We are happy to welcome our new 2026 Open Mainframe Project ambassadors! These are a group of committed people who care deeply about sharing and growing the use of mainframe technology in many industries.
The main goal of the Ambassadors Program is to let more people know how they can join the community and help move Open Mainframe Project forward. The new ambassadors come from different parts of the world and work at companies and groups that use mainframe technology. They were chosen for their skills, leadership, and strong support for the Open Mainframe Project’s goals.
These ambassadors have offered to give talks, guide others, look over materials or slides, and write blogs or articles that highlight the Open Mainframe Foundation and its many projects.
We are excited to have this group of people with different skills, experiences, and technical knowledge help grow the Open Mainframe Project around the world.
Here, you will find each ambassador’s personal bio, three fun facts they have shared, and their reason for wanting to be part of the ambassador program.
To see last year’s group, check out the 2025 Open Mainframe Project Ambassadors blog.
Bruno Laurent
With over 25 years of mainframe expertise since 1998, Bruno is passionate about bridging traditional mainframe environments with modern cloud-native technologies. As an Endevor Administrator at Euroclear, I lead modernization initiatives that transform how development teams work with COBOL applications, implementing cutting-edge DevOps practices on z/OS.
“I believe the mainframe’s future lies in open-source collaboration and modern tooling. Technologies like Zowe, GitHub Actions, and containerization are not threats to the mainframe—they’re opportunities to attract new talent and demonstrate that z/OS is a platform for innovation. I’m committed to mentoring the next generation, sharing real-world modernization experiences, and proving that mainframes remain relevant in today’s cloud-first world.”
Three fun facts about Bruno:
- 27 Years and Counting I’ve been in the mainframe world since 1998. That’s longer than some of my colleagues have been alive! I started as an operator when people thought mainframes were “legacy.” Today, I’m proving they’re cutting-edge by running Zowe, integrating with Azure DevOps, and speaking at international conferences. The mainframe didn’t retire; it just got a DevOps degree!
- Dijon: Not Just Mustard! I live in Dijon, France, yes, the mustard capital! While most people associate my city with condiments, I spend my time cooking up COBOL CI/CD pipelines and mainframe modernization recipes. My secret ingredient? A blend of 27-year-old mainframe expertise with fresh cloud-native technologies. Much tastier than mustard, I promise!
- From Hair to There I grew my hair long for several years and donated it to associations that create wigs for cancer patients. Because giving back to the community isn’t just about sharing code and knowledge. Sometimes it’s about sharing what you can grow! (And yes, my colleagues were quite surprised when I showed up with short hair one day!)
Richelle Anne Craw
Richelle Anne Craw is a Software Engineer at Beta Systems Software. She has over 15 years of mainframe experience, including application development in z/OS, business analysis, software consulting, production support, systems operations, software provisioning using z/OSMF, and development for Zowe Explorer. In her current role, she enjoys developing new solutions for modern mainframe developers and advocating for them in her daily work.
“I am passionate about helping people take their first steps into the hybrid space of mainframes and open source tools. I enjoy mentoring and teaching newcomers about Zowe, supporting colleagues learning modern tools, and also sharing real stories about women in mainframe via the Mainframe Coven.”
Three fun facts about Richelle:
- I love traveling and have been to 35 countries and counting.
- I enjoy puzzles, escape rooms, board games, and video games.
- I am an avid reader and plan to complete the Read Around the World Challenge.
Saurabh Banerjee
Saurabh is a senior technology and product leader with over 20 years of experience working across mainframe engineering, platform ownership, and large-scale modernization in highly regulated environments. His journey began hands-on with Mainframe COBOL, JCL, CICS, and DB2, and Mainframe Modernization stuffs like Zowe, Galasa, zOSMF ansible, building and supporting mission-critical systems that power banking financial transactions and platforms—systems where stability, auditability, and trust are non-negotiable.
“As an Ambassador, I want to give back to the community by amplifying OMP initiatives, contributing practical insights from real enterprise modernization programs, and helping make the mainframe more accessible, relevant, and future-ready for both experienced professionals and newcomers alike.”
Three fun facts about Saurabh:
- Formula 1 Enthusiast – I’m a big F1 fan and rarely miss a race. The precision, strategy, and engineering behind Formula 1 racing strongly resonate with how I think about building high-performance technology systems.
- Cycling Explorer – I enjoy cycling through quiet countryside and village roads. It’s my favorite way to disconnect, recharge, and enjoy peaceful surroundings.
- Mainframe Modernization Advocate – I’m passionate about helping engineers and organizations bridge the gap between traditional enterprise systems and modern platforms through DevOps, automation, and modernization architectures.
Sanket Nawale
Sanket is a DevOps and Mainframe enthusiast with a Master’s degree in ICT & Internet Engineering. He is the creator of 8bit Cat (JCLCAT), an open source, web-based JCL validation tool used by thousands of users to validate and improve JCL quality. I actively work at the intersection of modern DevOps practices and IBM Z, focusing on automation, Linux on Z, CI/CD, and open-source enablement for mainframes. I regularly share technical content, hands-on demos, and tools to help students and professionals adopt modern mainframe technologies.
“I want to become an Open Mainframe Project Ambassador to help modernize the perception of mainframes and show that IBM Z is not legacy, but a powerful platform aligned with DevOps, open source, and cloud-native thinking.”
Three fun facts about Sanket:
- My cat Maria is my official coding partner — she supervises every deployment and occasionally walks across the keyboard
- I’m a night owl who runs on Pepsi and late-night coding sessions, chasing my dream of becoming the next Hokage of the mainframe world
- I still love the BlackBerry KEY2 and its physical keyboard — one of my goals is to buy one with my first salary
Victor Taiwo
Victor Taiwo is a Computer Science undergraduate at Northern Illinois University and an IBM Z Student Ambassador specializing in mainframe development and AI-mainframe integration. He is the Founder and Lead Developer of Zcrafter, an AI-powered mainframe terminal emulator built on Open Mainframe Project’s Zowe that helps developers work with COBOL, JCL, and mainframe systems using natural language processing. Victor has extensive experience with z/OS administration, COBOL, JCL, Assembler, and RACF security. He is passionate about modernizing mainframe technology and bridging traditional 3270 interfaces with modern AI capabilities to improve developer efficiency and usability. Through the IBM Z Student Ambassador Program, Victor has organized campus workshops, enabling over 20 students to earn IBM Z certifications, and actively advocates for mainframe technology awareness.
“I want to be an Open Mainframe Project Ambassador because I am passionate about bridging the gap between mainframe technology and modern AI capabilities. Through my work on Zcrafter, built on Open Mainframe Project’s Zowe, I have experienced firsthand how open source mainframe projects can transform developer experiences and drive innovation in the mainframe ecosystem.”
Three fun facts about Victor:
- I’m building Zcrafter to modernize mainframe development.
- I love exploring new AI tools.
- I’m a huge fan of classic sci-fi films.
