COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025: Full Schedule

WELCOME TO COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025

Don’t forget to reach out to your local country user group to get the discount code for the congress!

Common Europe, in collaboration with Common Sweden, is delighted to be holding its annual flagship event, Common Europe Congress, in the friendly city of Gothenburg offering extensive education, networking and relaxation opportunities. It’s also a great opportunity for exploring the city… so why not take a family mini-break as well.
Congress education areas targeted are IBM Power hardware, Application Development, Advanced RPG, Open Source tools and Languages, System Management, Db2 and SQL, IBM Storage, IBM i services and microservices, Security and Compliance and much more.
There will be two AIX / Linux tracks, to emphasize the Power Systems character of Common Europe.
Top IBM Business Architects and industry experts have already agreed to share their knowledge on the latest announcements, customer cases as well as practical subjects.
The congress content includes:

3 ½ days of latest education delivered by top IBM and industry leading speakers punctuated by large breaks offering maximum networking,
Three-hour in-depth workshops, 60 minutes’ education sessions and solution provider’s special slots,
A Solution Providers’ Centre open for 2 ½ days with top European and worldwide technology companies at their booths presenting innovative practical solutions that will enhance our solutions,
A Congress Dinner in the hotel with live entertainment.

We have negotiated special room rates in the Congress hotel itself,
The Common Europe Organization Team looks forward to seeing you in picturesque Gothenburg.

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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08:00 CEST

Experience the Wonders of AI: Come Marvel With Me!

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST

07 - R18

In recent memory very few new technologies have captured our imagination the way AI has. Come join the discussion as we show the fascinating ways AI has revolutionized our world. We'll delve into the captivating reasons behind AI's growing influence and showcase real-life examples that demonstrate its transformative power. From revolutionizing industries to enhancing daily life, this session will illuminate the endless possibilities of AI. Whether you're a tech expert or simply curious about the future, you will leave inspired and informed about the marvels of modern AI.

Speakers

Charlie Guarino

CEO & IBM Champion, Central Park Data Systems

Charles Guarino believes in the “power” of IBM Power Systems. His career reflects his dedication and interest in bringing the platform and its solutions to others and as a result has been recognized as an IBM Champion.He is a member of COMMON’s Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST
07 - R18

IBM i App Dev, AI

08:00 CEST

What's New in Db2 for i

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST

05 - F3

In the tradition of previous Technology Refreshes (TR), the database team is delivering enhancements on the same cadence. Attend this session to hear about the many enhancements to SQL on i, SQL Query Engine, IBM i Services and more. This session will cover the new and enhanced Db2 for i capabilities added to IBM i 7.4 and IBM i 7.5 over the most recent IBM i Technology Refreshes.

This session will include something for everyone and anyone who uses the IBM i.

Speakers

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM

Ryan Moeller is a software engineer working on Db2 for i, specifically on the SQL Query Engine (SQE) team. He joined the team in the Rochester, MN development lab in 2020. Ryan specializes in SQL, database development, and query performance analysis.

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST
05 - F3

IBM i App Dev

08:00 CEST

Storage Insights Upcoming Features and Roadmap

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST

09 - R14

Speakers

Manish Anand

Engineering Leader- Storage Insights: UX Modernization & AIOps, IBM

Thursday June 5, 2025 08:00 - 09:00 CEST
09 - R14

Storage

09:10 CEST

Automation with Ansible (AAP) and Power Systems - PowerVC, HMC, AIX & Linux LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

10 - R15

• Session is all about how we went from semi manual workflow to deployment of an IKEA AIX Technical Standard via Ansible and PowerVC. The sessions shows our workflow for deployment and delete plus D2D tasks including
zoning, storage, power systems, dual vios and AIX configuration. To support this automation even more we use EP20.

