promising solution to streamline helpdesk operations and reduce the number of tickets. This discussion explores various strategies and technologies for implementing IT automation in the helpdesk environment to enhance efficiency, improve user experience, and ultimately minimize the volume of support tickets.
Compliance and ITSM: Navigating the regulatory landscape
Company
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House on the Hill
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops - Workshop 2
Speaker
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Peter BroadheadCommercial Director, House on the Hill
This workshop explores the pivotal role of IT Service Management (ITSM) in meeting stringent regulatory requirements like GDPR and HIPAA. Delving into the intersection of ITSM and compliance, this session will show you strategies for minimising risks and ensuring organisational adherence to regulatory frameworks.
Cyber Insurance and Cybersecurity as a Service
Company
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Sophos
Location
- Hot Topic Workshops - Workshop 2
Speaker
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Kyle TorresSenior Channel Account Executive, Sophos


