DrupalCon Vienna begins today, an event that has been anticipated by many across the Drupal community. This year's program includes a wide range of sessions that cover everything from Drupal's technical direction to conversations about team culture, inclusion, and community health. With speakers from different regions and backgrounds, the event is set to offer a clear look into the current priorities and challenges within the Drupal ecosystem.
Keynote Spotlight: Vera Herzmann on Neurodiversity in Tech
The conference opens with a keynote by Vera Herzmann, Senior Consulting Manager at Zühlke Group. Her session, "Neurodiversity: An Underrated Superpower in Business," focuses on how different ways of thinking contribute to team performance and innovation, and how those differences are often overlooked or misunderstood.
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When asked what led her to bring this topic to DrupalCon Vienna, Vera said:
Vera Herzmann
Vera Herzmann
"Working in a global tech and transformation company, I've seen firsthand how diverse ways of thinking fuel innovation. The Drupal community embodies that same intersection of technology and collaboration, which makes it a powerful place to expand the conversation about neurodiversity."
"Research from the Institution of Engineering and Technology shows that nearly one in five people in their community identify as definitely or possibly neurodivergent. That means almost every team includes neurodivergent minds - often without realising it. Understanding and valuing different cognitive styles is vital in tech, where complex solutions depend on teamwork, deep expertise, and creative thinking."
She also pointed out that neurodivergent thinking can lead to misunderstandings - not just strengths. Vera emphasised that what matters is how teams manage those situations and create room for mutual understanding.
She added that her own experiences were part of what made this session possible.
"My own way of thinking clearly resonated with the organisers - otherwise I wouldn't have been invited to the big stage. I see myself as a catalyst, helping to rewire some of the limiting beliefs and stigma around neurodiversity."
Her hope is that the talk helps more people recognise what's already present in their teams and work environments:
"I want to shine a light on an important blind spot in our industry and do it through honest, personal stories. My hope is that people in the audience have those 'yes, I feel the same!' or 'good point - I've never thought about that' moments. I see my keynote as just the beginning of a wider conversation within the Drupal community, one that sparks curiosity, and continues to grow and evolve after the event. If people leave feeling inspired to look at their teams differently and to see diverse ways of thinking as a true asset, then I've done my job."
Olga Tsiamliak - Nestlé Nutrition Scalable Multibrand Design System on Drupal
Date: October 14, 2025 Time: 14:45 - 15:30 Room: Session Room (-2.33) Track: Clients & Industry Experiences
Olga Tsiamliak from Attico is presenting a session focused on how large organisations can build and scale design systems across different brands using Drupal.
Olga Tsiamliak
Olga Tsiamliak
"We'll be sharing our experience of building and scaling a design system within a large, multi-brand Drupal ecosystem. Our goal is to show how a design system can bridge the gap between business and development - ensuring consistency, accessibility, and faster delivery across multiple platforms. We hope that our insights will help others see how design systems can be implemented and evolved both from a technical and a design perspective."
On what she's looking forward to at the event:
"We're really looking forward to connecting with the Drupal community, exchanging experiences, and learning from other teams. Of course, we can't wait for Driesnotes and the opportunity to get inspired by the new directions and innovations in Drupal."
Nikita Aswani - Back Together Again: Lessons from Reviving a Community Post-COVID
Date: October 15, 2025 Room: Session Room (-2.32) Track: Community Health
Nikita Aswani will be speaking about how she helped rebuild the Drupal community in India after the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Nikita Aswani
Nikita Aswani
"My session… is inspired by my journey as a Drupal event organiser for the past three years, helping bring the Indian Drupal community back together after the pandemic pause. It's a story about rebuilding - not just events, but relationships, excitement, and confidence within the community."
She'll be sharing what worked, what didn't, and what can be applied elsewhere. Her session highlights how small, consistent efforts contribute to long-term sustainability in open source communities.
Nikita is also looking forward to learning from others and bridging her own background in both organising and frontend development:
"Having organised Drupal events for the past three years, I've seen firsthand how powerful in-person collaboration can be. I'm excited to connect with global community leaders, exchange ideas around community health and sustainability, and bring those insights back to strengthen our local ecosystem."
She added that she's especially interested in sessions related to Drupal Canvas, accessibility, and the future of the web, given her experience in frontend development and interest in where Drupal is headed.
Panagiotis Moutsopoulos - We Need to Talk: Burnout, Belonging, and Being Human in Drupal
Date: October 15, 2025 Time: 15:00 - 15:45 Room: Session Room (-2.43) Track: Community Health
Panagiotis Moutsopoulos from E-sepia will lead a workshop titled We Need to Talk: Burnout, Belonging, and Being Human in Drupal.
He shared that the session will involve a combination of interactive formats:
Panagiotis Moutsopoulos
Panagiotis Moutsopoulos
“Through a mix of storytelling, small-group conversations, and co-creation, we’ll look at how both businesses and open source communities like Drupal can foster well-being and sustainability. A short panel of Drupal contributors will share real experiences with burnout and recovery, followed by guided group discussions where participants can reflect on their own needs, coping strategies, and hopes for a healthier community.”
The goal is for attendees to leave with a stronger sense of support and understanding, and to help normalise conversations around mental health in tech communities.
When asked what he’s looking forward to at DrupalCon Vienna, he said:
“I’m most excited to reconnect with the people who inspired us at previous DrupalCons, whether through their sessions or their contributions. Now that we’re more experienced, we hope to build stronger relationships that benefit everyone. And of course, with Drupal Dev Days Athens 2026 on the horizon, this will be a wonderful opportunity to meet in person with all those planning to visit our beloved country.”
"In Vienna, I'll actually be involved in two different sessions. In my hands-on workshop, I'll guide participants through practical AI tools directly in Drupal: from AI-assisted editing in CKEditor, AI translation, to automatic title suggestions, to larger capabilities like AI-powered migrations, search, and chatbots."
"In these times with wars and political turmoil, digital efficiency and independence, both for the digital experience and AI, are crucial. To decision makers, I say: vote with your wallet."
His sessions aim to provide direct examples of where AI can improve workflows without overcomplicating projects or adding unnecessary overhead.
The speakers highlighted here represent just part of the full DrupalCon Vienna lineup. More sessions and insights will be featured in the next part of our coverage. Stay tuned.
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Kazima AbbasKazima Abbas is a sub-editor at The Drop Times