By Stephan Åkeborg

Speakers

Stephan Åkeborg

Systems Engineer Digital Compute Platforms, IKEA

Keep an expert competence within Power Systems, PowerVM, AIX and PowerHA, Linux, Storage Protect and Storage Systems. Cloud implementations based on PowerVC in complex environments, including automation through Ansible.Maintain IBM certifications.Other specialties: Customer suited... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
10 - R15

AIX/Linux

09:10 CEST

BSD on IBM Power, the forgotten Open Source Operating System LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

11 - R9

This presentation talks about BSD on IBM Power, while it is well known that IBM Power supports, IBM AIX, IBM i and Linux on Power, there is also support for BSD on IBM Power.
The currently supported BSD variants are FreeBSD and OpenBSD, these operating systems provide a UNIX setup that provides open source software native to IBM Power.

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
11 - R9

AIX/Linux

09:10 CEST

Beyond the Dashboard: An IBM i Monitoring Blueprint LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

04 - F2

Your IBM i system serves as the backbone of your operations, with each workload presenting unique demands. However, certain key elements must be consistently monitored to maintain a healthy and efficient environment. In this session, you’ll gain a comprehensive guide to monitoring IBM i, covering system performance, database health, security, storage, and user activity. Discover best practices, tools, and strategies to identify bottlenecks, address security vulnerabilities, and ensure optimal uptime. Leave equipped with actionable insights to keep your IBM i system running smoothly in today’s demanding IT landscape.

Speakers

Ash Giddings

Product Manager, Maxava

Ash Giddings is an IT professional with over 30 years of experience in and around IBM midrange servers. He is currently the Product Manager at Maxava, a leading provider of disaster recovery, high availability, and cloud-based monitoring solutions for IBM i and beyond. Ash is an IBM... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
04 - F2

IBM i, Systems management

09:10 CEST

The IBM i benefits of “instant disk copy” and the differences between ‘FlashCopy’ and ‘Snapshots’ External storage features explained.

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

09 - R14

All IBM external storage units can perform “instant copy” of all the disks of your IBM i LPAR.
Historically made using the ‘FlashCopy’ technology, these “instant copies” are now possible with a new method called ‘Snapshot’ or ‘Policy based FlashCopy’.
Discover the differences and how to use those two technologies to simplify and secure operations on your IBM i partitions:
-   To create easily manually a copy of your prod to test a change on it (or create a backup copy before a version change)
-   To perform daily several planned “instant copy” to create regular protection against ransomware or data corruption
-   To reduce, using IBM i commands, the backup window to less than 2 minutes
- To refresh nearly instantly your test/acceptance/preprod environment

By Pascal Ruckebusch

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
09 - R14

IBM i, Systems management

09:10 CEST

Code for IBM i & Co: contribute to an Open Source project ! LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

07 - R18

Code for IBM i, the popular open source extension that brings modern IBM i development to VS Code is developed and maintained by developers, for developers. Since it's a community driven project more than 40 people already contributed to, why not come and join the fun? There are many ways to contribute, not only through code but also by submitting ideas or bug reports, writing documentation or just spreading the word about how nice it is! Through this session given by some of the extension's Core Team members, step through the looking glass and come discover what the Open Source model has to offer and how you, too, can join the adventure. It doesn't matter if you're a developer or not - everyone is welcome!

Speakers

Sebastien Julliand

Tech Lead, ARCAD Software

Hi, I'm Seb! I am a Tech Lead & IBM i Advocate at ARCAD Software and an active contributors to IBM i open source projects.Let's talk about anything related to software development, on IBM i or not, it doesn't mater to me. RPGLE, Java, TypeScript...I love them all equally 😁I'm actively... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
07 - R18

IBM i App Dev

09:10 CEST

Db2 for i times 2 = Awesome LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

05 - F3

In this brand new session, two Db2 for i experts from IBM join forces and examine topics, technologies, and techniques that they use to help IBM i clients achieve success on Db2 for i. Attend this session and you'll get a confluence of Db2 for i knowledge, technique, and wisdom.

Scott Forstie has 36 years of experience developing Db2 for i and IBM i operating system features. His passion for SQL includes many innovations that are intended to help all personas that involve the IBM i.

Morten Buur Rasmussen has over 35 years of experience optimizing IBM i performance, specializing in Db2 for i, application efficiency, and system tuning. His passion for performance engineering drives him to find practical solutions that help DB engineers fine-tune databases and applications for peak efficiency.

