From Oracle ACE Associate to Oracle ACE Pro: A Personal Milestone

I am delighted to share that I have recently been promoted from Oracle ACE Associate to Oracle ACE Pro in Oracle’s prestigious ACE Program.

The Oracle ACE Program recognises members of the Oracle community who actively contribute through knowledge sharing, advocacy, mentoring, speaking, blogging, and supporting fellow Oracle professionals around the world. Advancing to Oracle ACE Pro is a significant milestone and reflects years of commitment to the Oracle community both in New Zealand and internationally.

My journey with Oracle technologies spans many years, and during that time I have been fortunate to work with incredible colleagues, customers, and community members who share a passion for innovation and continuous learning. Through my involvement with NZOUG, conference presentations, webinars, blog writing, social media engagement, and community leadership, I have had the opportunity to contribute back to the ecosystem that has provided so much value throughout my career.

As President of the New Zealand Oracle Users Group (NZOUG), community engagement has become an important part of my professional journey. Over the past year, I have enjoyed helping organise webinars, supporting local and international speakers, promoting Oracle technology developments, and encouraging collaboration among Oracle professionals across New Zealand and beyond.

The promotion to Oracle ACE Pro is not only a personal achievement but also a reflection of the strength of the NZOUG community. Every webinar attendee, event speaker, blog reader, volunteer, and community supporter plays a role in creating a vibrant Oracle ecosystem in New Zealand.

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Oracle, the Oracle ACE Program team, my colleagues, fellow ACEs, and the NZOUG community for their ongoing support and encouragement. Community is at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition would not have been possible without the many people who have contributed to my journey.

Looking ahead, I remain committed to supporting the Oracle community through continued advocacy, knowledge sharing, mentoring, speaking engagements, and helping NZOUG grow its reach and impact. With Oracle continuing to innovate in areas such as AI, cloud infrastructure, data platforms, and application development, there has never been a more exciting time to be part of the Oracle ecosystem.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey so far. I look forward to continuing to learn, share, and contribute as an Oracle ACE Pro.

Ngā mihi nui,

Chad Wappes

President, NZOUG

Oracle ACE Pro