Stream: Monaco
Time: 16:30 - 17:15
This session examines how organisations can preserve critical mainframe knowledge as experienced practitioners retire and artificial intelligence becomes more widely adopted. It will explore why the mainframe skills challenge is not simply a recruitment problem, but also a succession, knowledge-management and operational-risk issue. Attendees will learn how undocumented system knowledge, business context and decision history can become concentrated in a small number of people, and why replacing individuals does not automatically replace capability. The session will cover practical approaches to knowledge capture, mentoring, paired delivery, structured development pathways and the responsible use of AI to analyse code, summarise documentation, identify dependencies and create reusable technical knowledge. It will also consider the limits of AI, including the need for human validation, operational context, security controls and experienced judgement. A practical workforce model will be discussed in which experienced specialists work alongside developing mainframers, with learning embedded into real delivery rather than separated into classroom-only training. Attendees will leave with a framework for identifying key-person dependencies, prioritising knowledge-transfer activity, developing the next generation of mainframe professionals and using AI to support—not replace—human expertise.
There is currently no attachment for PRESERVING MAINFRAME KNOWLEDGE IN AN AGE OF AI
Howard Brown is Senior Mainframe Executive at MooodyCow IT Consultancy, where he helps organisations address mainframe transformation, specialist skills, knowledge retention and workforce development. He has held senior leadership roles across the mainframe industry, including responsibility for consulting services, professional services growth, customer delivery and strategic partner development. His experience spans infrastructure, application modernisation, operational resilience, talent strategy and the development of new service propositions. Howard is particularly focused on the challenge of preserving critical mainframe knowledge as experienced practitioners retire, while creating credible career pathways for the next generation. He advocates combining experienced specialists, emerging talent and responsible use of AI to build sustainable customer capability. He is also the author of previous industry thought leadership on the mainframe talent shortage and regularly works with customers, vendors and partners to turn workforce risk into practical transformation opportunities.