Learn from the Testing Experts

19th September, 2025

RALEIGH

>> Home

>> Register

>> Programme Schedule

Keynotes

Venkatesh Venkataraman

Director of Quality Engineering
Oracle

Building the AI Flywheel: Supercharging your Quality Engineering Teams

The future of AI powered Quality Engineering is not about replacing human expertise, it is about amplifying it exponentially!. While the industry buzzes around AI magic bullets, enterprise quality teams must pivot to a fundamentally different approach and shift the mindset from sprint to a marathon. The solution is to build AI flywheels that compound their team’s capabilities.
In this keynote, I will share insights into building the AI Flywheel that transforms quality engineering teams: amplify your QA Engineers’ capabilities, evolve generative AI into context-aware intelligent assistants, and navigating strategic change to fast-track AI adoption. With rapid advancements in AI, learn how small, incremental wins can build momentum necessary for strategic leaps.

Takeaways from this talk

  • A practical roadmap for AI adoption that doesn’t require waiting for perfect tools
  • Framework to build your AI flywheel
  • The confidence to lead your organization’s quality transformation, not just be a spectator in this AI era!.
Andrew Knight

Andrew Knight

Senior Director of Product Management
Cycle Labs

Is Behavior-Driven Development Dying

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) has been an incredibly influential movement within the software industry for more than a decade. However, not everyone embraces its tenets and practices, especially when they are abused. BDD tends to be loved or hated with little middle ground. These days, many are even asking, is BDD dying? The answer is, certainly not – it is evolving! It is time for us to rethink what it means to adopt a “behavior-driven mindset,” in which we pursue deliverable value over clever coding. It is time for us to recognize that Generative AI tooling can expedite the phases of discovery and formulation together with automation. And perhaps it is time for us to recast BDD as a new movement that transcends the Gherkin and the Cucumber we love (or hate) from the past. Let’s explore the possibilities together in this keynote.

Takeaways from this talk

  • To reconsider the principles and values of BDD with present-day framing.
  • To recognize that all software development and testing flow through the phases of Discovery, Formulation, and Automation
  • To learn how to utilize Generative AI tools to assist the BDD process.

Featured Speakers

Evgeny Tkachenko

Evgeny Tkachenko

Quality Engineering Program Lead
One Medical (Amazon)

Navigating Quality Engineering in the AI Era

Are you prepared to lead the charge in redefining quality standards for AI-powered applications? As AI revolutionizes industries, traditional testing methods fall short in addressing the unique complexities of AI systems. This presentation will empower Quality Engineers and Managers with the tools, strategies, and frameworks to tackle these challenges head-on and elevate their quality engineering practices.

We’ll explore proven methods for testing AI systems, focusing on critical quality attributes such as accuracy, robustness, interpretability, and fairness. By addressing challenges like data variability, model uncertainty, and ethical considerations, I’ll share practical solutions and insights that can transform how your organization approaches quality. From building resilient testing frameworks to leveraging cutting-edge tools and automation, this talk offers actionable steps to ensure your AI applications not only perform reliably but also align with the highest ethical standards.

Takeaways from this talk

  • Attendees will gain a clear understanding of future trends in AI quality engineering and how to position themselves as leaders in this rapidly evolving space. This is more than a presentation—it’s a call to action to embrace innovation, foster trust in AI systems, and set the benchmark for quality in the age of intelligent software.
  • Leave equipped with practical takeaways, strategic insights, and the confidence to lead your team and organization into the future of AI-powered quality engineering. Don’t just adapt—thrive in the AI era.
Jeffrey Gardner

Jeffrey Gardner

Senior Solution Engineer
Keysight Technologies Inc.

Testing Frameworks and Architectures

The importance of Testing Frameworks and Good architecture to enhance your testing reliability, repeatability, maintenance, and reporting, and how a bad framework can undo all the good work of a QA team.

Takeaways from this talk

Signs of a good framework and results of a bad one.

Chris Sellek

Chris Sellek

Staff Software Engineer
SAS

Utilizing and Testing Gen AI

The entire way that humanity has built, tested, and shipped software has been flipped on its head with the introduction of LLMs and Generative AI. With how ubiquitous and, to be brutally honest, how unbelievably useful this new technology is, we can’t avoid having it in our products. But we also can’t just make it a part of the standard SDLC. In this talk, we’ll discuss some best practices around utilizing and testing LLMs in this confusing newfangled world we find ourselves in. By the end of the talk, you’ll leave feeling more confident about testing these new computers that act like humans instead of computers.

Takeaways from this talk

Lessons Learned from Real-World Test Automation: Case Studies of What Worked and What Didn’t”

Kateryna Sprynsian

Kateryna Sprynsian

Engineering Director in Test
Fidelity Investments

The QA Perspective Makeover: From IC to QA Leader

Thinking about taking the leap into QA leadership—or already navigating your first steps as a new manager? The move from individual contributor to team lead is one of the most meaningful transitions in a QA career. It’s not just a change in role, but a transformation in perspective.

In this talk, we’ll explore how leadership reshapes your approach to everyday challenges. The session is divided into two parts:

  • Part 1: We’ll look at real-world scenarios—giving and receiving feedback, handling conflict, and discussing pay or promotions—from the viewpoint of a QA individual contributor.
  • Part 2: We’ll revisit those same situations through the lens of a QA manager, exploring how the dynamics shift when you’re responsible for both outcomes and people.

