Expert Talks - Manchester
From AI-assisted coding to intelligent automation and generative AI testing, these advancements are transforming engineering practices, but are they delivering tangible business value?
As AI continues to evolve, understanding its practical applications in software development and the strategic impact is crucial for technology leaders navigating this.
Join us for an engaging evening of Expert Talks hosted by Equal Experts onsite with Disney’s engineering team responsible for building one of the largest media streaming platform in the World.
Date: 20th March 2025
Location: Disney Streaming, Floor 4, No.2 Circle Square, 1 Symphony Park, Manchester M1 7FS
AGENDA:
Open:
6.00 pm - Doors open / food, drinks and networking
6.45 pm - Expert Talks opening remarks
Talks:
7.00 pm - Patrick Debois: AI Native Development principles and practices
7.45 pm - Adrian Rapan: Augmenting QA with AI: Smarter, Faster Test Automation
Networking:
8.30 pm - Networking
Meet the panel and explore their talks:
Patrick Debois, Equal Experts
Principal Product Engineer AI
AI Native Development principles and practices
Development is experiencing a new phase of automation, similar to what we saw with DevOps. Numerous new tools are emerging, and it can be challenging to keep up with them. These tools are leading to new practices, and understanding the principles and patterns of these practices will help you navigate the space of AI Native Development.
About Patrick
Patrick Debois is a renowned expert in DevOps, DevSecOps, and the interaction with AI. He is a principal product engineer at Humans and code, and the co-author of the DevOps Handbook.
Patrick's work focuses on helping engineering teams become more productive with AI tooling, and delivering AI-powered products with engineering rigor and good practices. He takes a pragmatic approach to his work, grounded in reality and experience.
Patrick is active on social media and can be found on LinkedIn, YouTube, bSky, and X.
Adrian Rapan, Equal Experts
Lead Consultant and QA Engineer
AI Native Development principles and practices
AI is revolutionising test automation—optimising legacy suites, expanding coverage, and accelerating development. See how AI-powered assistants transform user stories into robust tests, cutting manual effort while enhancing quality. Whether you're scaling automation or speeding up releases, this session delivers practical insights to supercharge your QA strategy.
About Adrian
Adrian Rapan is a Lead Consultant and Expertise Lead in the QA community at Equal Experts, bringing nearly two decades of testing expertise to the field. He has been at the forefront of test automation, leading transformative testing initiatives across banking and financial institutions in both private and public sectors.
Adrian has been actively exploring the intersection of AI and testing through various experimental projects and assessing the productivity gains of AI assisted workflows.
Gain insights from industry leaders - Our panel of speakers will share insights on cutting-edge AI applications, challenges in testing generative AI, and the broader implications for engineering teams.
Explore the future of AI in software development and network with others in the Manchester Expert Talks community.
To register for Expert Talks please fill out the form at the top of the page.