Agile Africa Conference to explore Agility in Africa

Professor Barry Dwolatzky

The guiding hand behind Agile Africa 2013 is JCSE director, Prof Barry Dwolatzky. He says the inaugural conference is about creating something significant from nothing and aims to showcase agile software development within an African context: "We have secured a number of well-known international speakers and together with partners such as ThoughtWorks, hope to build an impressive conference and brand."

A promising lineup of Agile experts

Dwolatzky says that the conference already exists in India and the Americas, so why not Africa? The JCSE expects practitioners, executives and academics to attend and enjoy access to prominent international Agile experts, and share their experiences and ideas with peers from other parts of Africa. "We have some outstanding keynotes lined up including renowned Agile expert, Martin Fowler, from ThoughtWorks, who will discuss software design in the 21st century. Ivar Jacobson, one of the world's most famous software engineers, will present a keynote entitled SEMAT and Agile - Perfect Partners," says Dwolatzky.

Other highlights include Amr Noaman Abdel-Hamid, one of the drivers of Egypt's 'GoAgile' programme. "Amr has been influential in bringing Agile development to Egypt and the Middle East and will be sharing case studies from Egypt around the Process Increments Method, which builds upon Agile values and principles, and re-uses some well-known Agile practices and techniques," says Dwolatzky.

David Hussman and Mitch Lacey, both from the USA, who have both delivered highly rated keynotes at Agile gatherings around the world will also present. According to Dwolatzky, "Hussman's 'What If' presentation will challenge attendees to think and re-think how current processes are helping, hindering or hurting business. Lacey will review patterns to ensure success (or failure) of agile transitions."

Dwolatzky says that other Agile practitioners from South Africa and Africa will also form part of the two-day agenda.

For more details and to register go to www.AgileAfricaConference.com.