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Are you ready for EuroSTAR 2023? The conference kicks off in just a few weeks, with 4 awesome days of testing, learning, and connecting with the global testing community.

The EXPO hall is at the heart of EuroSTAR, and draws some of the biggest companies in the world! Meet one-on-one with pioneering organizations, explore the latest solutions and tools in testing, see live demos, and find new ways to solve your testing problems. Bring all your questions too!

It’s also a great way to get yourself out there and meet new people during the session breaks. Network with your fellow attendees – and of course, visit all the EXPO booths throughout the conference to find out how you can get your hands on some of the incredible prizes below!

A big thank you to our Platinum Partners Jetbrains, Karate Labs, LambdaTest, SauceLabs and Xray; and our gold partners, along with all our brilliant exhibitors. Check out all our 2023 partners.

I’m Batman! Scoop this very cool Batman Lego helmet from LambdaTest, who will also demonstrate how your businesses can drastically reduce time to market, through faster test execution: ensuring quality releases and accelerated digital transformation.

Sauce Labs provides the world’s largest cloud-based platform for the automated testing of web and mobile applications – and they have a chance for you to win a €100 Amazon voucher if you stop by their booth and enter the draw!

Say hello to the team at the Xray booth and be in with a chance to win Sony airpods. You can also hear more about their extensible test management platform – their REST API and out-of-the-box integrations make it easy to build a CI/CD pipeline.

HCL Software‘s aim is to drive ultimate customer success; and it’s the cloud-native solution factory for enterprise software – powering millions of apps at more than 20,000 organizations. Enter their draw to win a set of Beats headphones.

Stop by the Leapwork team’s booth to be in with a chance to win this incredible Lego hut! You’ll also learn more about their entirely visual no-code system that everyone can understand, to empower your digital transformation.

Tea and coffee drinkers should stop by Mabl‘s booth, who are offering a gorgeous subscription to Sips By. You can also discuss their test automation platform built for CI/CD, and see how it can work for your business.

Enter the draw at the OpenText booth and you could scoop this slick gaming keyboard. It’s their 11th year partnering with us and they’re looking forward to chatting to you, and demonstrating their innovative solutions to help your business thrive.

The team at SmartBear are ready and waiting to show you the tools to help streamline your software process while seamlessly working with all the tools you already use. Plus, it’s your chance to win a portable laptop monitor.

Sogeti‘s quality engineering & testing practice help empower you to deliver the positive experience your customers expect. Enter their competition and you might be walking away with a VR headset and controller.

It’s TestRail‘s third year joining us at EuroSTAR, and they’re on hand to help you speed up testing, improve product quality and ship releases faster. Stop by their booth and you might win a Star Wars Lego set.

Chat to Testsigma to learn more about their open source no-code test automation tool, designed to reduce your test creation and maintenance time. The team are also offering a lucky competition winner an Apple iPad!

Tricentis are joining us for their 12th year – we’re thrilled to have them on board again. Stop by to hear about their AI-based, automation platform – and enter their booth competition to win some Apple airpods.

ACCELQ is proven to speed up automation development by 3 times and bring down the maintenance by 70% – have a chat with the team to see what they can do for you. Plus, they have a Google Home up for grabs.

You could win a super cool Nintendo Switch if you stop by the b.ignited booth. The team are excited to meet everyone and share how they produce no-nonsense software, automated by testing wizards!

Take some time to find out more about PractiTest‘s test management solution, which incorporates all testing elements in one central platform, to empower your organisation. Enter their competition and you could win this incredible drone.

*Photos are representations only. All prize details will be provided by each partner and these photos do not indicate the exact make or model of what is being provided.

That’s just a taster of what to expect – there are lots more prizes to be won, including:

• iPad from Applitools
• Lego Antwerp set from CTG
• The Atari Flashback console from Curiosity Software
• €100 Amazon voucher from Hexaware
• Airpods from Inflectra
• A Lego rocket set from PII Guard

It’s going to be an unforgettable 4 days, so grab your ticket now and we’ll see you at Antwerp Zoo.

The 2023 EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award is open for nominations!

