Tech Voices: Coding Chaos to Team Clarity

We're continuing the Tech Voices series; Blackburn's very own Tech Talks in collaboration with Andy Norton.

Each session spotlights the people shaping tech today - sparking honest conversations, sharing lessons learned, and shining a light on innovation, leadership, and growth both locally and beyond.

This session explores how small technical decisions can spiral into chaos - and how teams can regain clarity as systems, organisations, and stakes grow.

🎙️Speakers

Karam Kabbara - Lead Software Engineer, Kraken🐙
Talk: My $750 AWS Bill

From pricing up washing machines to customising coffins, tailoring package holidays and now helping save the universe by controlling electric vehicles while you sleep; there's a good chance you've already interacted with code Karam has written.

In this talk, Karam shares the story of receiving a very unexpected $750 AWS bill, what went wrong, and the lessons learned along the way, so you can avoid making the same mistakes.

Andy Norton - VP of Engineering, Flipdish 🧫
Talk: Show Me the Map! A Field Guide for Technical Strategy

Most of the hardest problems in technology aren't technical, they're about context, awareness, and getting people moving in the right direction together.

Andy draws on experience scaling Cinch, leading an AWS serverless-first modernisation, reshaping teams at Footasylum (featured as a Team Topologies case study), and helping grow Flipdish into Ireland's fifth unicorn. He'll introduce practical, visual techniques that help teams make sense of complexity and find clarity when everything feels messy, leaving you with a few maps worth drawing and ideas that stick.

PLUS Networking and the opportunity to grab some 🍕, why not join us!