Speakers

Scott Forstie

STSM, Db2 for i Architect, IBM

Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
05 - F3

IBM i Div.

09:10 CEST

IBM i Backup and Restore Tactics with BRMS

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

03 - F1

Lots of clients are still using native save when saving their system with limited knowledge of BRMS. In this session there will be in depth knowledge of BRMS including prerequisites, installation and get start with it first time. The new web interface has been released and can be configured.Creating control groups for different type of saves will also be covered. Different system can share inventory via BRMS network. Defining BRMS policies and the affect on the operations will be demonstrated .Full system recovery reports generation and media inventory in BRMS Some Restore examples using BRMS for library and IFS. Learn about new BRMS product(5770BR2) with GUI

Speakers

Rohit Chauhan

Senior Technical Specialist and IBM Champion, Tietoevry Tech Services Norway AS

Rohit Chauhan is an IBM Champion and a Senior Technical Specialist with expertise in IBM i platform and IBM Power Systems. He is also a IBM Redbooks author and works at Tietoevry Tech Services, Stavanger, Norway, which is an IBM Business Partner and one of the biggest IT service providers... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
03 - F1

IBM i System Management

09:10 CEST

Strategic IT - Partnering with the Business and Communicating for Success!

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

08 - R11/R12

What are your career goals? Sure, we're all great with technology, but to continue growing in our careers requires that we do the unthinkable... we actually have to TALK to each other. And even worse... we have to TALK to the business people in our companies! Why? WHY? Why would we possibly want to TALK to PEOPLE? The answer to that question is that today more than ever, technology IS the business. So it makes sense that IT can help or hurt a business more than ever. It's critical that we align our IT efforts, goals, and strategies with those of the business - and all of that requires good communication. Would you like to have a seat at the table, to be taken seriously as a businessperson, and to have a voice in the decisions our companies make? Then this is the session for you. Take that first step outside your comfort zone, and you may just find yourself listened to with newfound respect and interest by your business. Come to this session to partner with your business and communicate for success!

Speakers

Steve Wolk

CTO, PC Richard & Son

Steven Wolk is the Chief Technology Officer for PC Richard & Son, a family owned and operated chain of 66 appliance and electronics superstores located throughout NY, NJ, CT, and PA. Founded in 1909, PC Richard has always been known for honesty, integrity, and reliability throughout... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
08 - R11/R12

Personal Development

09:10 CEST

Compliance and security management on IBM i with IBM PowerSC LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

06 - R17

Managing the security and compliance on different IBM i systems and partitions can be a challenging task. Changing a setting is quite simple, but automatically checking if a security setting remains the same over time and getting notified about a change is a challenge. IBM offers a product called IBM PowerSC. This product uses compliance profiles to perform the necessary security configuration and monitors that the systems remain compliant. It offers a single user interface that lets you monitor the compliance and security of all your IBM i, Linux on Power, AIX, and VIOS partitions on your Power System. It provides more security functions for malware detection, PTF level currency checking, and more. This session shows you what PowerSC is, how it works, and based on the Center for Internet Security (CIS) IBM i benchmark how to apply a compliance profile. You also see the reporting capabilities of the product, which offers administrators and auditors a comprehensive overview of the security state of your IBM i landscape.

Speakers

Thomas Barlen

Senior Managing Consultant, IBM

IT consultant architecting and implementing security solutions mainly in the IBM i and AIX area. I am also a frequent speaker at technical conferences. Specialties: Cryptography, Single Signon, Security assessments, Access Control concepts and implementation, IBM i networking, IBM... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
06 - R17

Power Hardware / Storage

09:10 CEST

Broadcom - Details to come LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST

12 - R7

Thursday June 5, 2025 09:10 - 10:10 CEST
12 - R7

Storage

10:10 CEST

Break LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:10 - 10:20 CEST

01 - Expo

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:10 - 10:20 CEST
01 - Expo

Break

10:20 CEST

AIX Trends and Directions

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

10 - R15

In this session, I shall discuss how IBM AIX has grown and has new skills! IBM AIX has a strong, published roadmap out beyond 2038 and aligns to the IBM Technology Atlas that shows IBM’s technical direction. In this session, I shall focus on how AIX particularly delivers for Security, Hybrid Cloud and AI. Join us to learn more!

