Niek brings over 8 years of hands-on experience as a developer to his role on the Laravel Certification Exam Commission. With deep expertise in PHP, built through frameworks like Symfony and CakePHP, Niek transitioned effortlessly into Laravel. 

Passionate about increasing understanding of Laravel, Niek is all about asking the big “why” and encourages developers to peek behind the facade, exploring how the framework truly works behind the scenes. Excited to contribute, Niek is eager to enhance the community’s understanding of Laravel and unlock its full potential for fellow developers.

Leading an Impact Team of Artisans at ViitorCloud with expertise in enterprise solution architecture, I am proficient in Cloud Services and actively exploring Platform Engineering. As a core member of the Laracon India organizing team and a member of the Laravel certification committee, I contribute to open-source development, driving innovation within the global developer community. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, exploring astronomy, traveling, and playing cricket.

Reza Esmaili is an experienced software developer with over 20 years in the field. Starting as a self-taught programmer in 2002, he became a software architect in 2006 and CEO of a development company in 2019. He specializes in custom software for large clients in various sectors, focusing on long-term projects. Reza began working with Laravel in 2015 after moving from other frameworks. He is passionate about delivering tailored solutions and staying involved in the development community.

Reza has been part of the Demoscene computer subculture since 1997, participating in and organizing events within this community.

Robert Verboon (39) is the CEO of the Dutch software development company Goedemiddag!. He has been working with Laravel since 2013 and has a background in bridging the gap between clients and development teams. Additionally, he is the founder and current chairman of the Dutch Laravel Foundation, a non-profit organization that unites the Dutch Laravel community. It promotes knowledge sharing about Laravel among developers and advocates for the framework among junior developers and potential clients seeking custom software in the Netherlands.

Shruti Balasa is a full stack developer and a Tech Educator from Bangalore,India. She likes to make web development simple for beginners through her courses, Youtube tutorials and eBooks. Some of her latest courses include "Laravel Essentials" and "Advanced Laravel" on LinkedIn Learning and "CSS Grids Simplified" and "CSS Flexbox Simplified" on Laracasts. She's a Tailwind CSS evangelist with most of her Youtube videos dedicated to help beginners learn the framework.

Shruti is an author of two eBooks "Complete Guide to CSS Flex & Grid" and "Level up with Tailwind CSS" that are loved by developers across the globe. She chooses to work only for about 4 hours a day to spend quality time with her 7 year old and family.

As an entrepreneur, I have always been driven by the desire to innovate and create something that brings value to people's lives. But, my interests go far beyond business. I am a passionate traveler, enthusiastic rider, and a true believer in the power of giving back to the society.

As the co-founder and CTO of ViitorCloud, a technology company that is always pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence, I have had the privilege of working with some of the brightest minds in the industry. I am also the organizer of Laracon, the leading Laravel community in India.

Charity is an important part of my life, and I strongly believe in contributing to the community. But, I am not all work and no play. In my free time, you can find me riding my Harley, exploring new places, or enjoying parties with my friends. I am a man of energy and surrounded by passionate, happy souls who inspire me to live my life to the fullest.