My Year in the Tech Community
A Blog from Mike Irving, Software Developer
By Mike Irving - Published: 30/12/2025
2025, in retrospect
This, my fourth annual "look back" blog post, is a chance to digest and recall everything I've done out and about in the Tech Community in 2025, events attended or presented at, places visited - and it's a lot - it has been a busy year!
Meetup co-organising
Dot Net North has had another very busy ever, 13 events in 2025, once again concluding with our December Social, co-hosted with the Manchester and North West Umbraco Meetup group.
Macc Tech has been a little quiet. with just 1 event hosted in 2025, back in March. Plans are afoot for a return to more regular events, and a new host venue, in 2026.
MVP Award Renewal
I was honoured to have been re-awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award in Developer Technologies (sub-categories .NET and Web Development) in 2025 - continuing recognition of my tech community work in the last 12 months.
Community Events
I have been busy presenting across the UK. Delivering 4 different talks at 8 different events!
Aside from events organised, let's look at my speaking appearances and other events attended across the year...
.NET Conf Local - 14th January 2025
For the past two years, we've hosted our .NET Conf "Recap & Review" event in January. This seems to work well - with enough time since the main event for people to want to come and rediscover "what's new". Delivered at Manchester Technology Centre, my presentation and demos were on ".NET 9 Breaking Changes". My last appearance with long hair!
Stoke on Tech - 20th February 2025
Back to my classic short-haired look, my "stadium tour" started (and ended) at the bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, home of Stoke City F.C. I delivered a tailored "Intro to AI with .NET, OpenAI and Semantic Kernel" presentation.
NexInspire - 5th March 2025
Shortly after the Stoke outing, I delivered an industry-focused version my "AI with .NET, OpenAI and Semantic Kernel" talk to an audience of students and engineers at Nexperia in Hazel Grove, Greater Manchester.
MVP Summit - 24th-28th March 2025
It was an absolute honour and privilege to fly over to Microsoft HQ in Redmond, Washington, USA late in March to attend my first in-person MVP Summit. I learnt so much, and had the opportunity to engage with product teams, Microsoft staff and my fellow MVPs. Core days were 25th-27th March, with wrap around events either side. What an amazing experience!
Leeds Mobile - 10th April 2025
Back from America, I travelled over to Leeds for the second time as a speaker, this time to present "Xamarin: Moving On" at Leeds Mobile.
Dot Net North - 24th June 2025
Another outing for "Xamarin: Moving On", but one unplanned until 48 hours before! I stepped in to fill the presenting slot at short notice, when our planned presenter had to pull out.
Camp Digital - 3rd July 2025
One of my favourite events of the year, organised by Macclesfield's own Nexer Digital. RNCM in Manchester makes a great venue, and the best bit: I was there to enjoy the learning and networking experience simply as an attendee.
Staffs Web Meetup - 31st July 2025
People had spent most of 2024, and early 2025 asking me about my 2023 talk ".NET, IoT and Hedgehogs!". Conversations had often started with "Hey, you're the hedgehog guy!", so I decided to bring the talk back, starting at Staffs Web Meetup in Stafford late in July.
Dot Net Notts - 29th September 2025
I had originally planned to deliver ".NET, IoT and Hedgehogs!" in Nottingham back in 2023, but it never happened. Speaking to organiser Peter Gallagher at MVP Summit, we made a commitment to make it happen, online, late September.
Chester Devs - 4th November 2025
My final speaking commitment of the year, and again ".NET, IoT and Hedgehogs!", delivered in person in Chester.
Umbraco in The City - 7th November 2025
Aside from my core organised events, and presenting, I do like to help out in the community at large. It was a pleasure to help out as volunteer staff at this large community driven Umbraco event in Manchester.
Looking ahead
Much like this year, 2026 will begin with a Dot Net North hosted .NET Conf Local event. And similarly to last year, I'll be giving a short presentation on ".NET 10 Breaking Changes".
Macc Tech will return in January too, at a new venue. Information will soon be announced over on the Macc Tech website.
I'll continue my co-organiser role with both meetup groups, and help out further with the community as required.
Likely I'll continue to offer out my existing talks to meetups and conferences, but I plan to turn my attention to penning a new talk in the year ahead.
These events, as ever, will be listed on the Public Speaking & Events page of this website.
View Blog Entries...
Page: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
