As MacAD.UK approaches its ninth year, and the tenth anniversary of its very first gathering, the conference has become a fixture in the Mac admin community. What began as a small, ambitious idea from a handful of passionate techs has grown into one of the most recognizable Apple admin events in Europe. This year marks another milestone: a move to the iconic Brighton Dome, a venue that has hosted musical legends
To understand how MacAD.UK evolved, what makes it different from a typical tech conference, and why the community keeps coming back, we sat down with the organizers, Liam Donnelly, Ade Leader, and Alex Hawes to talk origins, ethos, and the moments that remind them why they do this work.
Macaduk is now in its 9th year. What was the spark that started it all, and did you ever imagine it would grow into what it is today?
The event was started by a couple of senior techs at Amsys, including David Acland, who was our CTO at the time, and Dean from Jamf, if I recall correctly. They thought they could develop our existing conference style to be more in tune with events like Penn State, for instance. They formed the plan, and I approved the budget!
The event grew over the first few years to about 250 people, eventually pushing the limits of the venues we chose. In those early days, when attendees had only a handful of options, many of them committed, and many are still with us today. While it is the ninth event, it’s actually the tenth anniversary of the first MacAD.UK. Back then, it was known as the Mac Sys Admin and Developer Conference. This later morphed into MacAD.UK, and the ducks appeared largely due to a customarily crazy idea by James Holt, one of our Account Managers. He and I have been at every event. I took over running the event in 2019, and we set about enlarging the expo side. The goal was for the event to play a representative role for a wider range of products and services that were relevant to techs looking after Apple estates, but also to help fund the event. Siri could drive ticket prices down and encourage wide participation.
This year you are changing locations to an iconic venue that has hosted some musical legends. Do you have any thoughts about excitement or what it means to bring the conference to that space
Bringing MacAD.UK to the iconic Brighton Dome is truly exciting! It’s a unique opportunity to host a Mac admins event in such a renowned venue. I’m thrilled to see our incredible speakers share the stage with legendary icons like ABBA, Pink Floyd and Elton John. We hope to create a memorable experience for both speakers and attendees. The space offers so many fresh opportunities for MacAD.UK that we can’t wait to share with everyone arriving on 21st April.
The conferences describes itself as a 'community event first and foremost.' What does that actually look like in practice and what makes it feel different from a typical tech conference?
MacAD.UK was set up to support a community of genuinely passionate people working in a field that demands long hours, serious commitment and constant learning. The IT admin world never stands still, and every year the pace of change seems to increase. From day one, the aim was simple: create a space where people could come together, share best practices and feel supported by others who really understand the job.
Our mantra has always been the same. How do we deliver the best possible event, shaped by the community, at the lowest possible price for our delegates? Great content, a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, and the chance to learn while actually enjoying yourself.
The event has grown over the years. We have more exhibitors involved and it is now run by Jigsaw24, but the ethos has not changed. Exhibitors know this is about building real relationships, testing ideas and learning from our delegates as much as sharing with them. That sense of mutual respect and shared curiosity is what makes MacAD.UK what it is.
What's one moment or session that has really stuck with you or something that reminded you exactly why you do this?
Honestly, it’s never just one session; for me it’s about helping people and giving them the chance to grow. It’s witnessing people take a leap of faith and stepping forward to speak for the first time, developing their careers and themselves along the way. Often, it’s those individuals who speak up for the first time who have so much to share. That always reminds me of why I do this.
If you could tell a potential attendee one thing about why they should come, what would it be?
For the ducks of course! But ducks aside, I always tell people it’s a great place to meet the best people. Everyone that comes to MacAD.UK is incredibly friendly and has a willingness to share. We offer so many opportunities for people to meet, either through the conference app, the chill-out zones or the networking events. We try to create an event that people love to come back to, and it always starts with the people that come.
As the team prepares for this year’s conference, the focus remains the same: delivering a high‑quality, community‑driven event that supports the people who keep Apple environments running every day.
There’s still time, be sure to register here!
