Data & Analytics Events in Bristol

We’re back for another Bristol Databricks Meetup on 17 November, with Databricks MVP Alex Cole joining us to share what he’s learnt from a year of tracking Databricks releases.
Massive thanks again to iO Associates for hosting and supporting the group locally, and to Advancing Analytics and Databricks for backing the meetup. A thank you, too, to Data Bristol and the other local groups that make Bristol such a welcoming place for the data community.
Expect a relaxed evening of practical Databricks discussion, good company and time to meet other data folks. Whether you’re working with Databricks every day, evaluating it for your organisation or simply curious, you’re very welcome.
The talk
A year ago, Alex launched Databricks Release Hub to help himself and others keep up with how fast the platform moves. Since then, he has tracked hundreds of releases, watched features go from preview to general availability, and gained a front-row seat to how Databricks ships software.
In this session, Alex will explore how product tags and focus areas have shifted over time, the spike in beta and preview features in the run-up to Data + AI Summit, and what the pace of change means for data and platform teams trying to stay current.
Whether you use Databricks daily or are watching from the outside, expect concrete data, lessons and predictions from a year spent watching every release land.
What to expect

• A friendly, community-first meetup. No sales pitches, no nonsense.
• A quick welcome from the organisers.
• A featured talk from Databricks MVP Alex Cole.
• Drinks, pizza and plenty of time to chat.

Agenda
5.30pm - Arrival and networking drinks
6.00pm - Welcome from the organisers
6.10pm - Alex Cole: lessons from a year of tracking Databricks releases
7.00pm - Drinks, pizza and networking
Venue
Hosted at iO Associates, Bristol.
St Bartholomew’s House, Bristol BS1 2NH.
RSVP
Spaces are limited, so please RSVP to reserve your place. If you can no longer make it, please update your RSVP so someone else can take your spot.
Who should come?

• Data engineers, analysts, data scientists, platform teams and architects.
• People building on Databricks or considering it.
• Anyone interested in data and AI who wants to learn from others and meet the local community.

Save the date! Final details to be confirmed soon!

Location: Runway east, 1 Victoria St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6AA

Presentations by Snap Analytics - snapanalytics.co.uk - an enterprise partner to help connect data, technology and teams to deliver exceptional business outcomes.

AGENDA

18.00 – 18:25 Meet & Greet
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18:25 - 18:30 Introduction & Welcome
Welcome, and thanks to our sponsors
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18:30 - 19:15 Talk: AI governance in practice in an SME - Dr Elena Hensinger Schien

Description TBC

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19:15 - 19:45 Pizza and Networking
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19:45 - 20:30 Talk: TBC

Description TBC

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20:30 - Social/Pub

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Speaker Bios

TBC

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Photos
We ask that you do NOT take photos at this meetup.

We will invite people to be included in a group photo/s during the event. Speakers will let you know if it's okay to photograph their presentation (excluding other attendees).

You may see organisers taking photos during the talks. These will be of speakers, if they have agreed to this, and will not include faces of attendees.

Welcome, Bristol Data Intelligence Network!

Bristol Data Intelligence Network is a community-based networking event bringing people together to meet peers, share stories, and build meaningful relationships around data intelligence.

Hosted by Datacove, award-winning Brighton-based R, Python and Shiny experts, these events also offer inspiring talks, hands-on sessions, and open knowledge sharing, all in a friendly, inclusive environment. Whether you’re just starting out in data or a seasoned expert, there’s always something new to discover, spark your curiosity, and take back to the office.

We run four events each year in Bristol, offering fresh insights, lively discussions, and opportunities to connect with the wider Data Intelligence Network, anchored by the EARL Data Intelligence Conference, our flagship event held in Brighton each October.

The events are supported by the generous team at DeskLodge Bristol.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to get involved as a speaker, contact us at admin@datacove.co.uk or visit https://datacove.co.uk

--- Talk Information ---

We’re delighted to be joined by Sriram Nambudri, Senior Solutions Architect, and Masoumeh Parhizkar, Finance Data Expert at Lloyds Banking Group.

Powering Agentic AI Through Data and Knowledge: From Comprehension to Control

In this talk, we explore how data and knowledge truly power modern Al systems, with a particular focus on agentic Al. Rather than treating large language models as black boxes, we break down how Al systems are trained, how they consume data at runtime, and why comprehension. not raw information, is the missing link between data and safe, effective action.

We will examine:

• The difference between data and knowledge, and why databases alone do not create intelligence
• How Al learns during training, fine-tuning, and what actually happens during inference
• The different ways agents consume data — including instructions, guardrails, examples, and domain data
• Why signal-to-noise ratio matters more than data volume, especially in regulated environments
• How agent responsibilities, constraints, and data sources must be carefully separated to avoid confusion, risk, and unintended behaviour
• The evolution from traditional software to fully autonomous agents, and how responsibility and risk shift along the way

--- Schedule & Refreshments ---

Now, refreshments! Drinks and nibbles will be served from 6pm. Talks will commence at 6:30pm/6:45pm and the event will conclude at 8pm. The conversation will continue after the event at a local pub.

--- Sponsorship Information ---

Our event relies heavily on sponsorship from companies that attend. Please contact the organisers or admin@datacove.co.uk to get involved.

--- Arrival Instructions ---

Please arrive at DeskLodge House on Redcliffe way. Once reporting to reception, they will escort you upstairs to the event room.

If requiring assistance, the reception at DeskLodge and our organisers will aid you.

What3Words: ///boss.apron.jams

--- Registration Etiquette ---

At our meetups, the event is sometimes capped by the space. We’re committed to keeping these events accessible for everyone, but to make that possible, we need your help. Please ensure your registration is kept up to date. If your plans change, simply update your RSVP to reflect your availability. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please feel free to spread the word. We look forward to seeing you all again!