Oracle Community Tours – EMEA 2025

Introduction Time: 09:00 – 09:15 AM

Speaker(s): KSAOUG Team

Session Time: 09:15 – 09:45 AM

Speaker(s) Name: Basheer Khan

Speaker Bio: Basheer Khan, founder and CEO of Knex Technology, is an industry-leading expert in Oracle Cloud applications and technology, with over 34 years of experience in information technology and enterprise architecture. He specializes in cloud applications implementation, enterprise integration and business process improvement. He is recognized by Oracle as an ACE Director, for both Fusion Middleware as well as Oracle Applications. Oracle Magazine has honored him as Oracle’s Integration Architect of the Year. A member of the Oracle Applications Users Group since 1996, he founded and currently chairs its Fusion Middleware Special Interest Group. A frequent speaker on the capabilities of Oracle Applications & Technology at major conferences including Oracle OpenWorld, he has been published numerous times.

Speaker(s) Name: Neil Sellers

Speaker Bio: Neil Sellers is Chief Strategy Officer at KNEX and is based in London. Prior to that he was Group Director of Sales and Strategic Accounts whilst at Qubix, sitting as an executive on the group board. Neil has recently spent 2 years ensuring the smooth transition of Qubix into Version 1 ownership and is now helping customers to achieve their business goals and objectives through process optimisation and performance management at KNEX.He has worked within the Oracle EPM, Hyperion, and Analytics community for more than 26 years in all areas of programme delivery, training, and sales, ensuring customers strategic objectives and goals are achieved using the full depth of the Oracle technology stack. With his various teams he has overseen, implemented, supported, and scaled many projects, with his approach customers have always been long term partnerships.Through his background he has also gained a unique knowledge and Neil often advises global corporations on their technology approach and the roadmap they should follow to gain insight and performance within their business. This extends across many sectors including Banking, Insurance, Retail, Manufacturing, Media and Automotive to name a few.Neil was instrumental leading the Qubix strategy to become the global leader in cloud delivered EPM solutions. This culminated in Qubix becoming the first Oracle partner to be certified to deliver the Oracle Planning and Budgeting Cloud Service globally in 2014 and being first to deploy PBCS in the UK and APAC. He speaks regularly at thought leadership events.Get to know more about Neil. Neil has been married to Jacqui for 23 years and they have 3 Daughters. Pass times outside of work include Mountain Biking, Snowboarding, Beekeeping, Brewing and Sailing.

Session Title: Keynote: AI and Machine Learning – How They Will Transform Oracle Professionals in Industry 4.0

Abstract: Machine Learning & AI are more than just buzzwords. The role and expectations of Oracle professionals will change more in the next 5 years than in the previous 20 years. The value technical teams can deliver to a business in Industry 4.0 will transform their role. In this keynote, we will explore the fundamental economics of how value creation is shifting and how it will be reshaped and accelerated with the assistance of AI and the use of machine learning technologies and advanced analytics. We will reflect on what’s ahead for all of us navigating the intersection of AI, data, and applications. As emerging technologies reshape how we architect, manage, and secure data, it’s no longer a question of if but how we adapt and lead. If you’re wondering how to stay relevant in the age of AI or how Oracle professionals can thrive in Industry 4.0, this session is your roadmap.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 09:45 – 10:30 AM

Speaker Name: Daniel Overby Hansen

Speaker Bio: Product Manager for Database Upgrade, Migration and Patching at Oracle. Previously, many years of experience as operational DBA and database developer at global provider of financial services.

Session Title: Upgrade to Oracle Database 23ai: Best Practices and Customer Experience

Abstract: Upgrading is as easy as pushing a button – but what if you could do it even faster. With AutoUpgrade and refreshable clone PDBs, you can significantly reduce downtime and streamline the upgrade process. In this session, we will demonstrate how to upgrade to Oracle Database 23ai with minimal disruption, covering key pre- and post-upgrade best practices for a smooth and efficient transition.

