Ten years ago, three local meetup organisers had an idea. Why not get developers from across Northern Ireland together for a day of talks, sharing ideas and meeting people?
Phil Weir, Mark Allan and Martin Naughton brought that idea to life in 2017, with the first Northern Ireland Developer Conference (NIDC) at Queen's University Belfast. There were 230 attendees and 38 speakers. Not bad for something that apparently nearly ended up being called "Meetup of Meetups".
Ten years later, we're preparing to welcome hundreds of people back to the ICC Belfast on Saturday 21 November to celebrate our tenth anniversary.
A lot has changed in those ten years, both for NIDC and Northern Ireland's tech industry.
The conference has grown considerably. By 2024, we had 750 attendees, 47 speakers, four tracks of talks and four community villages. We've moved venues, tried new things, made mistakes and learned plenty along the way.
We even managed to keep going through COVID. In 2020, we took the conference online, and in 2021 we worked with local meetup organisers to help bring people back together after lockdown. It wasn't quite the conference we'd originally planned, but keeping those connections alive mattered.
Throughout all of this, the idea behind NIDC hasn't really changed.
We want to bring together people who enjoy technology, whether they're experienced engineers, students, designers, security specialists or someone just starting to find their feet in the industry.
There are plenty of corporate events and conferences out there. NIDC is a little different. It's organised by people working in the industry, supported by volunteers, and built around the local tech community.
The talks are important, of course. We want people to learn something new, challenge what they already know and go back to work with ideas they can actually use.
But some of the best conversations happen between sessions, over lunch or while wandering around the villages. It's a chance to meet people working on different problems, using different technologies, or approaching familiar challenges in ways you might not have considered.
That's particularly valuable in Northern Ireland. We have a lot of talented people working across the tech industry, but it's easy to spend most of your time within your own company or team.
NIDC gives us an excuse to get everyone into the same place.
Celebrating ten years
This year's conference will feature talks covering software engineering, AI, security, data, product, design and plenty more. Alongside the speaker sessions, we'll have hands-on workshops and community villages, including activities around making, cybersecurity and technology for younger enthusiasts.
We're also continuing to make the conference accessible. Sponsors help us keep tickets affordable, we offer Honesty Tickets for those who might otherwise struggle with the cost, and free childcare helps more people take part.
Another important development is our move towards becoming a Community Interest Company. It's about making sure that what we've built over the past ten years continues to benefit Northern Ireland's tech community long into the future.
None of this would be possible without the organisers, volunteers, speakers, community groups and sponsors who've given their time and support over the years. NIDC has always depended on people being willing to get involved.
Come along, and bring your team
If you've been to NIDC before, we'd love to see you back for our tenth anniversary. If you've never been, this would be a good year to start.
And if you're working in a tech team, have a conversation with your manager about coming along together. Conferences are a great opportunity for professional development, and bringing a few colleagues means you can cover more sessions, share what you've learned and take some new ideas back to work.
READ MORE: How Northern Ireland's Tech Leaders Are Building Practical AI for Business
Professional tickets are available for companies looking to support their teams, alongside our regular individual tickets.
We've also arranged a discount for Sync NI readers. Use code 10YEARSOFFIFTEENS for 15% off when booking.
NIDC's tenth anniversary takes place on Saturday 21 November 2026 at ICC Belfast. You can find the full agenda and tickets at nidevconf.com.
We hope to see you there.
Paul Breen, Director, Northern Ireland Developer Conference
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