About me

Hi, I'm Michelle Sandford.

Developer Engagement Lead @ Microsoft | Tedx Speaker | Keynote Speaker | AI Developer | GAICD | MCT | Developer Relations | Technical Storyteller

Michelle Sandford is a Developer Engagement Leader who writes code, builds with GitHub and Azure AI, and learns out loud. She likes sharing what's useful (and what isn't), and believes shipping is better than talking about it:

  • A community builder, connecting MVPs, user groups, universities, and developer communities into thriving ecosystems that learn together and lift each other higher.
  • A technical storyteller, Michelle shapes how the world talks about AI‑powered engineering and Azure innovation bringing clarity, curiosity, and creativity to every conversation.
  • A program strategist, designing scalable, repeatable motions that help developers grow their capability and confidence at pace with a rapidly evolving industry.
  • A bridge between engineering and the field making sure developers feel heard, supported, and empowered, from the first line of code to the final production push.
What I do

Talks on GitHub Copilot, Trustworthy Agents, and shipping safer code.

How I help

Hands-on demos, workshops, and practical guides that teams can use immediately.

Profile

Portraits and casual shots

Right Click and Save to use for Conference or Event Pages

Michelle Sandford
Michelle Sandford - Developer Advocate & Speaker
Michelle Sandford profile photo
Microsoft headshot
Michelle Sandford
NDC Conferences Professional Photo
Michelle Sandford
Fun Profile photo
At Microsoft Build
At Microsoft Build
Behind the scenes at Code Europe
Code Europe
Michelle at ACS Conference
ACS Conference
Microsoft event
Microsoft AI Tour Keynote
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Tedx portrait
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Another Tedx portrait
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More Tedx Pics
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A final Tedx Photo
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Microsoft Azure Booth
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NDC Oslo Portrait
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Yow! Portrait
Profile photo
Another Yow! Portrait
Profile photo
A Final Yow! Portrait

Speaking

Conference speaking photos

Conference shots, live coding moments, and candid photos with the crowd.

Speaking at NDC Oslo
Speaking at NDC Oslo
Workshop at DDD Brisbane
Workshop at DDD Brisbane
Google Developer Group event
Google Dev Fest Keynote
YOW Conference
YOW! Conference
Techorama Netherlands
Techorama Netherlands
Conference speaking
Programmable Keynote
Conference speaking
NDC Conferences
Conference speaking
NDC London Conference
Conference speaking
Techorama BE
Conference speaking
Techorama NL
Speaking at Oredev Conference
Oredev Conference
Oredev Conference speaking
Oredev Conference 2

Watch

Featured YouTube videos

You can find my full playlist on my YouTube Channel, but here are a few of my favourite recordings.

Tedx Perth - Where Have All the Girls Gone? thumbnail

Tedx Perth - Where Have All the Girls Gone?

A talk I gave to my largest audience 1400 people live with over 5.6K views total about why there aren't enough women working in tech

Watch on YouTube
NDC Oslo: Well Connected thumbnail

NDC Oslo: Well Connected - Small Steps You Can Take to Increase Your Impact

My most popular talk, I give this talk more often than any other and people always find it invaluable. I update the examples to match the audience, but the recommendations are nearly all the same as in this original version.

Watch on YouTube
AI Genius Series Workshop thumbnail

AI Genius Series Workshop: Build Smarter, Ship Faster - with GitHub Copilot Agent Mode

A workshop on building with GitHub Copilot.

Watch on YouTube