Nearest Tubes: Kensington (Olympia) Overground (2-minute walk), Barons Court (11 minute walk), West Kensington (10 minute walk) and High Street Kensington (18 minutes walk)
Doors Open at 5:30pm for registration, food, drinks and networking. The talks start at 6:00pm (we start on time- note earlier time than usual due to venue restirctions).
TALKS:
OWASP Introduction, Welcome and News - Sam Stepanyan
Welcome and a brief update on OWASP Projects & Conferences
"Semantic OWASP: Leveraging GenAI and Graphs to Customise and Scale Security Knowledge" - Dinis Cruz
This talk advocates for a shift to a semantic knowledge graph ecosystem for OWASP content – an approach that would make OWASP knowledge more accessible, customizable, and interconnected. By leveraging semantic web technologies and large language models (LLMs), OWASP can transform its guides and standards into a machinereadable, linked knowledge base that community members and tools can query, adapt, and build upon in a context-aware manner.
"Securing Apps and APIs in Production: A Practical Approach to Runtime Application Security" - John Wood & Aurélien Svevi
Application security often stops at the pipeline—relying on scanners, simulations, and assumptions. But most real-world attacks happen in production, not during testing. This talk explores how observing applications and APIs at runtime can uncover vulnerabilities and detect actual exploit attempts that pre-production tools miss. John Wood and Aurélien Svevi will share practical lessons learned from working with engineering teams, focusing on what telemetry reveals in live environments, how to separate signals from noise, and how runtime data can support faster, more informed security decisions—without disrupting development.
TICKETS/BADGES:
This event is free to attend for both members and non-members of OWASP and is open to anyone interested in web application and cyber security. Please note that you MUST book your place to be admitted to the event by the building security - there will be pre-printed badges available for the OWASP London Chapter Meetup registered attendees - please look out for the OWASP Logo at the registration desk!
Join us on Wednesday 23 April for “A Faith Response to AI”, an evening of honest dialogue, fresh perspectives, and thoughtful engagement with one of the most important topics of our time.
We’ll host a dynamic panel discussion featuring three brilliant voices, each bringing a unique lens on faith and technology:
Femi Stevens – Author of Humanising Artificial Intelligence, exploring how AI can serve people rather than displace them.
Luke Whiting – CEO of Hailo, a faith-tech startup helping churches use data to lead well in the digital age.
James Jefferies – Software Engineer and Data Specialist at Rewilding Britain, passionate about creation care, sustainability, and how tech can reconnect us to the natural world.
Find out about user interaction in Hybrid & Physical spaces and look at the balance between practicality and creativity.
Welcome back to NUX Sheffield! This event will be hosted by Sheffield Hallam University and food will be provided by NUX on Thursday 8th May. Once you enter the Charles Street building head for the lifts and floor #4 and look for NUX volunteers.
We're thrilled to welcome two excellent speakers: Jonny Briggs, Creative Director at Field and Sophie Hague, UX/UI Designer at Reach Studios
This event is a great opportunity to meet like-minded professionals and share ideas. Whether you're just beginning your journey into UX or have spent several years in the field, everyone is welcome to join and share their experiences.
Navigating the Startup Rollercoaster: key lessons for Tech founders
Description changed:
Lorenzo will share his story of bootstrapping his digital agency, and growing it organically for 23 years, until his exit in early 2025. Lorenzo will share mistakes made, lessons learnt, and the importance of maintaining perspective for business owners, especially for solo entrepreneurs. Knowing what you don’t know, as early as possible, and consolidating those gaps, is critical to your success.
Lorenzo is also an Entrepreneur-in-residence for our Tech Incubator program - Cooper Project at Sheffield Tech Parks.
Workshop Agenda:
- The Startup Journey – Lessons from Key Phases
- Validation Stage- Launching a Startup - Access to Market
- The Founder’s Journey - Overcoming the challenges of being a founder
- The Future – What to Expect in 10-20 Years - Advice on long-term vision, scalability and adaptability
- Q&A & Discussion
Guest Speaker’s Bio:
Lorenzo Gordon was co-founder and for 23 years until March 2025, a director at Maldaba, a London-based software development agency focussing on innovative digital solutions for the public and not-for-profit sectors. Originally a software developer, Lorenzo has been leading innovation in health, social care, university research, housing and education for over 20 years, including innovative solutions for patient held records, supporting vulnerable people with their health and care information, interoperability, improving communication across organisations to support inter-agency collaboration in health and social care (NHS,Social Care), randomised controlled trials, multi criteria decision analysis, housing management, distance-based collaboration in low and middle income countries, and virtual community centres.