Take a moment to consider who you would like to see recognized for their outstanding dedication and contributions to the world of software testing. It might be your colleague, your mentor, team-leader, or an author whose knowledge sharing has helped you in your career.

Community recognition

The Testing Excellence Award is the highest honour awarded by our community each year. It highlights outstanding achievements by the exceptional people in our community: those who help us achieve more, be more, and aim for more by continuously striving for excellence in their work.

Who can nominate?

Anyone can make a nomination for the EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award, but you will need input from others in the community to demonstrate your nominee’s contributions to the overall software testing community.

Who to nominate?

Think of your colleagues, friends, managers or mentors. Who through their passion, learning and willingness to share, significantly helps to move our industry and community forward?

They are usually driving innovation, research ways of advancing testing as a craft (and openly share their research!), and/or perhaps they are eternally supportive of others in the industry and help others grow.

They may have:

• Increased public awareness of the importance of software quality & testing
• Contributed to the improvement of software development and testing processes
• Advanced the publication of research findings in the field of software quality and testing
• Or it’s likely they will have promoted a love of further education and lifelong learning in software quality and testing

What to include?

• About the Nominee – who they are, what they do, some biographical info
• Highlights of Contributions to the wider Testing Community
• Why they deserve this Award
• Testimonials from members of the Community
• If they have LinkedIn recommendations, you can also add these

Celebrating testing legends

The existing winners of the EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award are some of the most influential members of the global testing community, from AnneMarie Charrett to Martin Pol. Each winner has made a difference to our community.

Commemorating achievement

Every year, we present the winner with a pdf of their nomination as a keepsake so the more you can include, the more they’ll see how much they are appreciated within the community. Here are some of the lovely testimonials given to Award winners in the past:

• “a well-known expert who is recognized as a renowned thought leader in global Software Testing Community.”
• “part of the role of a tester is to make people think – think about how something could be tested, think about the risks they may face, think about how to communicate that information and this year’s winner must he thanked for their continued efforts in making thinkers out of all of us.”
• “has always been a supportive and challenging friend in testing. I know that I am far from alone in being able to say that she has helped many testers around the world to become better.”
• “Nobody knows more practical things about testing, test management, test strategy – all things testing, than her”.
• “There are many, many people in the testing community whom I respect and from whom I can learn. However, there are only a handful I regard as truly guiding influences.”

When to submit

Entries must be submitted by 21^st May, so start your nomination today. If you have any questions at all, please get in touch.

EuroSTAR 2023 is just a few weeks away, and we’re gearing up for an incredible 4 days of learning, community, and connections. Get your conference ticket now for an all-access pass to an inclusive, friendly, and memorable experience at Europe’s best software testing event. Think career-defining learnings, building new skills, having chats with a community of testers similar to you, and helping others to learn and grow.

EuroSTAR is bringing together the world’s leading experts in software testing – 66 of them, in fact. They are coming to Antwerp Zoo armed with ideas, insights, innovation, experience and their passion, to share it all with you.

With 65+ sessions all about software testing, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to attending talks. We’ve got inspiring keynotes, in-depth tutorials and interactive track talks. The EuroSTAR tracks talks is your chance to get insights and ask questions at the 15 minute Q&A.

Want a little taster of what to expect? Here are just 20 things you will learn at this year’s track sessions.

