IDUG EMEA 2026

IDUG EMEA 2026

11:30am BST

F2 Experiences with CDC Qlik Replicate as Db2 DBA

Monday September 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

For over two years, I've been managing QLIK Replicate as a Change Data Capture (CDC) tool for our Db2 LUW databases and also for the host Db2 z/OS. I've gained a lot of experience in this area, which I'd like to share. I'll describe the environment with replications between Db2 z/OS and Db2 LUW. For which use cases is the tool suitable, and for which is it less appropriate? What problems have we encountered, and what workarounds have we found?

Speakers

Michael Kühnel

Owner, Professor, HUK-COBURG

Db2 LUW DBA since 2016 in a Data Warehouse environment

Monday September 28, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Best Practices
Audience Beginner
Platform LUW

2:00pm BST

F3 Connect, Visualise, Predict: Visualization Db2 Data on z/OS using Python libraries and Machine learning tools.

Monday September 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST

In the modern era of data-driven decision-making, leveraging the power of mainframe data, such as Db2 on z/OS, can provide deep insights into business operations. However, visualizing this data and utilizing advanced analytics can often seem challenging. This session will explore how Python libraries, along with machine learning tools, can bridge the gap by providing intuitive and powerful solutions to visualize and analyze Db2 data on z/OS.
We will begin by discussing the fundamentals of accessing Db2 data on z/OS using Python library ibm_db. Once data is ready we will explore popular python libraries to create clear and informative visualizations.
The session will then dive into the integration of machine learning tools, to uncover hidden patterns in the data, perform predictive analytics, and gain deeper insights.

Speakers

Niraj Garudkar

Senior Db2 LUW Consultant, BMC Software

I am a Data Scientist at BMC Software, where I work on integrating agentic AI with mainframe systems. My work focuses on applying modern AI techniques to mission‑critical enterprise platforms, with a strong emphasis on DB2, IMS and intelligent automation across mainframe environments... Read More →

Monday September 28, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic AI GenAI and Machine Learning, Data Movement and Analytics, Modernization in Development, Working with SQL
Audience All
Platform z/OS

3:20pm BST

F4 Insights and experiences from GarantiBBVA's Fast Traverse Block index implementation in production

Monday September 28, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm BST

The presentation is aiming to explore the introduction and evolution of Fast Traversal Blocks (FTB) in IBM Db2 for z/OS, focusing on the initial implementation in Db2 12 and the subsequent enhancements delivered in Db2 13.
The session will outline the architectural concepts behind FTB, key eligibility criteria, and the functional improvements introduced in Db2 13 for z/OS. The major focus of the presentation will be a real-world case study from GarantiBBVA, highlighting their experience implementing FTB in their Db2 for z/OS systems. This includes practical insights into planning, configuration, and deployment strategies, as well as challenges encountered and lessons learned during adoption. It will also examine how to identify suitable indexes for FTB and the tangible benefits of FTB usage at GarantiBBVA. The session will also be aiming to demonstrate how to measure and validate performance improvements using key metrics, system statistics, and monitoring tools. By combining theoreti

Speakers

Ayşenur Başoğlu

Senior Consultant, GarantiBBVA

I am a Database Administrator and System Engineer with 7 years of experience in Db2 for z/OS at Garanti BBVA. My work focuses on Db2 migrations, function level activation, and RSU maintenance, as well as maintaining the IBM Db2 Analytics Accelerator (IDAA) environment. I am also actively... Read More →

Gülfem Öğütgen

Db2 for z/OS, Data &AI on IBM Z Systems mainframe db2 systems programmer and dba, IBM

Gulfem has over 30 years of experience in mainframes and in Db2 for z/OS. She has worked as a database administrator, system administrator in financial institutions including leading banks in Turkey and also as a database consultant in IBM business partners and consultancy companies... Read More →

Monday September 28, 2026 3:20pm - 4:20pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Best Practices, Performance and Monitoring, User Stories
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

4:30pm BST

F5 When REORGs Go Wild: Managing Unexpected Partition Growth in DB2 PBG Tablespaces

Monday September 28, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST

The reorganization of a DB2 tablespace is primarily performed to optimize access path performance, but it also constitutes a critical database maintenance operation. This presentation will cover our experience as users following a sudden increase in the number of partitions in partition-by-growth tablespaces after executing partition-level REORGs, as well as the approach we took to address the issue.

