FTP26 brings new voices to TNC26 | GÉANT CONNECT Online

At TNC26, this year’s Future Talent Programme (FTP26) finalists are set to present, bringing fresh ideas and new energy to the conference stage. Whether you are attending in person or remotely, you will have the chance to hear from the next generation of talent across the GÉANT community during the Lightning Talks sessions.

Words: Grace Cooper

“Every year, the Future Talent Programme highlights the new talent across our community. The programme supports these students to grow in confidence and present their ideas, developing the next generation for our NRENs.” Lisa Melrose, Event Specialist (Learning)

Lisa Melrose’s words capture the heart of the FTP and its role in supporting growth across the GÉANT community. By providing students and early career professionals a platform to share their ideas and connect with experts from different NRENs, the programme builds their confidence while strengthening collaboration across the network. Each presentation helps strengthen connections and contributes to a more inclusive and welcoming future for research and education networking.

“At CESNET, we greatly value the FTP organised by the GÉANT GLAD team. It provides a unique opportunity for the personal development of the students and young professionals we collaborate with. By focusing on broadly applicable soft skills, including presence and self-confidence, it complements the technical expertise we help them build. As a result, programme alumni develop a well-rounded skill set that supports their career progression.” Jiri Matsouk, FTP NREN mentor, CESNET

Wednesday 10 June 16:00 – 17:30
Lightning Talks: Strike One

Jan-Frederik Rieckers
Sponsoring NREN: DFN
eduroam Login Made Simple: How Passkeys Can Help

Evgenija Krajchevska
Sponsoring NREN: MARnet
Designing Modular Pipelines for Intrusion Detection

Anna Maria Yang-Jacobi
Sponsoring NREN: DFN
Time for Transformation: How New Media Can Help to Explain (Legal) Change

Roman Janota
Sponsoring NREN: CESNET
Instant Data Structures via Shared Memory

Thursday 11 June 11:00 – 12:30

Lightning Talks: Strike Two

Yuliia Mescheryna
Sponsoring Organisation: GÉANT
Diversify or Die: The Financial Future of NRENs

Cheryl Andrea Fernando
Sponsoring NREN: SURF
Traffic at 3am: Armed with A Toothpick against AI Scrapers

Jiri Setinsky
Sponsoring NREN: CESNET
Making Logs Understandable: The Missing Step in Log Automation

Felix Jahn
Sponsoring NREN: DFN
Curating Collaboration: From “Can” to “Want”

FTP26 continues to provide a platform for young professionals to share ideas, build confidence, and connect with the wider research and education community. Their presence at TNC is a reminder of the value of creating space for new voices.