Speaking & Conference Talks

Keynotes, conferences and corporate bookings
Available for bookings

I've spent over a decade on stages around the world, from NDC keynotes to community meet-ups, talking about software design, the culture and ethics of our industry, and the joyful, slightly unnecessary engineering that makes it all fun.

I'm available for conference talks and keynotes, and for private & corporate bookings, covering both the subjects I have a track record in and new technology thought-leadership built around your team or event.

Book me to speak Sessionize profile
On tour

Upcoming appearances

Where to catch me next. I tour a lot, so this blends my live Sessionize schedule with events that aren't always listed there.

June 2026

September 2026

October 2026

Live from my Sessionize profile. I also speak at events that aren't always listed here, so do ask.

Previously appeared at 67 events
Regularly on stage at
  • NDC London
  • NDC Oslo
  • NDC Sydney
  • NDC Porto
  • Build Stuff
  • Copenhagen DevFest
  • DevSum Stockholm
  • KCDC
  • DDD Europe
  • uncodebar
Watch

Featured talks

My current headline talk, a keynote, and a two-part series on architecture. Dig into the rest below.

Latest
Meditations on Code As Art My current headline talk: a reflection on code as craft and art, and the authorial voice behind what we build. NDC London · 2026
Keynote
Decades in the Machine: Meaning & Purpose in Technology A keynote on finding meaning, purpose and longevity across a career in technology. NDC Sydney · 2024
Duology · Part 1
Intentional Code: Minimalism in a World of Dogmatic Design Part one of a duology on design: writing deliberate, minimal code in a world of dogma. NDC Porto · 2023
Duology · Part 2
The Unbearable Weight of Architecture Part two: the cost of the architecture we accrete, and how to carry less of it. Build Stuff · 2024
Archive

More talks

From building game engines and Game Boy emulators to open-source ethics and writing tests that don't suck.

Build Your Own Game Engine in the Browser NDC London · 2025
Why Software Architecture is Mostly Communication GOTO · 2025
Open-Source Exploitation NDC London · 2024
Rendering 3D Worlds in C# Build Stuff · 2022
Building a Game Boy Emulator in .NET Core NDC London · 2021
Architecture for Everyone uncodebar · 2020
Coffee and Open Source In conversation with Isaac Levin

There are plenty more where these came from. You can search my talks on YouTube.

Subjects

What I talk about

Established talks, or something new built for your audience. A few of the themes I keep coming back to:

  • Software design & architecture
  • Intentional, minimalist code
  • Culture, meaning & ethics in tech
  • Open-source sustainability
  • Continuous delivery
  • RESTful API design
  • Testing & TDD
  • AI strategy & ethics
  • Recreational engineering

Bring me to your event or team

Conferences, user groups, internal away-days and leadership briefings. Tell me about your audience and what you'd like them to leave with, and I'll tailor something that lands.

Email david@davidwhitney.co.uk For conference organisers