Speakers

Zoe Andreopoulou

Db2 Sysprog, Eurobank

Zoe Andreopoulou is a Senior Db2 for z/OS Database Administrator with over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, having held key database administration roles in two leading financial institutions. She specializes in Db2 performance tuning, problem determination, and the... Read More →

Michal Bialecki

Principal Software Engineer, Broadcom

Michal Bialecki is a Db2 Technical Consultant at Broadcom, bringing over 20 years of experience to the role. Prior to joining Broadcom in 2025, he spent two decades working remotely for IBM Silicon Valley Lab, where he served as a member of Db2 z/OS Development SWAT team with John... Read More →

Monday September 28, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Best Practices, User Stories
Audience All
Platform z/OS

10:20am BST

F6 Scripting Db2 for z/OS

Tuesday September 29, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

Integrating Db2 for z/OS with non-mainframe processes is easy if you learn how to use Db2 with scripting languages, particularly exploiting Db2 client capabilities and ZOWE. This presentation explains how to do this, and shows some classic use cases in database administration and DevOps.

Speakers

Philip Nelson

Senior Database Software Engineer, Lloyds Banking Group / ScotDB Limited

Philip Nelson has worked with Db2 since 1989. He likes to explore new functionality and is always exploring new techniques for enhancing Db2 usage. He is a frequent presenter at IDUG and has also supported IDUG in many other ways, including the IDUG EMEA CPC and the Content Commi... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic AppDev, Automation, Modernization in Development, Modernization in Operations
Audience All
Platform z/OS

11:30am BST

F7 The Anatomy of Universal Tablespaces

Tuesday September 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Universal Tablespaces (UTS) have been the strategic tablespace types for Db2 for z/OS since Version 9, effectively rendering legacy tablespaces obsolete. But what truly lies beneath the surface? Why has IBM designated UTS as the future of data storage?
In this session, we will place the Universal Tablespace on the operating table for a surgical comparison against legacy objects. We will examine the internal anatomy of Partition-by-Growth (PBG) and Partition-by-Range (PBR) tablespaces. By dissecting the underlying page structures, space map management, and segmentation logic, we will reveal exactly what makes UTS special.
Join us for a deep dive into the bits and bytes of Db2 storage to understand why the transition to UTS is not just a recommendation, but a necessity for modern database performance and management.

Speakers

Emil Kotrc

Principal Software Architect, Broadcom

Emil is a software architect at Broadcom Mainframe Software, he holds a Ph.D. in Mathematical Engineering, is a member of the IDUG Content Committee, and an IBM Champion since 2015.

Tuesday September 29, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Database Resiliency
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

2:00pm BST

F8 Ready Player One? Db2 vNext Migration (Made Easy)

Tuesday September 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST

Are you, and all of your sub-systems, ready for Db2 vNext that is coming to an enterprise near you soon? Are you aware that you cannot even get to Db2 13 FL511 if you have any of the specially announced “deprecated” items that we all have hanging around? Do you have a plan to get you out of this mess?
This session explains how you can find all the migration blockers that exist in your system and how to fix nearly all of them as well. It will also delve into VTAM/SNA and workfile usage to round off everything that can bite you!

Speakers

Roy Boxwell

Senior Software Architect, Software Engineering GmbH

Roy is an IBM Champion with more than 40 years of experience in MVS, OS/390, and z/OS environments – 39 of those in Db2. He specializes in installation, migration, and performance monitoring and tuning. Roy leads the SEG development team responsible for the real-time database maintenance... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Latest and Features z/OS, Security and Compliance, Working with SQL
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

4:30pm BST

F9 Fun with SQL 2026

Tuesday September 29, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST

The IDUG Content Committee consists of a team of dedicated volunteers who produce content for IDUG website including articles and blogs and the ever-popular DB2 Table Talk podcast. Come to this session where the attendees will be placed into teams and be given SQL Challenges to solve by the content committee. Amusing and practical challenges will be given to the contestants. Each team will have a few minutes at a keyboard to solve the current problem before the keyboard is passed to the next team. Shouting, googling, giving advice (good and bad) and general mayhem are all allowed during this fun, interactive and non-traditional session!

Speakers

Brian Laube

Db2 DBA, Manulife Financial

Brian Laube is an application DBA for Db2 Z working for Manulife Financial in Canada. Brian has experience with performance monitoring, SQL, application developement, security and everything else in the mainframe world.
Brian has been an IBM Champion since 2017. Brian is one of the directors of the Central Canada Db2 User Group which still holds an annual TWO day in-person user-group event! Brian Laube has presented at many IDUG conferences since 2015 in both NA and EMA. Brian is a volunteer with... Read More →

Tuesday September 29, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Hands-On Lab

Audience All
Platform Cross Platform

10:20am BST

F10 AI Agents Meet Mainframe: Building MCP Servers on Replicated Db2 z/OS Data

Wednesday September 30, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

AI agents are transforming enterprise applications, but they need access to trusted, business-critical mainframe data. This session shows how MCP servers enable agents to query up-to-date, replicated Db2 z/OS data from targets like Db2 LUW or watsonx.data. It covers the rationale for agent integration, architecture patterns, implementation steps, and a live demo of an agent working with z/OS data.