1. See why tools are just helpers, not the main actors in our work – and how minimilism builds high quality products.
2. Get a practical introduction on how you can introduce several different techniques to visualize and clarify workflows and user needs in a practical and easy, documented manner.
3. Learn how you can automate some of the 10 Usability Heuristics, and how a tool could support testers to do manual UX testing.
4.  Enhance your critical thinking skills and find ‘true knowledge’”’ about software based on the principles of Nyaya Shashtra.
5. See how browser automation works behind the scenes, and get to know the WebDriver BiDi project and its current progress.
6. Find out what a personal knowledge management system is, and why it’s essential for any career in the tech industry.
7. Learn why you need to start with ‘why’ for quality standards awareness and improvements.
8. Get a 10-step recipe in exploratory unit testing of a program created using computer-assisted software authorship.
9. Use the Quality Delta concept to avoid doing unneeded work and map out the right questions to ask.
10. Success stings if it comes at the expense of the hive – see why working well together requires dismantling competitive and hierarchical structures
11. Change is both constant and unpredictable – learn how to adapt to change by creating a learning culture.
12. Make yourself future proof and learn 4 key skills needed in the 21st century.
13. Revisit how you work, communicate, test and build software in a remote first working world.
14. Avoid unnecessary release disasters by recognising symptoms and taking appropriate action.
15. Learn how to delegate meaningful tasks, how to communicate with trust and empowerment, and how to make sure you’re not micromanaging.
16. Rock on! See what it takes to be a rounded rock star tester, and what skills to target to enhance your career.
17.  Learn about test gap analysis, a novel approach that combines static and dynamic analyses to discover untested changes.
18. Take important steps to improve the health of your team, and create an environment where you can serve both internal and external customers effectively.
19. See what it takes to make the transition from Senior Tester, Test Lead, or Tester, into a fully-fledged Test Manager Role.
20. Learn the ten commandments of automation, and ways to start driving automation to more collaborative action.

Whatever your testing goals and challenges, get the answers you’re looking for, along with lots of new perspectives, at EuroSTAR.

Europe’s best software testing conference is just a few weeks away! The whole software testing community will gather together in Antwerp, 13-16 June. Don’t miss the 2023 experience at Antwerp Zoo: four days of infinite inspiration, networking, and career-defining moments.

Right now, you can book your tickets at the best price with our Early Bird offer – the more you bring, the more you save! Check out our group bundles and get your EuroSTAR 2023 ticket now.

We’ve got so much in store for you this year, from the valuable learnings, to the networking, to the impromptu chats at coffee and networking breaks. Here’s just some of what you can expect from the conference this year…

66 Expert Speakers

Industry leaders, innovators, hackers, problem solvers, gamers, team leaders, entrepreneurs, engineers and lots more will be sharing their knowledge with YOU! With in-depth tutorials, interactive track talks, and inspiring keynotes, it’s a melting pot of creativity and knowledge like you haven’t seen anywhere else.

Topics to cover all areas of testing

The 2023 conference theme is ‘Software Development is a Social Activity’, and we have a packed programme of top quality content for you. Topics include test management, team building, QA strategy, test automation, and lots more.

1000+ testers across every spectrum of testing

Join QA engineers, test managers, DevOps engineers, test analysts & more from 50 countries, all coming together to spark new ideas. This is your space and your community – jump into conversations with people who are having the same problems as you, and spark ideas together.

300 global companies

Connect with fellow attendees in banking, government agencies, telecoms, manufacturing, automotive, security, tech and more – all coming to EuroSTAR 2023. Get new perspectives and fresh insights from all areas of testing and quality assurance, and benefit from the experiences of your peers.

Chats and games in the Huddle Community Area

Located in the heart of the EuroSTAR EXPO hall, Huddle will play host to a variety of activities and networking events, run by the Huddle team of volunteers. It’s aimed at connecting diverse and international delegates, and enabling knowledge sharing outside of the official talks. Take a break from the busy day and make some new friends!

47 leading test tools & service providers

This is Europe’s biggest testing EXPO – meet with the leading tools & services providers under one roof. Compare solutions or find new ways to improve your testing, check out cool demos, get 1:1 help, & win swag and prizes.

Don’t delay – book your ticket now and we’ll see you in Antwerp in June!

Next up from Programme Chair Kristoffer Nordström’s recommendation on which talks you should attend based on your role in testing – sessions for veteran testers! Check out the previous blog here.

Prefer to listen instead? Check out the audio version below:

As a veteran tester, I know it’s easy to feel like you’re stuck in a rut, unsure of where to go or what to do next. That’s why I wanted to write this next installment of the blog post series of recommended sessions and tutorials for various roles when attending Eurostar 2023. This time I’m writing for all of you hardened and seasoned veteran testers.

EuroSTAR 2023 is a large conference, and the programme committee is proud of the diverse set of speakers from different backgrounds, topics, and experience that we have assembled. While I’m highlighting some talks, it’s important to note that it doesn’t mean that the other sessions are sub-par; these are just the ones that may be particularly relevant to the roles I’m writing for.

