So although the title is a bit techy, this actual post is not techy at all… Infact it’s the other side of Power Platform, the community aspect and about the connections to be made (hence the image of JB Fletcher and Magnum PI together).
Last week I spent a few days in (suprisingly) sunny Aberdeen for the Scottish Summit.
This was my 3rd time at the Scottish Summit, and my 5th in person community event (I think!). Over two years ago I walked in to the Hackathon at Scottish Summit 2022 in Glasgow, not knowing anyone, and I left a few days later with a sense of belonging, and an eagerness to get more involved in the community.
These events are amazing, and not just for the great learnings to be taken away, but for meeting a wide range of people all connected to our industry in some way.
Yes, my social battery was pretty flat afterwards, but I wouldn’t miss it, and have already got the 2026 date in my diary. If you’ve never been to the Summit, or the Scottish Power Platform User Group (which is the other events I’ve been to), I definitely recommend taking the leap.
The Friday Sessions
So I thought I’d note down some thoughts on the sessions I attended (if only for my own records)
Scott Hanselman kicked off the day with AI: Hero or Villain which was a very entertaining and insightful talk on the blow up of AI in our industry. My honours project actually dabbled with large language models, so it’s really interesting to see how suddenly it’s gained awareness with the general public.
I then went to an amazingly brave talk From Depression to Elation – How the community changed my life from Chris Huntingford.
Andrew Biddy then walked us through Navigating the shift from the Dynamics 365 app for Outlook to Copilot for Sales. Looks like this add on will really change the way Salespeople will work with Dynamics.
So You Think Your Canvas App Is Production-Ready? That’s the question Craig White posed as he walked us through the Power Apps Code Review Tool. This tool provides fab insights and learning opportunities for Canvas app makers.
The Cabaret Evening
As well as amazing sessions to attend, the conference also offered two opportunities to socialise. On Friday it was a fabulous Drag show, with amazing company from the lovely Lewis Baybutt. Some big names in the community also took to the stage, transformed in to incredible Drag Kings and Queens for charity, I was put to shame in my trainers as the Queens rocked huge heels!
The Saturday Sessions
I started off my Saturday, slightly tired, but ready for more great content! Yashraj Sondh’s session on Zero to PCF Gallery didn’t dissappoint. It’s definitely made me keen to attempt to create my own in the future.
Mats Necker then shared why It’s Power Automate not Power Integrate, and delved in to alternative approaches to dealing with external data sources. He also shared a great piece of wisdom about continuous improvement – if you aren’t looking back at your code (or flow) from last year and being embarressed then you haven’t grown! A good reminder for us all.
Björn Zahnow then shared how to get started with plug-ins with his session Beyond the Low Code – Your first Plug-in. As someone who loves to create a Javascript web resource when needed, this definitely encouraged me to try a plug-in soon too.
Form, Function and Flair: Mastering Model-Driven App Aesthetics with Mats Necker and Sara Lagerquist was right up my street and packed full of useful content.
The day ended with Dona Saker (and her assistants) showcasing how Copilot works with her closing session Who’s Afraid of Little Ole Copilot. It was great way to end two intense days of learning!
The Community awards and quiz
The whole thing wrapped up with the Community Awards, where lots of fantastic individuals were recognised for their contributions to the Community, followed by a very entertaining quiz. My team (lead by Damian Bird) got an early lead, and finished top of the board for the first 2 rounds, before it started to go down hill… We still finished an impressive 5th place, and have a great time. Bring on Murrayfield 2026!