Program Chair
The Future Needs Testing
The intelligence to act. The judgment to question.
Meet the Program Chair
Program Chair, ISTC 2027
Richard “Richie” Seidl
Richard “Richie” Seidl is a software quality coach, author, podcast host and international speaker. His work connects practical testing and quality engineering with the people and collaboration that make them effective.
Richard “Richie” Seidl is a software quality coach, author, podcast host and international keynote speaker. With more than 25 years in IT, he has worked with teams in a range of industries to improve testing, quality practices and the way people work together.
Richie’s perspective brings technical experience and human skills into the same conversation. He writes and speaks about software testing, automation, agile ways of working and the role of people in creating quality. He was also a speaker at ISTC 2025 and ISTC 2026.
As Program Chair, he will work with the ISTC 2027 Program Committee to shape a programme that values clear thinking, useful experience and a wide range of voices.
Message from the Program Chair
Dear testing and quality community,
Our theme, The Future Needs Testing, brings together the intelligence to act and the judgment to question. Software gives us remarkable possibilities, and each new possibility brings questions about how we understand, test and trust the systems we create. AI makes those questions even more interesting. It also reminds us how much quality depends on curiosity, communication and the decisions people make together.
For ISTC 2027, I would love to hear what you have learned in your own context. Tell us about a technique you tried, an assumption you challenged, a difficult decision or a result that surprised you. Share the details and limitations that will help others judge how your experience might apply to their work.
Whether this would be your first conference presentation or one of many, your perspective is welcome. The committee looks forward to reading your proposals and building a programme that starts useful conversations in Istanbul and continues long after the event.
Richard “Richie” SeidlProgram Chair, ISTC 2027
The Program Committee
The ISTC 2027 Program Committee brings together practitioners with different perspectives on software testing and quality. Together, the committee will shape a programme that values clear thinking, useful experience and a wide range of voices.
Elif Gürcüoğlu is a Delivery Director at adesso Türkiye, where she leads the successful delivery of projects for global clients.
With extensive experience in the IT industry, Elif has held roles in requirements engineering, product management and quality assurance. This end-to-end perspective informs her work on how AI and agentic approaches are transforming the software development lifecycle, from requirements and test design to automation and delivery governance.
Her experience spans delivery strategy, test organization, solution design and the development of AI-enabled service offerings. She leads teams in turning transformation into measurable improvements in quality, speed and trust in software delivery.
Elif is also an active member of the international testing community and has spoken at leading testing conferences.
Rik Marselis is a Principal Quality Consultant at Sogeti Netherlands, with over 40 years in IT and 25 years specializing in quality engineering and testing. A dynamic presenter, trainer, author, and coach, he has empowered numerous organizations with practical tools and insights. Accredited in TMAP, ISTQB, and TPI, Rik co-authored “Quality for DevOps Teams” and “Testing in the Digital Age – AI Makes the Difference,” contributing significantly to www.TMAP.net.
Honored with the ISTQB Software Testing Excellence Award (2022) and EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award (2023), Rik is a global speaker, having keynoted at ISTC 2024 and EuroSTAR eight times. As ISTC 2025 Program Chair, he leads a tutorial on Day 1 and delivers the opening keynote on Day 2, blending his GenAI expertise with hands-on quality engineering guidance.
Honored with the ISTQB Software Testing Excellence Award (2022) and EuroSTAR Testing Excellence Award (2023), Rik is a global speaker, having keynoted at ISTC 2024 and EuroSTAR eight times. As ISTC 2025 Program Chair, he leads a tutorial on Day 1 and delivers the opening keynote on Day 2, blending his GenAI expertise with hands-on quality engineering guidance.
Vildan Turnalar İnal has approximately 25 years of experience in the technology sector, working across finance, telecommunications and retail. Her background spans software quality and testing, IT governance and process management, the software development lifecycle, agile management, IT risk and compliance, and leadership.
Throughout her career, Vildan has developed a strong interest in how technology organizations work and how they can improve their outcomes.
She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Computer Engineering, where her research focuses on how artificial intelligence is changing software engineering practices and the competencies engineers need. Alongside her academic work, she provides consulting and training.
Outside her professional and academic life, Vildan enjoys spending time in nature, has a fondness for animals, and follows a variety of art forms and sports.
