Session Description
As engineers, we might build systems that shape millions of lives, but it’s easy to lose sight of their broader impact. How do we balance the pressure to ship fast, or even AI-fast, with our responsibility to society?
This talk draws on 40+ years in software engineering to explore practical approaches to ethical decision-making in technical roles.
I’ll share concrete examples of how individual engineers can make a difference, with empathy and persistence, and discuss when it makes sense to just walk away.
I’ll also discuss strategies for raising concerns effectively, how to advocate for ethics without derailing your career.
There’s no magic recipe for being an ethical engineer, but you can develop your own principles and the courage to act on them. This session will help you start building that practice, whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned veteran reconsidering your path.
Speaker
Retired software engineer, ex Adobe (Principal Scientist), ex ASF Board of Directors (apache.org)
After an initial career as an independent consultant, Bertrand Delacrétaz spent 19 years at Adobe in the field of large-scale content management, including 14 years as Principal Scientist, and 14 years on the board of the Apache Software Foundation (apache.org) for open-source software in parallel.
Bertrand retired in early 2026, but remains passionate about technology and its evolution, regularly sharing his experience at conferences across Europe on technical and community-related topics.