Session Format: Talk

Break Time: 10:30 – 11:00 AM

Session Time: 11:00 – 11:45 AM

Speaker Name: Sean Scott

Speaker Bio: Sean Scott is an Oracle ACE Director, former CNCF Ambassador for the Data on Kubernetes Community, Oracle Certified Professional, a featured speaker at user group conferences and events worldwide, and the author of “Oracle on Docker: Running Oracle Databases in Linux Containers.” He works at the intersection of database and systems reliability, database management, and DevOps. Sean is Managing Principal Consultant with Viscosity North America, where he provides expertise in Oracle database high availability, scalability, upgrades and migrations, and database and infrastructure automation.

Session Title: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Cloud Native Databases

Abstract: Cloud adoption is driving standardization on cloud-native technologies, and databases?which have (so far) avoided this trend?are under mounting pressure to fall into line. Make no mistake: databases running natively in the cloud enjoy the same benefits as any other application, and enterprises that hesitate will quickly yield a competitive advantage. This session prepares database and systems administrators for the inevitable cloud-native future. It illustrates key differences between legacy infrastructure and container platforms, how to leverage container architecture to simplify database management, ways to jump-start and scale adoption in their organization, and how cloud-native technologies generate strategic and business value.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 11:45 – 12:30 PM

Speaker Name: Francisco Munoz Alvarez

Speaker Bio: Francisco Munoz Alvarez is an author and popular speaker at many Oracle conferences around the world. He was also the founder of LAOUC and past President of CLOUG (Chilean Oracle Users Group), APACOUC (APAC Oracle Users Group Community, which is the umbrella organization for all of APAC), IAOUG (Independent Australian Oracle Users Group), SGOUG (Singapore Oracle Users Group), and NZOUG (New Zealand Oracle Users Group). He also worked in the first team to introduce Oracle to South America (Oracle 6 and the beta version of Oracle 7). He was also the first Master Oracle 7 Database Administrator in South America, as well as the first Latin American Oracle professional to be awarded a double ACE (ACE in 2008 and ACE Director in 2009) by Oracle HQ. In 2010, he had the privilege to receive a prestigious Oracle Magazine Editor.

Session Title: All about Global Data Services (GDS): Geo-distributed solution for Oracle GoldenGate and Active Data Guard

Abstract:Oracle GoldenGate and Oracle Active Data Guard allow for the distribution of application workloads across replicated databases, but when applications are spread across geo-distributed databases, it is a challenge to efficiently use all the databases for the best performance and availability. In this session, hear from an Oracle Product Development expert about how the Global Data Services feature of Oracle Database provides region-based workload routing, load balancing, and service failover across replicas while enabling a seamless distributed private data cloud for your IT. Learn how you can load-balance read/write workloads in active/active Oracle GoldenGate and load-balance read-only workloads across Oracle Active Data Guard reader farms, among numerous other use cases.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 12:30 – 01:15 PM

Speaker Name: Kiran Tailor

Speaker Bio: My name is Kiran Tailor. I am an Ex Oracle Ace Director, with over 20 years of experience working with data from the administration of enterprise databases to designing data architectures for enterprise and analytical solutions. Prior to joining Google, I used to work at Oracle in the Database Product Management team.

Session Title: Unlock the Power of Similarity: A Practical Guide to Vectors in Oracle Databases

Abstract: This session is your essential guide to getting started with vector embeddings this transformative technology in the Oracle and Google ecosystem. We’ll demystify vector databases, explaining what vectors are, how they work, and the immense benefits they bring to your data-driven applications dive into practical, hands-on demonstrations showcasing multiple strategies for generating and loading vector embeddings into your Oracle Database. Learn how to leverage models within Oracle Cloud and Google Cloud platforms. Crucially, we’ll also demonstrate how to utilize local models running in GKE & OKE clusters, providing flexibility and control over your vectorization pipeline in a multicloud environment.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 01:15 – 02:00 PM