Lorenzo has led Maldaba on various SBRI Health phase 1 and phase 2 competitions and an InnovateUK grant on a >£900K project. Lorenzo consults for and supports organisations regarding organisational development, product-market fit, commercialisation. Lorenzo grew Maldaba to a >£1M turnover company, with 15 multi-disciplinary staff and operating profit >£270K.
🚀 “Next Move: Scale, Sell, or Something Smarter?” 🚀 - The Digital Forge
Description changed:
🚀Every business reaches a crossroads—do you scale up, sell, or take a different path entirely?
Our next event at The Digital Forge will tackle real-world strategies for business growth, investment, and transition. Whether you’re a founder, CEO, or investor, this event will give you insights from those who’ve been there before—the ones who’ve successfully scaled, sold, IPO’d, merged, franchised, or found other smart ways to grow.
🔎 What’s on the agenda?
✅ Scale It – Raising investment, expanding your market, or taking the next big leap
✅ Sell It – What makes a company valuable, who’s buying, and how to get the best deal
✅ Something Smarter? – MBOs, acquisitions, franchising, licensing, joint ventures, or keeping it in the family—exploring the often-overlooked paths to success
✅ Lessons from Founders Who’ve Done It – What worked, what didn’t, and what they wish they’d known
If you’re thinking about what’s next for your business, this is the one event you can’t afford to miss.
🚫 Please note: This event is designed specifically for founders, business owners, investors, and senior leadership teams. If you’re a service provider (consultant, agency, recruiter, etc.), we ask that you do not attend unless you’ve previously been invited or directly involved with The Digital Forge. Thank you for helping us keep the focus on high-value conversations and connections.
Music + visuals live coded and generated by algorithms, projected for your pleasure. If you've not been to one before, journalists try to explain here:
In today’s fast-moving tech landscape, security isn’t just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage. It’s about building trust, ensuring compliance, and attracting investors. This workshop will equip you with the knowledge to turn security into a business enabler.
This workshop will be led by experts in the field, Kit Barker and Melissa George from Retable Security.
Join us for this essential workshop, where we’ll break down how robust security practices can:
✅ Build customer trust and differentiate your product
✅ Streamline development with agile security practices (DevSecOps)
✅ Prevent costly legal and compliance pitfalls
✅ Protect your IP, code, and cloud assets
✅ Meet investor expectations on risk and compliance
We’ll cover practical steps, from legal basics (GDPR, breach reporting) to managing developers, securing infrastructure, and expanding globally. Plus, learn what investors look for in security and compliance before funding a startup.
Who should attend?
Startup founders, CTOs, product managers, and anyone responsible for security, compliance, or tech infrastructure. Anyone in the startup and business world who wants to learn about security is also welcome.
Workshop Agenda:
Intro – Security as a business enabler
Bare minimum legal compliance
Managing developers and development (internal and external)
What investors care about and look for in security before funding a startup
What does good security look like?
Access to Finance Event: Funding, Investment, Grant & Networking Event
Description changed:
Business Sheffield would like to invite you to our Access to Finance. The event will include presentations from industry experts in business finance.
Learn about a wide range of funding opportunities, from grants and investments to asset-based lending, including insights into Northern Powerhouse investment options. Whether you're exploring startup funding, seeking grants or loans, or looking for investment strategies, this session will give you practical advice to navigate the world of finance with confidence.
Key topics include:
Exploring funding options for businesses of all sizes
Learning more about Northern Powerhouse investment fund
Understanding startup funding opportunities
How asset-based lending works and its benefits
Alongside expert-led sessions, you’ll have the chance to network with business owners, and finance professionals. Build relationships, share experiences, and discover new opportunities while enjoying free refreshments.
We're back at SHU in Room 12.4.12 at the Charles Street Building, Sheffield Hallam University, 120 Charles St, Sheffield, S1 2NE
Look for the FES signs up into the lift and the 4th floor, and please sign-in when you arrive.
This month: Andy Carter from Evoluted
Our event is free and inclusive; we welcome people of all backgrounds and experience levels to join. We will be checking in people at the door so be sure to sign up online.
Before you attend, please read our code of conduct: http://bit.ly/fes-coc
***
This month we'll be welcoming:
Andy Carter - Magnifying the Web
Screen magnification and browser zoom are commonly used assistive technologies. However, they often get forgotten in the design and build of websites. This can introduce challenges to people with low vision that rely on them for browsing the Web. In this talk, I will share my personal experiences of these assistive technologies and some of the issues I regularly encounter.
