The World’s Northernmost Apple Developers’ Conference
The first ever ARCtic conference will be held in Oulu from 11th– 13th March 2025 and we sat down with Mr. Jesse Sipola, the main organizer of the event for a friendly discussion to know what this event is all about.
Mr. Jesse Sipola is working as an iOS developer at OP Bank and his inspiration to organize a conference is drawn from his past travels to several tech conferences across Europe.
“I always come back home feeling refreshed and can’t wait to start using the new knowledge I’ve acquired during those conferences. So basically, it’s this feeling that I want to share with people.”
The primary goal of the conference is to execute the arrangements so effectively that it can be established as an annual tradition. In practice, this means creating a program that inspires the audience, helps them acquire valuable new skills, and makes them feel they have been part of something special for three days.
The main theme of the conference is software development for Apple’s platforms (iOS, macOs, visionOS, watchOS etc.) using the Swift language. During the three days, many topics will be covered including the cutting-edge technologies introduced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, successful Swift community projects, and solutions experts have come up with to address problematic situations at work.
Anyone can present their research at the conference. Call for papers will open from August to November where enthusiasts can submit their papers that they would like to present at the conference. The selection process will start once the deadline is closed in November and candidates who will receive a spot as a speaker in the conference will receive invitations accordingly. The criterion for selecting presentations is based on the topic and how well it suits the conference’s general programme. The more unique the presentation/paper is, the more likely the candidates receive an invitation as a speaker.
“Being a notable community figure is of course a bonus, but not a requirement. If we receive papers from new emerging developers, who we think would be a great fit in our programme, we’re happy to welcome them.” states Mr Jesse Sipola.
The support of the sponsors is highly appreciated to make this inaugural conference a successful one. Hence it is possible for companies to contribute to the ARCtic Conference as sponsors by contacting sponsors@arcticonference.com. According to Jesse Sipola, the support of the sponsors could really make a difference in the conference. It can improve the quality of the conference as it enables more opportunities for attendees to participate in different and unique activities during the three days.
One of the main goals of the conference is to bring the Apple developers’ community together. Moreover, the ARCtic conference will surely support the local tech community in many ways as it will provide networking opportunities to attendees with experts in the same field. “Getting more familiar with the people around us will surely help us to share knowledge between us in the future, and it should make it easier to arrange smaller events in the community.” Mr Sipola mentions.
Overall, the ARCtic conference acts as a catalyst for growth, learning, and collaboration within Oulu’s tech community.
“The ultimate goal of the conference is to make it an annual conference which is recognized for its high- quality content and great fun!” – Jesse Sipola
Finally, we asked Jesse the famous question; “Why Oulu?” and he had the perfect answer to that.
“Many of the Apple developers’ conferences are arranged in less known destinations around the world, so we thought why not here? We also have many local technology companies, which could benefit from such a conference, and also, it’s a lot easier to arrange when you know the city!”
Besides Oulu has a reputation of being a winter wonderland up until late March and March is the perfect month to experience winter activities. The perfect blend of sun and snow makes it a truly magical experience. Mr. Sipola has high expectations that attendees will have a great time experiencing authentic Finnish saunas, ice swimming and winter sports such as skiing and skating. “Taking a walk on the frozen Baltic Sea might be something very exotic too”, Mr Sipola says.
In conclusion, the ARCtic conference recognizes the importance of providing a well-rounded experience for its attendees, extending beyond the main conference activities. By organizing a variety of engaging evening events, including an Apple-themed pub quiz, ice-swimming, saunas, and potentially snowmobiling, the conference ensures that participants can enjoy their stay to the fullest. Additionally, special arrangements like a speakers’ dinner and a final evening party with sauna, food, and drinks further enhance the experience. These efforts reflect the organizers’ commitment to creating an enjoyable and memorable event for all attendees, contributing to the overall success and appeal of the conference.
Further information about the conference can be found on their website: arcticonference.com
Tickets can be purchased here: ARCTIC Conference tickets