Speaker Name: Francisco Munoz Alvarez

Speaker Bio: Francisco Munoz Alvarez is an author and popular speaker at many Oracle conferences around the world. He was also the founder of LAOUC and past President of CLOUG (Chilean Oracle Users Group), APACOUC (APAC Oracle Users Group Community, which is the umbrella organization for all of APAC), IAOUG (Independent Australian Oracle Users Group), SGOUG (Singapore Oracle Users Group), and NZOUG (New Zealand Oracle Users Group). He also worked in the first team to introduce Oracle to South America (Oracle 6 and the beta version of Oracle 7). He was also the first Master Oracle 7 Database Administrator in South America, as well as the first Latin American Oracle professional to be awarded a double ACE (ACE in 2008 and ACE Director in 2009) by Oracle HQ. In 2010, he had the privilege to receive a prestigious Oracle Magazine Editor.

Session Title: 26 New features you cannot miss at Oracle AI Database 26ai

Abstract: Now that Oracle AI Database is available, it is very important to understand what is there that you cannot miss regarding protecting your data availability and recoverability? Oracle AI Database 26ai brings many important new features that will definitely protect your business continuity! Join Francisco Munoz Alvarez for this amazing session that highlights all you need to know about this new release of the Oracle AI Database and more.

Session Format: Talk

Lunch Break Time: 02:00 – 03:00 PM

Session Time: 03:00 – 03:45 PM

Speaker Name: Basheer Khan

Speaker Bio: Basheer Khan, founder and CEO of Knex Technology, is an industry-leading expert in Oracle Cloud applications and technology, with over 34 years of experience in information technology and enterprise architecture. He specializes in cloud applications implementation, enterprise integration and business process improvement. He is recognized by Oracle as an ACE Director, for both Fusion Middleware as well as Oracle Applications. Oracle Magazine has honored him as Oracle’s Integration Architect of the Year. A member of the Oracle Applications Users Group since 1996, he founded and currently chairs its Fusion Middleware Special Interest Group. A frequent speaker on the capabilities of Oracle Applications & Technology at major conferences including Oracle OpenWorld, he has been published numerous times.

Session Title: AI That Works for You: Oracle AI Agent Studio in Fusion and OCI

Abstract: Oracle AI Agent Studio is redefining how organizations innovate by bringing intelligence directly into business processes and cloud ecosystems. Available within both Oracle Fusion Applications and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), it empowers teams to create smart agents that automate workflows, enhance decision-making, and deliver adaptive user experiences. The Fusion version enriches application interactions with AI-driven logic, while the OCI version provides scalable, cross-application orchestration using the Oracle Database. Together, they enable businesses to improve efficiency, transform customer experiences, and unlock new opportunities. This session explores real-world use cases along with demos that showcase how AI Agent Studio is shaping the future of enterprise transformation.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 03:45 – 04:15 PM

Speaker Name: Daniel Overby Hansen

Speaker Bio: Product Manager for Database Upgrade, Migration and Patching at Oracle. Previously, many years of experience as operational DBA and database developer at global provider of financial services.

Session Title: Oracle AutoUpgrade: Lifehacks Unlimited

Abstract: Explore how Oracle AutoUpgrade automates complex operational tasks – far beyond just upgrading. Learn real-world use cases like patching Data Guard environments, orchestrating refreshable clone PDBs with GoldenGate for mission-critical migrations, and performing upgrades with minimal impact.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 04:15 – 04:45 PM

Speaker Name: Sean Scott

Speaker Bio: Sean Scott is an Oracle ACE Director, former CNCF Ambassador for the Data on Kubernetes Community, Oracle Certified Professional, a featured speaker at user group conferences and events worldwide, and the author of “Oracle on Docker: Running Oracle Databases in Linux Containers.” He works at the intersection of database and systems reliability, database management, and DevOps. Sean is Managing Principal Consultant with Viscosity North America, where he provides expertise in Oracle database high availability, scalability, upgrades and migrations, and database and infrastructure automation.

Session Title: Terraform For DBAs: Deploy an Autonomous Database in Minutes with OCI Resource Manager

Abstract: Cloud services offer inexpensive, limitless resources.

Session Format: Talk

Session Time: 04:45 – 05:00 PM