---
Post-meetup social
After the talks we'll head to socialise at the nearby Triple Point Brewery + Bar. They serve a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, plus food from Twisted Burger Co. See https://triplepointbrewing.co.uk/ for more details. One of our volunteers will show you the way.
***
Running order
6:15pm - Doors open (please tick yourself off on our sign-in sheet as you enter the room)
6:30pm - Welcome
6:40pm - Talk 1
7:30pm – Open mic
7:35pm – Social
Building World Class Teams, and Winning Culture - Venture.Community
Description changed:
At any stage, one of the most critical aspects of success is the team you build and the culture you cultivate. But, Startups especially require a strong, cohesive team with a shared vision. At this event, Venture.community will dive deep into the nuances of team building and culture creation, equipping you with the tools and strategies to scale your startup while maintaining alignment and motivation.
Why This Topic Matters: Building a startup is a marathon, and the people running alongside you can determine whether you reach the finish line. Founders often face challenges in attracting top talent, fostering collaboration, and ensuring values align with long-term goals. Culture—the invisible glue that binds a team together—can make or break a company, especially as you grow and scale.
This session will provide actionable insights into how to:
- Identify and attract the right people for your startup.
- Build a culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, and resilience.
- Prevent common team-related pitfalls that derail early-stage startups.
- Align your team’s goals with your company’s mission, especially during high-pressure fundraising and scaling phases.
Join us for this impactful session to gain detailed education and actionable insights that will prepare you to tackle the challenges of team building and culture as you fundraise and scale. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with other founders, mentors, and investors in the Venture.Community network!
Come and join us at Reach Studios for a morning of conversations, networking and pastries, on the third Friday of every month.
This is a great opportunity to catch up with familiar faces, meet new people and learn more about the amazing things happening in the business world in and around Sheffield, all over a coffee and a pastry.
Our agenda is designed to maximise your experience at Reach Breakfast Club:
Open Networking: Get started with a coffee, pastry, and conversations. This is a great opportunity to make new connections and catch up with familiar faces.
Guest Speakers: Gain valuable insights and inspirations from our guest speakers, who will share their journeys, experiences, and business innovations.
Chilled Networking: Wind down the morning with more open networking in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Exchange ideas, make new friends and solidify connections.
Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your networking game, fuel your motivation, and kickstart your day on a positive note. Join us at Reach Breakfast Club!
Tickets are FREE! A bucket will be available for any donations going towards Cavendish Cancer Care.
As you all probably know our office situation at the moment, so we are working on a venue now. Once we have confirmed, we will email you all with an update! Thank you for being patient!
Postgraduate Cyber Security and Advanced Computer Networks Showcase - SHU Festival of Computing
Description changed:
MSc Cyber Security and Advanced Computer Networks students have the opportunity to present their dissertation projects, along with inspirational talks from prominent figures within the cyber security and Networks industry. This event is a unique opportunity to explore the latest research and innovations in the field of cyber security and computer networks, directly from the next generation of experts. The event will commence with some inspiring keynote speaker.
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
Artificial Intelligence Festival - SHU Festival of Computing
Description changed:
This summer, we are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable progress and potential of our MSc Artificial Intelligence students through the AI Festival that goes beyond academia, fostering connections between AI enthusiasts, students, researchers, educators, and industry collaborators. Cutting-edge AI technologies that our students are developing will be showcased through their innovative projects, coupled with our Robot Hackathon, where students will compete and push the boundaries of robotic intelligence.
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
Computer Games "Game Over 25" - SHU Festival of Computing
Description changed:
Get ready for Game Over 2025 – Sheffield Hallam’s ultimate showcase of creativity and student innovation in all areas of Games Development. An exciting display of collaborative games projects from students in all levels of study within our games@Hallam range of courses. Experience interactive demos and discussions from a wide array of talented students. Whether you're a gamer, developer, or just curious, come experience the next generation of game-makers in action.
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
This event is a fantastic opportunity for knowledge exchange and interaction between academia, students and industry, aiming to create an interactive environment for building fruitful partnerships. Final year cyber security undergraduate students at Sheffield Hallam University will be showcasing their final year projects as poster presentations and having open discussions about their work with participants. We have some fantastic guest speakers and panel discussion lined up for participants!
