Axel got in contact with Linux end of 1992, while it was still experimental (Kernel 0.9x). Complete migration to S.u.S.E. 5.3 end of the 90's, after is became obvious that the previously used OS/2 has no future. Focus was the use of OpenSource in business and on the Desktop: Next to his 'Linux on a ThinkPad' Website, lauched in 2001 (http://www.axxite.com/brn), SAP's Linux-plans were analyzed (R/3 auf Linux – Vollmundiges Marketing, halbherziger Support, Computerwoche 34/1999) and the experiences made in running the own company on Linux were reported on a Conference (OpenSource meets Business Conference January 2007). Axel is member of the openSUSE project board and maintains various packages, like hylafax+, the Tryton ERP System, GNU Health and the GNU Health Live CD.

Neal is a developer and contributor in Fedora, Mageia, and openSUSE, focusing primarily on the base Linux system components, such as package and software management. He's a big believer in "upstream first", which has led him all over the open source world.

Linux user since 1998, openSUSE Forums Team, openSUSE Board Member

I am a Software Engineer based in Australia, I have been working on openSUSE for 6 years maintaining the Enlightenment desktop and several other packages, I have also been active in the community both on IRC and mailing lists, in more recent times I have also become a member of the package review team. I have spent the last year working at SUSE as a packager and outside of this have interests in topics such as desktop design as well as robotics and electronics.

Gerald has a long history in open source software starting before that term was coined and still contributes to key projects such as GCC, LibreOffice, and Wine - and openSUSE of course. He's using Tumbleweed and LibreOffice on his notebook every day and dislikes breaking software, but still does so on a regular base and is most grateful to openQA for keeping him safe.

As CTO at SUSE Dr. Gerald Pfeifer leverages his deep understanding of infrastructure software, developers and open source ecosystems, and their respective business and technology aspects to help articulate, drive and promote SUSE's technology vision. He engages with customers, partners and open source communities along the way and chairs the board of openSUSE.