Inspiring Quality: Becoming an Exceptional Quality Leader

First up, we have my very good friend Fiona Charles’ tutorial, ‘Inspiring Quality: Becoming an Exceptional Quality Leader‘. When people ask me for advice on testers to listen to, Fiona is with few exceptions one of the first persons I bring up. If she’s ever giving a tutorial at a conference I tell people it’s a must for me to attend. And if you find me at the conference and ask, I’ll even let you in on the tutorial she gave many years ago that literally changed my life and career. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to lead by example, inspire your team, and build a culture of quality within your organization. There will be questions asked such as “What does it take to be a leader?”, “Where do exceptional quality leaders focus their energies?”, “How can you get to be an exceptional quality leader?”, and “What does “leadership” mean in an Agile context?”  

An Ancient Science for Advanced Critical Thinking for Testers and Teams

Next, Lalitkumar Bhamare’s session, ‘An Ancient Science for Advanced Critical Thinking for Testers and Teams‘, will teach you how to apply ancient Indian philosophical principles to your critical thinking in testing. By learning how to question assumptions, recognize biases, and think outside the box, you’ll be able to approach your customers and ask critical questions on what they expect and need to be delivered. Lalit will help and guide you into the Indian philosophical school of ‘Erotetics’. Don’t miss this chance to attend a session given by a long standing member of our community and the long time chief editor for “Tea-time with testers”.

That Which Isn’t Good for the Hive Isn’t Good for the Bee

Sanne Visser’s session, ‘That Which Isn’t Good for the Hive Isn’t Good for the Bee‘, will explore how to build a more collaborative and inclusive testing environment. By recognizing and addressing power imbalances, you’ll see the problems attached to ‘addicted to gold-stickers’ in your work and organization. Sanne asks questions such as “Someone has to ‘run the hive’ and tell us what to do. Don’t they?”, “If competition disappears, won’t people stop buzzing around?”, and “When I don’t have clear goals, nectar to collect. How will I tell if I’m successful?”. Sanne is a delight to listen to and one of the founding members of the podcast “9 out of 10 Testers”.

Hope is Not a Plan

Fredrik Håård’s session ‘Hope is Not a Plan‘ addresses the need for leaders and managers to recognize the dangers of optimistic thinking in an organization and to focus on solutions rather than problems. In roles such as tester, security analyst, or similar, it’s easy to come across as a naysayer and doomsday prophet. As organizations, we have a tendency to remain optimistic about outcomes and stick our heads in the sand until it’s too late. In this talk, Fredrik will discuss how to communicate risks and allow for informed decisions before your organization becomes the next headline in international news for leaked user credentials and credit card information. So far I’ve written four installments in this series for different roles, and this is the third time I’m mentioning Fredrik’s session, why? Well, because Fredriks insights and way of presenting is simply a session you can not miss. Fredrik always delivers his talk with a touch of mirth and humor and draws extensively from his experience working as an international consultant across three continents (and still counting).

We’re Off to Rehab: Communicating in an Isolated, Decoupled World

Finally, Anne-Marie Charrett’s session, ‘We’re Off to Rehab: Communicating in an Isolated, Decoupled World‘, will explore how to communicate effectively in a distributed testing environment. A lot of us have gone through the last years experiencing how it is to work remote. Some love it, myself included, while others have found challenges and perhaps not the rose garden they were hoping for previously. Anne-Marie who won the testing excellence award at EuroSTAR is a beloved member of our community and in this session learn how to build relationships, establish trust, and leverage technology in the context of remote working. Go see Anne-Marie as it is not every day that this tester comes to Europe from down under where she lives in Australia.

In summary, attending the Eurostar 2023 software testing conference is a great way to break out of your rut as a veteran tester. Whether you’re looking to become an exceptional quality leader, improve your critical thinking skills, build a more collaborative testing environment, create a comprehensive testing strategy, or communicate more effectively in a distributed team, there’s a tutorial or session for you. So why wait? Register now and take the first step towards your next great adventure!

Right now, you save 10% on EuroSTAR tickets with our Early Bird offer – and over 35% if you bring a team. Secure your tickets, and we’ll see you in Antwerp in June!