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
Undergraduate Cyber Security Showcase - SHU Festival of Computing
Description changed:
This event is a fantastic opportunity for knowledge exchange and interaction between academia, students and industry, aiming to create an interactive environment for building fruitful partnerships. Final year cyber security undergraduate students at Sheffield Hallam University will be showcasing their final year projects as poster presentations and having open discussions about their work with participants. We have some fantastic guest speakers and panel discussion lined up for participants!
An exciting opportunity to dive into the dynamic fields of Mathematics and Data Analytics! Exploring how we use mathematical theory and/or cutting-edge data analysis techniques to solve real-world problems through student projects and speakers from the industry. Exploring new ideas and meet our student community engaging and thriving in dealing with challenging real-world problems.
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
SmartPulse: Data Hack for a Healthier Future - SHU Festival of Computing
Description changed:
Ready to shape the future with cutting-edge technology? This event is an inclusive, hands-on event where you'll look at data analysis, IoT devices, and cloud services to tackle real-world challenges. Including talks led by industry professionals, we’ll guide you through the fundamentals of IoT devices, like Raspberry Pi and smartphones, and how to use cloud services like Azure to collect and store data.
No tickets are needed to attend this event.
These are the time slots for visitors from outside the SHU to attend. The visitors can show up for any of these without any prior booking.
BUSINESS SOCIAL NETWORKING - Yorkshire Business Group
Description changed:
Informal business networking event open to all Business owners , CEO's, Directors, and Professionals from different industry sectors including Hospitality and Retail.
INFORMAL BUSINESS NETWORKING
Join us in the Terrace Suite at the hotel for an excellent chance to expand your professional circle with other business leaders and experts from South Yorkshire.
This is the perfect setting to showcase your business and meet other Business owners, Directors and Professionals.
We’re delighted to announce the return of this special Senior Leaders Dinner on 22nd May at The Sheffield College’s Silver Plate restaurant.
Not only will our three course meal be prepared and served by talented catering and hospitality students at the College, we will be joined for dinner by T-Level students in digital subjects, who want to meet face to face with the city’s tech leaders.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and inspire your future workforce, to share your stories and experience and to guide and support students to fantastic careers in Sheffield's tech ecosystem.
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for last year you will know what a fantastic evening we had. The students were outstanding, the conversations rich and productive and the meal delicious. Attendees commented on how good it felt to give back and how inspired they were meeting the next tech generation.
This Senior Leaders Dinner is all about raising aspirations, giving young people direction into tech, and potentially making a big difference to their lives - we hope you can join us for this important event.
On the night
Arrival 6.00pm
Seated 6.30pm - Welcome by Mel Kanarek and Andrew Hartley of Sheffield Colleage
3 course menu, prepared and served by the students. As usual there is no formal seating, and the Silver plate has plenty of space to network, or to change tables for coffee and desserts.
We'll finish at round 9pm but you're welcome to stay longer or move onto another local venue with the SD team.
We want everyone to feel welcome and respected at this event, so we’ll observe the Sheffield Digital Code of Conduct and Chatham House rules. If there is anything we can do to make individuals feel more comfortable about attending, please get in touch with Emma Marshall (emma@Sheffield.Digital)
All dietary requirements will be catered for, please confirm any allergies and requirements when getting your ticket and I will come back to you wih your individual choices.
Canapes will be handed round before the meal.
Menu
Starter: Glazed scallops & crap, slowgooked port belly, apple puree
Main: Smoked loin of Lamb, minted spring vegetables, wild garlic
We’re delighted to announce the return of this special Senior Leaders Dinner on 22nd May at The Sheffield College’s Silver Plate restaurant.
Not only will our three course meal be prepared and served by talented catering and hospitality students at the College, we will be joined for dinner by T-Level students in digital subjects, who want to meet face to face with the city’s tech leaders.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and inspire your future workforce, to share your stories and experience and to guide and support students to fantastic careers in Sheffield's tech ecosystem.
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for last year you will know what a fantastic evening we had. The students were outstanding, the conversations rich and productive and the meal delicious. Attendees commented on how good it felt to give back and how inspired they were meeting the next tech generation.
This Senior Leaders Dinner is all about raising aspirations, giving young people direction into tech, and potentially making a big difference to their lives - we hope you can join us for this important event.
On the night
Arrival 6.00pm
Seated 6.30pm - Welcome by Mel Kanarek and Andrew Hartley of Sheffield Colleage
3 course menu, prepared and served by the students. As usual there is no formal seating, and the Silver plate has plenty of space to network, or to change tables for coffee and desserts.
