Azure Heroes User Group

Hi, I’m Maik van der Gaag – a technology leader, community builder, and passionate advocate for the Microsoft Cloud. I’m currently the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at 3fifty which is part of the Databalance group, where I help organizations succeed with modern cloud adoption and digital transformation. With more than 20 years of experience in architecture, software development, and DevOps, I specialize in bridging strategy with hands-on technology. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a wide range of projects, from designing secure and scalable Azure environments to implementing Infrastructure as Code with Bicep and advancing DevOps practices.

Danny Kruge is a Microsoft Data Plaform MVP with a robust background in SQL Server and over a decade of experience in the field. Originally from Leicester, England, and now residing in the Netherlands, he has dedicated years to honing his skills and expanding his expertise into areas like Azure and Windows Engineering. Danny is particularly passionate about Azure Data Factory, where he leverages his deep knowledge to design efficient data workflows. As an active community leader, he organizes the Azure Heroes Netherlands Community Day and the Azure user group NL, helping to foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among tech enthusiasts. Committed to continuous learning and community support, Danny enjoys sharing his insights to help others navigate data challenges and avoid common mistakes.

As a Mission Critical Engineer at Schuberg Philis I design, build, and manage mission-critical solutions with a strong focus on Azure technologies. My expertise spans solution architecture, infrastructure as code, security, networking and multiple automation tools and languages like Bicep and Terraform enabling me to deliver robust and efficient automation first cloud-based infrastructures.

In addition to my technical contributions I help organize Azure community events as part of Azure Heroes.