Speakers

Cüneyt Göksu

Executive IT Specialist, IBM

Cüneyt Göksu is an Executive IT Specialist for IBM® Z solutions in the context of Data and AI in IBM Germany Development Lab as a member of Center of Excellence team. He holds MBA, Bachelor’s degree and PhD in Computer Science. He has been working with Db2 for z/OS and IBM Z... Read More →

Mateo Tošić

Senior Technical Staff Member, IBM

Wednesday September 30, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic AI GenAI and Machine Learning, Data Movement and Analytics, Data Movement and Integration, Working with SQL
Audience Intermediate
Platform Cross Platform

11:30am BST

F11 SQL Oldies but Goodies and the Power of the SQL Rewrite

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

There have been so many enhancements in Db2 SQL for developers in the last 3 or 4 versions that many developers have never really taken advantage of. This presentation picks my personal favorites that I believe all developers should get knowledgeable on and possibly applied to current and future applications. Developers should be informed of all of newer features in Db2 and this presentation is a great summary for this topic. When it comes to performance, often times the answer to better performance is rewriting queries different ways, and redesigning programs differently. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of some great SQL enhancements, application table designs, along with getting stronger in the SQL language. This is a great session for developers on Db2 LUW or Db2 z/OS. Developers 'Get Empowered'.

Speakers

Tony Andrews

Mainframe Db2 Developer, Performance and Tuning, P&T Solutions, Inc.

Tony Andrews has more than 30 years’ experience in the development of relational database applications. Most of this time, he has provided development and consulting services to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Tony has written literally thousands of queries and programs... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Working with SQL
Audience All
Platform Cross Platform

2:00pm BST

F12 Hidden in Plain Sight: Unlocking Db2 for z/OS Recovery Capabilities at NatWest

Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST

In 2025, NatWest undertook a comprehensive reassessment of its Db2 recovery strategy to align with evolving banking regulations and to take advantage of modern platform capabilities. This review aimed to uncover limitations in existing processes, improve operational performance, and strengthen compliance.
As part of this effort, the bank evaluated Db2 utility features and automation tools that could streamline recovery activities, enforce consistent best‑practice standards, and reduce the need for continual manual tuning of utility options. Future resilience was also a priority, with the strategy designed to support NatWest’s planned adoption of Cyber Vault technology.
This session explores the challenges encountered throughout the transformation, the solutions implemented to overcome them, and the best practices that emerged—highlighting how NatWest is modernising its Db2 recovery landscape while preparing for the future.

Speakers

Dhiren Chaudhary

VP of Development and IBM Fellow, IBM Software, NatWest Group

I am a Technical Lead for Db2 at NatWest Group responsible for Db2 strategy and direction at the Bank. I oversee design for Db2 related new applications or changes to existing implementations. I also maintain the various standards related to Design, Performance, Utilities, Naming... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Best Practices, Database Resiliency, User Stories, Utilities
Audience All
Platform z/OS

4:30pm BST

F13 Do you think you know pureScale? Come test your knowledge

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST

Db2 pureScale environments are designed for high availability and scalability, but their behavior under load, failure, and recovery is often more nuanced than expected.
In this interactive session, we’ll challenge your understanding of pureScale through a series of real-world scenarios covering cluster services behavior and failure handling, locking, caching, and recovery. You’ll be asked to predict outcomes, diagnose issues, and uncover what really happens under the covers.
Whether you’re an experienced practitioner or relatively new to pureScale, this session will expose common misconceptions, highlight subtle behaviors, and deepen your intuition about how the system operates in production.
Come ready to participate, question what you think you know—and leave with insights you can apply immediately.