Speakers

David Spurway

IBM Power AI and Security Principal, EMEA, IBM Technology Sales, IBM

As the Global Principal IBM Power, David is the primary evangelist for IBM Power in IBM Technology Sales. He regularly meets and presents to a range of audiences, from CxO to new graduates, articulating the value of our solutions. Whether the topic is the existing IBM Power offerings... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
10 - R15

AIX/Linux

10:20 CEST

Ubuntu on Power!

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

11 - R9

In this session we will explore the different Canonical solutions and use cases available for IBM Power.

By Hugo Blanco

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
11 - R9

AIX/Linux

10:20 CEST

IBM i Migration While Active

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

04 - F2

IBM i Migration While active announced by IBM in October 2024. It is a great tool in order to migrate the IBM i from one premise to another whether it is cloud or any other service provider. In this session will briefly cover this product and functionalities how to use it and what can be achieved with limited time when planning for migrations.

By Rohit Chauhan & Nicolae Chirea

Speakers

Rohit Chauhan

Senior Technical Specialist and IBM Champion, Tietoevry Tech Services Norway AS

Nicolae Chirea

System Architect, Seidor Iberia

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
04 - F2

IBM i, Systems management

10:20 CEST

Accelerate your SQL Queries with SMP

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

05 - F3

With Symmetric Multiprocessing (SMP) now available as a no-charge feature in IBM i, you've gained access to a powerful feature that can significantly improve the speed of query execution. However, SMP must be approached carefully, as improper usage may produce lackluster results. This session will cover the inner workings of SMP, when to utilize SMP, and tools for controlling system-wide SMP usage.

Speakers

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
05 - F3

IBM i App Dev

10:20 CEST

The Future of RPG : Evolution of a Legacy Language

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

07 - R18

RPG has been the backbone of IBM i development for decades, but how is this language evolving to meet modern programming needs? This session explores the ongoing transformation of RPG, highlighting recent enhancements and future directions. We'll compare modern RPG features with those of contemporary languages, demonstrating how these trusted languages are adapting to current development paradigms. Additionally, we'll address the critical issue of attracting new talent to RPG, discussing strategies for bridging the generational gap in the IBM i developer community. Whether you're a seasoned RPG developer or a manager looking to future-proof your team's skills, this session will provide valuable insights into the enduring relevance of this legacy language.

Speakers

Koen Decorte

Owner and CEO, IBM Champion, CD-Invest

Koen Decorte is owner of CD Invest, an international IBM business partner with offices in Belgium andSpain. CD-Invest is specialized in innovating and modernizing IBM i applications.Koen studied philology and computer linguistics.His focus is mainly on integrating and using open source... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
07 - R18

IBM i App Dev

10:20 CEST

IBM i Security Enhancements - What's new LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

03 - F1

Attacks of different kinds have unfortunately also affected IBM i systems of companies of all sizes.
Therefore, it is important to leverage native IBM i security features to protect your business application environment. IBM i 7.5 has introduced many new security functions that can be used to lower the risk of successful hacking or intrusion attempts. New functions and enhancement are also introduced in almost every new Technology Refresh (TR).
Join this session to get an extensive overview of the latest security enhancements.

Speakers

Janus Hertz

Consulting IT Specialist, IBM

IBM Technology Expert Labs Consultant - IBM Power / IBM i - Security, HA/DR, Virtualization - IBM Northern Europe

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
03 - F1

IBM i System Management, Security

10:20 CEST

Using Function Usage to Add another Layer of Security to your IBM i Configuration

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

06 - R17

Come to this session to understand what Function Usage (formerly known as Application Administration) is, how to access it, how to implement settings to add an additional layer of security to your IBM i Security strategy and how discover or report on current settings. Carol will also discuss the audit journal entries that are generated by function usage and describe several ways to utilize this information. Information on the functions added in the latest release will also be discussed.

