GSE UK 2024: Insights, Innovations, and Unforgettable Connections

Upholding its stellar repuation, GSE UK 2024 was a truly rewarding event for me and Planet Mainframe. For anyone working in mainframe and enterprise IT, the general consensus is that the sessions, conversations, and workshops/hands-on labs were chock full of insights and practical (read: implementable) value.

Sareh Naghibirad, an attendee from Legal and General, said it best: “I was worried that it would be highly technical but found that the sessions covered a wide range of skills and abilities such that there was something for everyone.”

Here’s a quick overview of what made this year’s conference outstanding, plus a look into the different tracks covering almost every aspect of mainframe technology and beyond.

The event kicked off with a powerful keynote on the evolving role of mainframes in modern IT ecosystems. I appreciated the perspective on the “rebirth” of mainframes in a cloud-dominated world. The session emphasized mainframe importance in secure, large-scale data processing, and hybrid infrastructure—particularly in finance and critical government systems. 

Next, we dived into the conference tracks, each offering unique perspectives and fostering thoughtful discussions.

Track Overviews

• Wavez (101 & 102)
  These tracks were specially designed to provide content for those new to mainframe technology. The energy and noise from these sessions were palpable, testament to GSE’s view that the future is bright.
• Application Development & DevOps
  This track was a must-attend for anyone looking to modernize mainframe development workflows. Sessions covered the latest DevOps practices tailored for the mainframe, automation strategies, and the rise of CI/CD pipelines. Seeing practical examples of DevOps for mainframes and case studies from companies that have successfully implemented these processes was highly valuable.
• Security & Compliance
  This track explored the most pressing security challenges in mainframe environments, including data encryption, zero-trust architectures, and automated threat detection. Given the stakes involved in IT enterprise IT security, I felt reassured to learn about best practices and tools to enhance mainframe security.
• AI, Data Analytics & Machine Learning
  It was fascinating to see the focus on AI and machine learning, highlighting how mainframes are evolving. Sessions covered everything from data lakes on mainframes to machine learning models that can be trained directly on these systems. This track offered a great blend of theory and practical application, with real-life examples showing the potential of AI-driven analytics in mainframe contexts.
• Infrastructure & Performance Optimization
  For those managing mainframe operations, this track covered crucial aspects of optimizing performance and reducing costs. From performance tuning to system architecture enhancements, every session here was geared toward practical strategies to maximize efficiency.
• The Other Tracks (Large Systems, Db2, IMS, MQ, Storage, Open Mainframe Project, etc)
  Provided a vast array of technical and practical sessions. The full agenda can be seen here: https://conferences.gse.org.uk/2024/agenda

The hands-on labs were also spot on. These sessions provided an interactive way to get familiar with the latest tools and strategies, as experts guided attendees through everything from troubleshooting workflows to setting up CI/CD pipelines. 

There was one standout live demo on mainframe-to-cloud integration. I found it eye-opening to see real-world applications of the technology in action and walked away with practical and readily implementable strategies.

Forward Thinkers

And, of course, there is the icing on the cake:  networking at GSE UK is incomparable to any other event. It attracts a unique blend of passionate developers, architects, and thought leaders. The Planet Mainframe team and I  enjoyed the chance to connect outside of the exhibit hall. Chatting with other attendees over lunch and during breakout sessions, or over a drink later in the evening,  offered insight into how different companies are tackling today’s challenges. I’m already putting together my team because I am determined to win trivia next year. It’s inspiring to be part of such a forward-thinking community!

Additionally, the event was superbly organized, and the GSE UK team deserves a huge shout-out for making the experience seamless and engaging. They’re clearly doing something right! Mark Wilson, GSE Conference Chair, announced that the event saw 20% more attendees on each of the four days — and a new record-high total of 621 registrants.

Take my advice for next year: whether you’re new to the mainframe world or a seasoned pro, GSE UK is a must-attend event.  You are sure to leave feeling inspired, more connected, and better equipped to drive innovation in your role.

This year’s event felt particularly energizing as earlier in the month, Planet Mainframe welcomed Mark Wilson as the new Editor for Cheryl Watson’s Tuning Letter. Onsite at GSE UK, we gifted him an official Planet Mainframe purple Chuck Taylor shoes. The proof is in the pictures.  

GSE UK 2024 exceeded my expectations in every way. I’m already looking forward to GSE UK 2025, which was just announced for 3rd – 6th November 2025.