To close, we’ll offer a thought-provoking glimpse into what happens when your career evolves even further—when you’re no longer just leading a team, but shaping other leaders.

Whether you’re preparing for a leadership role or already in one, this session will leave you with fresh perspective, practical insights, and plenty to reflect on.

Takeaways from this talk

  • Understand how the same workplace scenarios—such as feedback, conflict, and promotion discussions—are experienced differently by QA ICs and managers
  • Recognize the perspective shift that comes with stepping into a leadership role in QA
  • Learn how seeing situations through a manager’s lens can improve your communication and impact
  • Discover how developing leadership awareness early can accelerate your QA career growth
Tranita Alexander

Tranita Alexander

QA Manager
CapTrust

Empowering Manual Testers: Transitioning to Automation with Buy-In and Leadership

In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, the shift from manual testing to automation is not just a trend—it’s a necessity for teams looking to enhance efficiency and quality. This topic explores the journey of transforming a team of manual testers into proficient automation testers, even when starting with simple tools. We will discuss strategies for gaining buy-in from team members, addressing their concerns, and fostering a culture of innovation and learning. As a manager, you will learn how to lead this transition effectively, providing support and resources to empower your team, while also highlighting the benefits of automation in delivering faster and more reliable results. Join us to discover practical steps and insights that will help you guide your team confidently into the future of testing.

Takeaways from this talk

  • Understanding the Benefits of Automation:** Learn how automation can enhance testing efficiency, reduce time-to-market, and improve overall software quality, making a compelling case for the transition.
  • Gaining Team Buy-In:** Discover effective strategies for communicating the value of automation to your team, addressing their concerns, and fostering enthusiasm for the change.
  • Step-by-Step Transition Plan:** Explore a structured approach to transitioning from manual to automation testing, including starting small with simple tools and gradually scaling up.
  • Continuous Learning and Support:** Understand the importance of providing ongoing training and resources to help team members develop their automation skills and stay engaged throughout the process.
  • Cultivating a Culture of Innovation:** Learn how to create an environment that encourages experimentation, collaboration, and a growth mindset, enabling your team to embrace automation as a valuable addition to their skill set.

Panel Discussion Speakers

Sunita McCoy

Sunita McCoy

Global Leader of Platform Quality Engineering, Observability & DevX
Foot Locker

Sunita McCoy

I lead IT transformation with a focus on building high-performing teams and driving cross-functional change. Skilled in stakeholder management, agile delivery, and cost optimization, I thrive in fast-paced environments—partnering with executives to deliver value, improve performance, and lead mission-critical initiatives across industries and geographies.

Apijay Kumar

Director of Software Engineering
Fidelity Investments

Apijay Kumar

I’ve spent 12 years leading software teams to build intuitive UI stacks and developer tools that empower productivity— at Fidelity, MathWorks, and DXC. Now, I’m diving into apps that reason, blending my passion for clean design with intelligent functionality. Let’s connect on the future of software!

Prabu Vajjiram

Prabu Vajjiram

Director of engineering Delivery and Quality
RBC

Prabu Vajjiram

Prabu Vajjiram defines long-term engineering strategies, including roadmaps, tools, and frameworks. He collaborates on architecture and integrations, mentors engineering teams, and ensures delivery excellence across all software initiatives.

Antoine Basquiat

Antoine Basquiat

Assistant Vice President Senior Automation Engineer
Deutsche Bank

Antoine Basquiat

With a background in Healthcare & Finances, I’ve honed my skills in Automation Testing. Whether it’s solving complex problems, collaborating with cross-functional teams, or staying up-to-date with industry trends, I thrive on continuous learning and growth. Public speaking has become a passion of my & has lead me to join Toastmasters in order to Speak Professionally. Along with real estate ventures from rentals to lending deals.

Kavin Arvind Ragavan

Kavin Arvind Ragavan

Senior Performance Architect Cognizant

Kavin Arvind Ragavan

As a Senior Performance Architect, I specialize in delivering high-impact solutions across Performance Engineering, Chaos Engineering, and Observability. With deep expertise in cloud-native architectures and AWS, I lead performance validation for large-scale cloud migrations, leveraging tools like LoadRunner, Dynatrace, and Splunk ITSI to ensure system resilience and scalability.

My passion lies in applying Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles to optimize system health and reliability, while integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into performance testing workflows. I architect AI-driven platforms using AWS Bedrock to automate analysis, generate intelligent root cause insights, and accelerate performance troubleshooting.

Recognized as an AWS Community Builder, I’m committed to knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and driving innovation at the intersection of cloud, reliability, and AI. I actively contribute to industry conferences and am always eager to explore how emerging technologies can shape the future of engineering excellence.As a Senior Performance Architect, I specialize in delivering high-impact solutions across Performance Engineering, Chaos Engineering, and Observability. With deep expertise in cloud-native architectures and AWS, I lead performance validation for large-scale cloud migrations, leveraging tools like LoadRunner, Dynatrace, and Splunk ITSI to ensure system resilience and scalability. My passion lies in applying Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) principles to optimize system health and reliability, while integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into performance testing workflows. I architect AI-driven platforms using AWS Bedrock to automate analysis, generate intelligent root cause insights, and accelerate performance troubleshooting. Recognized as an AWS Community Builder, I’m committed to knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and driving innovation at the intersection of cloud, reliability, and AI. I actively contribute to industry conferences and am always eager to explore how emerging technologies can shape the future of engineering excellence.

>> Home

>> Register

>> Programme Schedule