A Lot of Firsts at MacAD.UK

In April, I had the opportunity to attend MacAD.UK in Brighton for the first time. It was the conference’s ninth year and the tenth anniversary of the very first gathering, which made it feel like a special moment to be part of. Even more importantly, it was my first professional conference presentation, made possible by the Charles S. Edge New Speaker Grant from the Mac Admins Foundation. The MacAD.UK team also played an important part in making it possible for me to speak at the conference, and I’m incredibly grateful for that support.

I had applied earlier in the year and, to be honest, almost forgot that I had done it. So, when I received the email from Chris Dawe saying I had been selected, I could hardly believe it. The excitement was quickly followed by nerves, because I knew I would soon be meeting with Chris and Diego Laconelli and later with ​@rebecca_latimer. Speaking English does not always come naturally to me, so I spent a lot of time getting ready for those conversations.

After those first meetings, I was introduced to my mentor, ​@arminBriegel . We met weekly, and he listened to my talk every time. Two of the most important things he told me were that speaking English and giving presentations are very much a mindset thing. That advice made a real difference. Slowly, the nervousness gave way to anticipation, and I started looking forward to the conference instead of worrying about it.

I did not travel to Brighton alone. I was there with my colleague and fellow conference companion, Dave, and we spent the week from Monday to Thursday in the city together. We arrived with no expectations and no strong ideas of what to expect, but we both ended up being very positively surprised. Brighton is a charming city with short distances, great cafés, narrow streets, and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it easy to enjoy being there.

The new venue was also excellent. The Brighton Dome was a fantastic location for the conference, and the whole event had a friendly and welcoming feel. The team around ​@Liam_Donnelly , Ade Leader and Alex Hawes did a great job creating that atmosphere, and it was clear that a lot of care had gone into the event. I also really appreciated the work of the wider MacAD.UK team and the support from people like Chris, Diego, and Rebecca throughout the whole process.

What stood out most to me, though, were the people. I met many new Mac Admins, heard great talks, and had a lot of conversations that made the trip worthwhile. As always, the sessions are only one part of a conference. Some of the best moments happen afterwards over a beer, in a hallway conversation, or during those spontaneous discussions that remind you how valuable this community really is.

I also liked how well the conference was supported by an app that allowed attendees to plan their agenda, find their way around the venue, and stay up to date on what was happening. Even if the notifications did not always work perfectly, it still made the experience feel well organized and modern. I did, however, miss out on my Lego prize from the Jamf booth because of that, which only made the rest of the week even more memorable. :)

In the end, MacAD.UK gave me a lot of firsts: my first visit to Brighton, my first professional conference talk, my first experience working so closely with a mentor on a presentation, and a reminder of how open and supportive the Mac Admins community can be. I met wonderful people, had great conversations, and left with the strong feeling that I would love to come back.

If you ever get the chance to apply for the Charles S. Edge New Speaker Grant, I can only encourage you to do it. It can open doors you might not expect. I’d also love to hear what your favorite moment from MacAD.UK this year was.