We'll finish at round 9pm but you're welcome to stay longer or move onto another local venue with the SD team.
We want everyone to feel welcome and respected at this event, so we’ll observe the Sheffield Digital Code of Conduct and Chatham House rules. If there is anything we can do to make individuals feel more comfortable about attending, please get in touch with Emma Marshall (emma@Sheffield.Digital)
All dietary requirements will be catered for, please confirm any allergies and requirements when getting your ticket and I will come back to you wih your individual choices.
Canapes will be handed round before the meal.
Menu
Starter: Glazed scallops & crap, slowgooked port belly, apple puree
Main: Smoked loin of Lamb, minted spring vegetables, wild garlic
We’re delighted to announce the return of this special Senior Leaders Dinner on 22nd May at The Sheffield College’s Silver Plate restaurant.
Not only will our three course meal be prepared and served by talented catering and hospitality students at the College, we will be joined for dinner by T-Level students in digital subjects, who want to meet face to face with the city’s tech leaders.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet and inspire your future workforce, to share your stories and experience and to guide and support students to fantastic careers in Sheffield's tech ecosystem.
If you were lucky enough to get a ticket for last year you will know what a fantastic evening we had. The students were outstanding, the conversations rich and productive and the meal delicious. Attendees commented on how good it felt to give back and how inspired they were meeting the next tech generation.
This Senior Leaders Dinner is all about raising aspirations, giving young people direction into tech, and potentially making a big difference to their lives - we hope you can join us for this important event.
On the night
Arrival 6.00pm
Seated 6.30pm - Welcome by Mel Kanarek and Andrew Hartley of Sheffield Colleage
3 course menu, prepared and served by the students. As usual there is no formal seating, and the Silver plate has plenty of space to network, or to change tables for coffee and deserts.
We'll finish atround 9pm but you're welcome to stay longer or move onto another local venue with the SD team.
We want everyone to feel welcome and respected at this event, so we’ll observe the Sheffield Digital Code of Conduct and Chatham House rules. If there is anything we can do to make individuals feel more comfortable about attending, please get in touch with Emma Marshall (emma@Sheffield.Digital)
All dietary requirements will be catered for, please confirm any alergies and requirements when getting your ticket and I will come back to you wih your individual choices.
Capapes will be handed round before the meal.
Menu
Starter: Glazed scallops & crap, slowgooked port belly, apple puree
Main: Smoked loin of Lamb, minted spring vegetables, wild garlic
[🏫 In-Person] MIDI Controllers, Bird Data, and MAUI Magic with Tony Edwards
Description changed:
Details
This event will be a single talk on MIDI Controllers, Bird Data, and MAUI Magic with Tony Edwards
⚠️ This will be an in-person event, the venue is Sheffield Hallam University, room TBA.
🗺️ Hallam University Map: [https://www.shu.ac.uk/visit-us/how-to-find-us/city-campus-map](https://www.shu.ac.uk/visit-us/how-to-find-us/city-campus-map)
📌 Google Maps: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/kMU7RCsj3hdhWzXp9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/kMU7RCsj3hdhWzXp9)
🚗 Parking: The APCOA car park on Eyre Street is a five-minute walk from City Campus. You can park there for just £5. Just scan your blue chip at Owen Building Level 5, Charles Street, or Cantor to claim the discount.
Agenda:
🍕 Pizza/Drinks (18:15 - 18:30)
🗣 Introduction (18:30)
👉 MIDI Controllers, Bird Data, and MAUI Magic with Tony Edwards (18:35ish)
🍻 Social @ Pub (after the talk)
👉 MIDI Controllers, Bird Data, and MAUI Magic
Can you use a MIDI controller to host TV game show games with the help of an event audience? Does bird song offer the perfect dataset for these games? Will a rainbow clown wig really offer protection against minor head injuries when the audience throws things at the host?
In this session, Tony hopes to answer these questions that no one has ever asked.
Using a 500 item data set of bird sightings and recordings curated in recent years, he'll guide the audience through the creation of a few games as part of a MacCatalyst App using .NET Maui. As well as exploring the high level benefits and drawbacks of choosing MAUI for cross platform development, the session will touch on the mental health benefits of stepping away from a screen and spending time in nature, using our non-tech hobbies to support technical upskilling, and offer a jump off point for anyone looking to explore the worlds of MIDI, MAUI, and ornithology.
No knowledge of any of the topics, nor a desire to use MAUI, is required to take something away from this talk.
