The Joe Reis Show Peter Hanssens - Building Strong Data Engineering Communities
Jul 9, 2025
Peter Hanssens, an Australia-based data engineer and founder of Cloud Shuttle, shares insights on building vibrant data engineering communities. He highlights the challenges of organizing conferences and the importance of genuine engagement over self-promotion. Hanssens discusses the complexities of pricing community events and the need for inclusivity and collaboration. He emphasizes the value of personal interactions at conferences, advocating for meaningful networking experiences that foster a supportive culture in the tech scene.
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Peter’s Community Organizing Journey
- Peter Hanssens shares his experience running data engineering meetups and conferences across Australia and New Zealand.
- He describes a recent hectic week traveling between multiple cities for meetups as rewarding though exhausting.
Remoteness Fuels Innovation
- Australia's and New Zealand's remoteness shapes unique community challenges and fosters innovative self-sufficiency.
- This geographic isolation drives distinctive data engineering applications compared to other global tech hubs.
Strong Community Rules Matter
- Enforce clear community rules firmly to maintain culture and prevent spam or predatory behavior.
- Maintaining a giving culture protects community quality and encourages meaningful contributions.