July 31, 2025 — 84% of company codebases contained at least one vulnerability in the open-source software used, and 74% of them contains high-risk vulnerabilities, according to Synopsys’s ninth edition of the annual “Open Source Security and Risk Analysis” report. As organizations increasingly rely on AI models to identify and manage security risks in their systems, a critical question arises: how can we be sure these systems are making informed data-driven decisions, especially when the stakes are high? While AI excels at identifying potential risks, many machine learning models operate as ‘black boxes,’ flagging anomalies without clear explanations. When an AI flags a critical vulnerability, we need to understand why. What specific patterns triggered the alert? Are there more critical, overlooked issues? Thus, it’s vital to build transparency within systems for effective incident response, system optimization, and, ultimately, establishing confidence in AI-driven security. This talk will teach us how explainable AI techniques can illuminate these ‘black box’ decisions through real-world use cases within WordPress ecosystem. We’ll learn strategies to build transparent, trustworthy, and resilient AI security systems for WordPress! The key takeaways from this talk would be : Understand practical strategies to enhance explainability, ensuring AI-driven security decisions are actionable and trustworthy within the WordPress ecosystem via live-demo and sample code. Learn how explainable AI techniques can help security teams understand “why” behind the black-box models and anomalies detected within WordPress plugins, themes, and custom code.

July 31, 2025 — AI is changing the way agencies work! From CEOs to project managers to employees, everyone can leverage AI to work faster and more efficiently. Managing an agency comes with challenges—whether you’re a consultant, agency owner, CEO, or CXO. But AI can simplify operations, reduce manual work, and help you scale smarter. In this session, I will cover: How AI automates repetitive tasks, freeing up your time Smarter project management with AI-driven insights Faster proposal creation and seamless contract signing Intelligent performance analytics to optimize your agency’s growth

July 31, 2025 — Learn how site audits can help your client save money, make maintenance easier, and improve how website functions. I’ll share real-life examples, including how my client was able to cut their hosting costs by 70% while handling five times more traffic without any issues. I’ll talk about simple steps you can take to find problems and make your website more efficient, even when it gets busier. You’ll walk away with practical tips that you can use to keep website running well and save on costs.

July 29, 2025 — Join us for the opening session of the Summer Photo Contest, a global event organized by the Quedadas WordPress official meetup group. The contest invites you to share your best summer-themed photos — vacation, sunshine, nature, camping, or anything that captures the feeling of summer.

All submitted photos will be published in the WordPress Photo Directory, a library of openly licensed images that anyone can use. It’s a great way to contribute to WordPress, support open content, and share your perspective with the world.

Presentation Slides »

July 25, 2025 — In this session, we will explore practical ways to implement accessibility best practices without hiring a consultant. We’ll start by addressing why accessibility is important for every website. Then, we’ll identify factors that prevent website owners from reducing accessibility barriers. Finally, we’ll cover how to find and address the most common accessibility issues.

Attendees will have opportunities to ask questions about strategy and implementation. The session will include a digital worksheet to help attendees follow through on their accessibility goals.

July 25, 2025 — In 2019 Allie Nimmons and Michelle Frechette grew tired of people constantly asking if they knew any black people who could speak at events or be guests on podcasts. So they set out to create a spreadsheet of folks that they knew in the WordPress space.

But about 20 rows into that Google sheet, they realized that it would be a herculean effort to reach out to each of those people on a regular basis to make sure they were still available and interested in being contacted. There was also no way to include people they didn’t know. And that limiting such an endeavor to one group of underrepresented people was shortsighted.

So Underrepresented in Tech was born.

In the almost five years since the database was published, the project has grown to include a podcast and webinars. There have been racist rants and online attacks, but there have also been gratitude and acclaim for the work that’s been done.

This session will talk about the WHY, the HOW, and the HOPES associated with Underrepresented in Tech. Attendees will leave with an understanding of how each of us can make a difference for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

July 25, 2025 — In an AI-driven world, the role of a WordPress developer is rapidly changing. This session explores the current challenges and opportunities for developers, emphasizing the shift from coding to becoming a solution provider. We’ll discuss how to make your skills relevant by addressing what businesses truly want, future-proofing your career, and carving a unique path that AI cannot easily replace. Learn practical strategies to position yourself as an indispensable problem-solver rather than just a code implementer. Stay ahead of the curve and thrive in the AI-powered landscape.

July 25, 2025 — AI in 2025 is many things: a buzzword, a threat, a savior – but pragmatically, it is a tool. Join PMC’s Director of Content Performance and Analytics as he shares how we’re thinking about AI and it’s utility in publishing, content, and data analysis.

What We’ll Cover:

What AI can and cannot do.
Practical and ethical use cases for AI in publishing.
Identifying what AI can do for you as a site.
We will have a Q&A, so please submit your questions and come ready with them!

July 25, 2025 — Ready to level up your WordPress career? In this session, we’ll outline the key steps to advance in WordPress development, whether you’re focused on design, development, or content management. You’ll learn which skills are essential to master—like theme and plugin development, SEO, security, and user experience—and how to build the practical experience needed to succeed.

We’ll also cover the mindset and habits that can accelerate your growth, from cultivating a learning-driven approach to staying adaptable in an ever-changing field. Plus, we’ll explore effective networking strategies to help you connect with mentors, peers, and potential collaborators, getting you closer to your career goals.

To ensure you’re on the cutting edge, we’ll dive into the latest technologies, including headless WordPress, AI-driven tools, and Gutenberg block development, giving you the tools to stay ahead in the digital landscape.

July 25, 2025 — In this session, Lucas Alvarado, Digital Project Manager and WordPress security expert, shares real-world experiences of website breaches and the critical lessons learned. With WordPress being a frequent target for cyberattacks, securing your site is not optional—it’s essential.

We’ll explore:
The most common vulnerabilities in WordPress, including outdated plugins, weak passwords, and insecure hosting.
What happens when hackers infiltrate a site—ransomware, malware, SEO spam, and data theft.
Best practices for securing WordPress, from implementing security plugins to setting up 2FA, database hardening, and preventing brute force attacks.
How to automate security updates, monitor threats, and ensure regular backups for disaster recovery.

By the end of this session, you’ll have actionable steps to fortify your WordPress site and protect it from evolving security threats.