commoneuropecongress2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to Common Europe Congress 2026

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08:00 CEST

TBD

Tuesday June 16, 2026 08:00 - 09:00 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

TBD

Tuesday June 16, 2026 08:00 - 09:00 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

Personal development

10:30 CEST

Ready for that next step? Why the hell do you want to be in IT management?

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:30 - 11:30 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

Thinking about that next move? Want to be a manager or team lead, but not sure if it's for you? Come hear about my career journey and what I have learned since taking that step. You'll understand what you'll need in your toolbox to make that step, what it may be like for you in your organisation and discover if you've got what it takes to lead people or if you'd just prefer to stay technical.

Speakers

Mike Davison

Support Manager, Fortra

Mike has worked on IBM equipment in IT Operations since starting on the 4381 running VM/VSE as a trainee Operator in 1987. He's worked for blue-chip companies in global data centres and has a varied 30+ years’ experience of IBMi, AIX, VIOS, Linux, storage and disaster recovery... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 10:30 - 11:30 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

Personal development

11:40 CEST

Transforming 5250 Screens to React Framework with AI based tools

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:40 - 12:40 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

While we did a lot of Projects in the past two years where we used various AI Technologies in different ways, we also created a little tool that is able to convert your 5250 Display Files to html and then create React components out of that as well as other target UI Frameworks.
Some might say that is not that hard, because 5250 DSPF DDS is not that complicated and you are right. Back in 2009 I already created a converter Tool that converted 5250 DDS to Microsoft XAML for using that within my c# programs.BUT - the difference of this tool is, that it includes the RPG code into the transformation process.
Why? For example think about pressing F4 button in a 5250 screen. Where does the Data come from? How does the 5250 DSPF knows what to do?That is handled in the RPG / Cobol program in the background in one way or the other and the tool covers that with little to no manual effort.
The Tool I show you combines the DDS from the DSPF with the RPG logic and uses both information to create the result.The result can be a React App or a Flutter App or an Angular App or .... whatever you want - OK - maybe no Windows Forms ;-)
Learn about using different technologies to modernize your old stuff like 5250 DSPF with RPG or Cobol or transform it to something totally new.Learn a little bit about modern UI Frameworks like React as well as how you could and should use AI technologies to reach your goals in a much faster and better way.You will also see what is coming next with this approach we do like reusing all your (old) RPG Code without (or only little) effort to adapt.We are working hard on making things easier and faster for everyone and bring you into the present and a bright future.

Speakers

Markus Litters

CEO, i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH

I start working with IBM POWER Servers and IBM i since I was 19 back in 1990 when it was called IBM AS/400 and from the beginning I was focused on Integrating the System with everything else (first of all DOS PC's, then Windows PC's and HP Unix and so on) and to modernize the existing... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 11:40 - 12:40 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

IBM i application development 2

14:00 CEST

From AI to EQ: 10 Ways to Elevate Your Professional Skills

Tuesday June 16, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, technical expertise alone is no longer sufficient for success. Professionals must complement their hard skills with strong interpersonal and adaptive capabilities to thrive in client engagements and leadership roles. This session, From AI to EQ: 10 Ways to Elevate Your Professional Skills, explores practical strategies to elevate your effectiveness as an IT professional or technology leader. We will cover ten essential techniques, including active listening, empathy, positive facilitation, whiteboarding, AI literacy, delivering compelling presentations, conducting peer reviews, preparing executive briefings, understanding leadership styles, and practicing emotional intelligence. Attendees will gain actionable insights and tools to communicate with clarity, foster collaboration, leverage AI responsibly, and lead with confidence. Whether you are engaging clients, presenting to executives, or guiding teams, these skills will help you make a lasting impact.

Speakers

Ian Jarman

IBM Expert Labs Practice Leader, IBM

A leader in the IBM Systems community, Ian has managed IBM's worldwide portfolio of IBM Power Systems software products, including IBM i, AIX, Linux, PowerVM and PowerHA. His specialties include worldwide brand and product management for enterprise IT systems, software and services... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

Personal development

15:10 CEST

15:55 CEST

A Life in IBM i: What Hundreds of Conversations Have Taught Me

Tuesday June 16, 2026 15:55 - 16:55 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

After decades in the IBM i community, and through hundreds of conversations with developers, leaders, innovators, and business owners, clear patterns have emerged.
Not just about technology, but about the people, purpose, and what truly sustains this platform across generations.
With real stories, hear a unique perspective on the human side of IBM i, and what it takes to carry it forward.

Speakers

Charles 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 and a proud recipient of the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship Award. Additionally, he participates on COMMON’s Strategic Education Team. Other professional endeavors have included the roles of President and monthly Q&A host... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 15:55 - 16:55 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

Personal development

17:05 CEST

Don't Panic! A Stress-Free Guide to TLS on IBM i

Tuesday June 16, 2026 17:05 - 18:05 CEST

07 -RHÔNE 4

In 2026, encryption is no longer optional - it is a mandatory requirement for compliance, security frameworks (like NIS2), and protecting sensitive data. Yet, for many administrators, the world of certificates and the Digital Certificate Manager (DCM) can still feel intimidating.This session is designed to take the stress out of TLS.
To understand why we are doing this, we start by adopting a hacker's perspective, analyzing unencrypted network traffic to see just how exposed clear-text connections really are.Once the risk is clear, we build the solution using modern tools. We will demystify the jargon - explaining what Certificates, CSRs, and CAs actually are - and show how to leverage the new Navigator for i alongside the DCM to manage your security environment effectively.
Finally, we put theory into practice. We will walk through handling certificates from all common sources: whether you need to create a Local CA, import an existing Corporate/Windows Certificate, use a purchased Public Certificate, or automate everything via Let's Encrypt. We wrap up with modern operational tricks, such as securing Host Servers and monitoring certificate validity using SQL.Key Takeaways / Learning

Objectives:
1. Understand the Threat: See firsthand why "clear text" is a security breach waiting to happen by looking at network traces.
2. Master the Terminology: Gain a solid grasp of certificate concepts so you can navigate the DCM and Navigator for i with confidence.
3. Implement & Harden: Learn how to introduce encryption to your system and secure critical endpoints like Host Servers and Web Servers (regardless of the certificate source).4. Modern Operations & Automation: Discover how to leverage Let's Encrypt for free, automated certificates and use native SQL services to prevent expiration outages.

Speakers

Tom Wellmann

IT Consultant, IBM Champion, Tom Georg Wellmann

Tom is an IBM Champion for Power and IBM i, bringing a fresh, young perspective to the platform. Currently completing his Master's degree in Technical Informatics, he has been working as a freelance systems administrator and consultant for IT service providers and end customers for... Read More →

Tuesday June 16, 2026 17:05 - 18:05 CEST
07 -RHÔNE 4

IBM i