Speakers

Carol Woodbury

IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
06 - R17

IBM i System Management, Security

10:20 CEST

Are you a Sail, or an Anchor? LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

08 - R11/R12

Throughout your career you will be placed into many situations. You will work with peers, subordinates and superiors. You will work with vendors and customers. You will work with those inside and outside of Information Technology. All of those people will form an opinion of you. What will it be? Each time you meet a challenge, each time you are asked for your opinion, each time you will provide input. In what manner will you respond? Will people think of you as a Sail or an Anchor?

Speakers

Larry Bolhuis

Cloud and Datacenter Engineer, IBM Champion, Service Express Inc.

Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982 and soon after began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36. Larry began working on the As/400 at its introduction In 1988.After spending many years as a developer Larry began working on communications, networking, and systems management tasks. Years of... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
08 - R11/R12

Personal Development

10:20 CEST

DS8K SafeGuarded Copy and Cyber Resiliency

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

12 - R7

Speakers

Henrik Grönberg

IBM

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
12 - R7

Storage

10:20 CEST

FlashSystem and SVC Integration and Automation LIMITED

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST

09 - R14

Speakers

Carlos Fuente

Distinguished Engineer, IBM

Thursday June 5, 2025 10:20 - 11:20 CEST
09 - R14

Storage

11:30 CEST

Ask the Experts - AIX/Linux

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30 - 12:18 CEST

04 - F2

AIX/ Linux Panel

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30 - 12:18 CEST
04 - F2

All hands

11:30 CEST

Ask the Experts - IBM i

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30 - 12:20 CEST

02 - F4/F5

Moderators

Steve Cast

Practice Director, Fresche Solutions

I am the Founder of Redbourn Business Systems, a company acquired by Fresche Solutions in 2024, making us the world's largest IBM i dedicated team, outside of IBM.In my new role as Practice Director of Fresche Europe, I will continue to build on the success of Redbourn Business Systems... Read More →

Pete Massiello

IBM i Advisor, Massiello Holding Corp.

Pete Massiello has been working with the AS/400, iSeries, IBM i since 1989, focusing on systems management and technical support. He has held numerous technical positions through out his career. He is the President of iTech Solutions Group, an IBM Premier Business Partner delivering... Read More →

Speakers

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

Steve is the CTO and Chief Architect for the IBM i Operating System. Spending the past fourteen years of his IBM career in this position, he has become an award-winning speaker, author of the influential blog "You and i," (https://bit.ly/You-and-i-blog) and is one of the most sought-after voices at customer briefings and events. Steve has worked on IBM i and its predecessors since before the creation of the AS/400, and is currently responsible for setting the strategy of the IBM i operating system, as well as deciding which enhancements will be implemented. In his role, he talks to clients and pa... Read More →

Carol Woodbury

IBM i Security SME and Senior Advisor, Kisco

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM

Tim Rowe is the Business Architect responsible for Application Development and Systems Management for the IBM i operating system. His responsibilities include helping to make sure that the IBM i has what is needed to be successful both today and into the future. He sends much of his... Read More →

Scott Forstie

STSM, Db2 for i Architect, IBM

Rudi van Helvoirt

Technical Director, Easi

After having started as a System/38 programmer in 1986. In 1989 the switch was made to system programming and systems management.Being passionate about systems management he founded van Helvoirt Automatisering in 1993.Rudi enjoys helping IBM i customers ever since for running their... Read More →

Charlie Guarino

CEO & IBM Champion, Central Park Data Systems

Birgitta Hauser

Database and Software Architect, IBM Champion, Birgitta Hauser - Modernization - Education - Consulting

Birgitta Hauser worked on the IBM i and its predecessors since 1992. She graduated with a business economics diploma, and started programming on the AS/400 in 1992. She worked and works as traditional RPG Programmer but also as Database and Software Engineer, focusing on IBM i application... Read More →

Thursday June 5, 2025 11:30 - 12:20 CEST
02 - F4/F5

All hands

12:20 CEST

Closing

Thursday June 5, 2025 12:20 - 12:35 CEST

02 - F4/F5

Thursday June 5, 2025 12:20 - 12:35 CEST
02 - F4/F5

All hands

COMMON EUROPE CONGRESS 2025

From €204.79