Speakers

Christian Garcia-Arellano

STSM, Db2 Senior Architect and Master Inventor, IBM

Christian Garcia-Arellano is STSM and Db2 OLTP Architect at the IBM Toronto Lab, and has a MSc in Computer Science from the University of Toronto. Christian has been working in various DB2 Kernel development areas since 2001. Initially Christian worked on the development of the self... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 4:30pm - 5:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Database Resiliency
Audience All
Platform LUW

5:40pm BST

F14 Beyond COPY: Modern Recovery Strategies in Db2 for z/OS—Balancing Speed, Resilience, and Automation

Wednesday September 30, 2026 5:40pm - 6:40pm BST

In modern DB2 for z/OS environments, delivering efficient, resilient, and reliable services depends on the alignment of multiple critical components. With the introduction of DORA regulations, the focus has evolved from simply ensuring service continuity to enhancing it by making recovery processes faster, more robust, and easier to manage.
While many technologies and strategies already support service continuity, real-world scenarios still reveal gaps, particularly when unexpected errors lead to temporary service disruptions impacting customers.
Starting from a legacy disaster recovery framework based on traditional batch jobs, we conducted a thorough assessment to identify limitations in flexibility, performance, and reliability. Building on this foundation, we redesigned and enhanced recovery processes by introducing new strategies, improving automation, and increasing customization to better align with business objectives.
In this presentation, we share our journey: from understand

Speakers

Andrea Luca Boaretto

DB2 Administrator, Nexi Payments

I am a dedicated Database Administrator (DBA) at Nexi, a leading European PayTech company. I specialize in managing, optimizing, and securing complex database infrastructures that support mission-critical payment systems. With a strong focus on performance tuning, high availability... Read More →

Martin Crippa

Senior Solution Enginner, Nexi Payments

DB2 System Administrator with two years of experience working with IBM Db2 on z/OS. Currently working at Nexi Payments, managing DB2 environments supporting payment systems.
Experienced in both DBA and system-level activities, including database object management, system maintenance, and migration projects. Focused on ensuring performance, stability, and reliability in mission-critical environments... Read More →

Wednesday September 30, 2026 5:40pm - 6:40pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Database Resiliency, User Stories
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

9:00am BST

F15 Db2 Load – Strategies to speed up loading very large tables

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST

With the push for more and more availability replacing the data in very large tables with many indexes can be problematic especially when the business is enforcing small outage windows.
This presentation outlines how we designed a process to replace the data in a 1.6bn row table in the required outage window when the initial load time was nearly 5 times the available window.

Speakers

Rob Gould

Database Consultant, Triton Consulting Ltd

Rob is a Consultant at Triton Consulting, a UK based company that specializes in Hybrid Data Management, Digital Transformation and DB2 database and Information Management services for the z/OS and Midrange platforms.
His area of expertise is the Mainframe platform, but he has also worked with Db2 LUW. He started working as a DB2 Systems programmer in 1988 has been active in the Db2 world since then. Rob also worked for IBM as a Systems programmer and then a Technical Sales Specialist. Thro... Read More →

Thursday October 1, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Audience Beginner
Platform z/OS

10:20am BST

F16 Db2 Connect – New Challenges and New Opportunities

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST

Db2 Connect Version 12, released in November 2024, introduces a wave of enhancements—alongside changes that may challenge existing practices. This session will guide you through the most impactful updates in Db2 Connect V12 and its subsequent fix packs from a Db2 for z/OS perspective. We’ll explore critical topics such as strengthened TLS encryption, licensing transformations, and emerging capabilities in monitoring and observability. Join us to understand not only what’s new, but how these changes can unlock new opportunities for performance, security, and operational insight.

Speakers

Christoph Theisen

Db2 Security Architect, Rocket Software

Christoph began his career in IBM’s Global Services unit in 1991, working on numerous client engagements — primarily focused on Db2 for z/OS — as an application developer, database administrator, architect, and consultant. Over time, his role evolved into that of a Client Technical... Read More →

Thursday October 1, 2026 10:20am - 11:20am BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Best Practices, Latest and Features z/OS, Security and Compliance
Audience Intermediate
Platform z/OS

11:30am BST

F17 Architecting the Perfect Restore: Mastering Db2 Copies, and Compliance

Thursday October 1, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST

Recovery is only as good as the backup that fuels it. While "taking an Image Copy" is a daily routine for every DBA, understanding the internal mechanics of that process is critical for modern data resilience. In this session, we go beyond the syntax to explore the physics of Db2 data protection.We will dissect the copy process showing how the choice of backup type directly dictates recovery performance.

Speakers

Ahmed Hamed

Software Engineer, Broadcom

Ahmed Hamed is a Software Engineer at Broadcom, specializing in the development and mission-critical support of Db2 Backup and Recovery solutions for z/OS. With nine years of experience in the software industry, the last seven are dedicated to the mainframe ecosystem. Ahmed focuses... Read More →

Vyacheslav Stebletsov

Staff Software Engineer, Broadcom

Thursday October 1, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm BST
Miragaia

Track F, Technical Session

Topic Back to Basics, Database Resiliency, Performance and Monitoring, Utilities
Audience All
Platform z/OS