CloudCon Sydney 2025 returns with focus on Kubernetes & AI

The CloudCon Summit is set to return to Sydney in September 2025, bringing together global and local experts in cloud and Kubernetes technologies for a two-day event at the International Convention Centre.

This year, CloudCon Sydney 2025 will convene cloud leaders, architects, engineers, and visionaries to discuss strategies and share insights on cloud transformation, particularly as organisations engage with agentic AI systems. The event aims to highlight practical experiences from practitioners navigating this rapidly evolving field.

Programme details

Attendees can expect keynote presentations from international and Australian companies, including AWS, Microsoft, Seek, Mantel Group, and Glasswing. The summit will also feature hands-on workshops, technical talks, and networking opportunities, catering to the cloud-native community and those working with Kubernetes environments.

Sessions will cover technical topics such as GitOps, AIOps, real-time observability, cloud cost optimisation, cloud security, the application of AI in platform engineering, Kubernetes anti-patterns, and related technical best practices. The focus will be on both strategic and practical aspects of deploying and managing cloud infrastructure.

Some of the planned session topics are: 'The idle Kubernetes crisis: why you're wasting 70% of your compute', 'Anatomy of a Kubernetes release cycle: a practical guide for end users', 'Building an observability platform for the future', and 'Strategic traffic management to slash your cloud bills'. Attendees will also hear about developments in Kubernetes security, supply chain security, compliance frameworks, threat detection in cloud environments, and the unique security considerations of AI and machine learning systems.

Technical workshops

A workshop on observability practices for Amazon EKS environments is set to address how organisations can enhance performance, reliability, and confidence in managing cloud-native infrastructure. Another workshop will demonstrate the use of ClickHouse for real-time analytics in combination with HyperDX's observability tools, aiming to improve debugging, performance, and application reliability.

Industry focus

Unlike many conferences, CloudCon Sydney 2025 organises its programme as a not-for-profit event, maintaining a non-commercial agenda. Organisers state this approach aims to provide greater value to attendees across several sectors, including financial institutions, technology and cloud providers, large enterprises, government and research, as well as startups and consultancies. These organisations typically engage in cloud infrastructure transformation projects, such as application modernisation, AI augmentation, multi-cloud strategies, DevSecOps initiatives, public cloud deployments, and telemetry.

The summit is designed to support both IT and business leaders seeking up-to-date best practices and new tools to minimise risk on cloud initiatives. It is also positioned as accessible to professionals at any stage of their cloud journey, from newcomers to experienced practitioners overseeing large-scale infrastructure projects.

Support for IT leadership

CloudCon organisers expect the event to help IT leaders optimise team workflows, improve developer experience through platform engineering practices, make strategic technology choices, and ensure their organisations maintain secure and compliant cloud environments. There will be emphasis on understanding the current landscape of the cloud sector, tracking emerging trends, and recognising how new cloud-native technologies may influence business value and competitiveness.

For those working in artificial intelligence and machine learning operations, sessions will address how Kubernetes can facilitate scalable AI/ML implementations and how cloud services can support advanced analytics and model deployment strategies.

"CloudCon Sydney 2025 is not just another tech event. It's an annual community-driven summit offering hands-on value, collaboration, and meaningful learning from real practitioners. Whether participants are refining their cloud practices or launching into platform engineering, CloudCon is where Australia's cloud community meets and evolves," said Brendon Thwaites, President CloudCon Sydney.

Community involvement

Beyond the main programme, CloudCon will offer opportunities for volunteer groups and meetup communities to enhance their activities. In 2025, the event will involve groups such as the Cloud Native Computing Foundation chapters in Sydney and Melbourne, and the Kubernetes Community.