The i-UG i-Power 2025 Conference is set to be one of the most exciting events for IBM i professionals in the UK.

Taking place at the Mercure Northampton Hotel, this flagship event brings together industry experts, developers, and IT professionals to explore the latest advancements in IBM i technology.

The conference provides a unique opportunity to connect with fellow IBM i professionals, exchange ideas, and build valuable relationships. Whether you’re looking to expand your professional network, collaborate on projects, or gain insights from industry experts, i-Power 2025 is the place to be.

Whether you’re an IBM i developer, IT manager, or business leader, this conference provides valuable insights, expert-led discussions and networking opportunities. It’s a chance to connect with fellow professionals, learn from industry leaders and discover the latest trends in IBM i technology.

Leading IBM i vendors will showcase their latest solutions, offering live demonstrations and hands-on experiences. Attendees can explore cutting-edge tools, software and services designed to enhance IBM i environments.

When and Where?

What to Expect?

The i-Power Conference is known for its insightful sessions, hands-on workshops, and networking opportunities. Attendees can expect discussions on IBM i modernisation, security, open-source development and database management.

Some of the key sessions include:

• Python and IBM i Integration – Led by Andy Youens, this workshop explores how Python seamlessly integrates with IBM i, enhancing applications and streamlining workflows.
• IBM i Security Deep Dive – Carol Woodbury will discuss advanced security techniques for IBM i
• Linux under IBM i – Stefan Dufaye Learn how to build a Linux partition running under IBM i
• IBM i Security and SQL Mashup – Scott Forstie will explore the intersection of security and SQL on IBM i

Speakers Bio’s

Andy Youens is the Managing Director of Formaserve Systems Ltd, a UK-based IT company specialising in IBM i development, support, and training. With over 42 years in IBM midrange systems—including 35+ years at Formaserve—he is an expert in IBM i, particularly in open-source technologies. A Royal Navy veteran, Andy applies the discipline and technical skills gained from his service to his leadership. Actively engaged in the tech community, he has been an IBM Champion since 2021, a member of IBM’s ISV Advisory Council, and a Redbook author. A passionate educator, speaker, and editor of PowerWire, he frequently shares his knowledge through global presentations, technical articles, and training content.

Conference Top Tip

Keeping your IBM i open-source packages up to date is just as important as updating the OS and PTF groups, ensuring security, stability and access to the latest features.

Regular updates enhance performance, fix vulnerabilities and maintain compatibility with modern applications. Best practices include scheduling updates, testing before deployment, monitoring dependencies, and staying informed through IBM i documentation and community forums. By expanding your update procedures to include open-source, you keep your IBM i environment optimised and secure.

Need more details? Check-out Andy’s article here.

Steve Bradshaw As the Friendly Techie, I contribute to IBM i advancements by assisting in the design and testing of IBM i 7.6, the Migrate While Active tool, and the AI-based RPG Code Assistant, serving as both Beta Tester and Redbook Author. With over thirty years in the IBM Business Partner ecosystem, I began as an RPG developer before transitioning to system design, installation, and management. In 2008, I founded Rowton, where my team and I support clients and develop IT solutions integrating Power servers, Intel, storage, and cloud technology. Beyond my business, I help run the UK’s largest IBM i User Group (i-UG) and serve on the Common Europe Advisory Council (CEAC) to shape IBM i’s future. Recognised as an IBM Champion since 2019, I am passionate about teaching IBM i, volunteering at events worldwide, and creating online webinars, believing that teaching is the best way to keep learning.

Conference Top Tip

The number one reason for unscheduled IBM i downtime has nothing to do with IBM i or IBM Power Systems hardware or even application software. Instead, the number one reason is that so many IBM i users configure their networks to use a single network interface port (NIC). IBM i includes a feature called Aggregated Ethernet that allows you to group up to eight NICs, which can even be connected to different network switches. As a bonus IBM i will load balance across these NICs so not only do you remove this single point of failure, you get a faster connection at the same time.

Need more details? Check-out Steve’s article here.

Birgitta Hauser is a seasoned IBM i expert, consultant, and educator with a career spanning over three decades. Holding a diploma in business economics, she began programming on the AS/400 in 1992 and has since specialised in application and database modernisation, particularly on Db2 for i. As an independent consultant, she supports modernisation projects and provides training for RPG and SQL developers. A frequent speaker at COMMON User Groups and international conferences, she has contributed to IBM Redbooks, numerous technical publications, and is recognized for her expertise with multiple awards, including the John Earl Speaker Scholarship and the Al Barsa Memorial Scholarship. Since 2020, she has held the prestigious title of IBM Champion.

Conference Top Tip

Since IBM’s V5R2M0 release, IBM i and Db2 for i have included SQL-based services such as Views, scalar Functions (UDFs), User-Defined Table Functions (UDTFs), and stored procedures, allowing direct SQL access to system information traditionally retrieved via CL commands, C-functions, or APIs. These services continue to expand with each Technology Refresh, now numbering around 300 and providing enhanced functionality for database management and application development.

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 around the globe and can be found @Forstie_IBMi and forstie@us.ibm.com. Scott is an avid runner, enjoys cooking and shooting pool.

Conference Top Tip

Use CTEs and Views more, and your overall success with SQL will trend upwards.

Jon Paris With nearly six decades in the computer industry, my journey has spanned operations, software development, and compiler design. I began as an operator on an ICL 1004, later joining ICL in London to assist with decimalisation, where I first encountered indicators and “the cycle”. At the Customer Centre, I helped teach accountants how to program in NICOL, a language like RPG. In 1977, I relocated to Canada, working on diverse projects—from developing email systems to deploying early mobile terminals in police cars. However, my most pivotal career moment came when I helped convert a COBOL-based system from an NCR Criterion to an IBM S/38, sparking my passion for IBM midrange systems.

In 1986, I joined IBM, initially contracting on COBOL compilers for the S/36 and S/38, before moving to full-time work on COBOL/400. Eventually, I was given design responsibility for both RPG and COBOL compilers, leading to the development of RPG IV. In my later years at IBM, I contributed to Y2K conversions, traveling worldwide to assist companies with IBM’s Bypass 2000 tooling. Since leaving IBM, I have dedicated my time, alongside my life partner Susan Gantner, to educating IBM i developers on modern tools and techniques to enhance their applications

Conference Vendors

PHL SOFT: Smart Software Solutions for IBMi

At PHL SOFT, we specialise in reliable, efficient, and tailor-made software for the IBMi (AS/400) platform.

While many companies look to modernise, their core IT still runs on IBMi. That’s where we come in. PHL SOFT delivers practical, affordable, and easy-to-deploy applications that unlock the full potential of the existing infrastructure.

Our commodity tools are anything but ordinary. Designed specifically for IBMi environments, they improve user experience, boost productivity and help your teams enjoy working on the systems they already know.

Conference Top Tip

Only two kinds of people: those who love it, and those who haven’t discovered it yet.