✨ Getting to know the wonderful Continuous Delivery Community
Name: Jing Chen
Pronouns: She/Her
Location: London, United Kingdom
Who are you?
I’m a programme and project management professional based in London, with a background in digital transformation, DevSecOps, automation, and technology delivery in financial services. Throughout my career, I’ve led global engineering teams, large-scale infrastructure and transformation programmes, and initiatives focused on improving resilience, efficiency, and delivery quality.
More recently, I’ve also been investing time in open source, machine learning, and community work. I’m an active contributor to the Ortelius open source project, and I’m involved with the Continuous Delivery Foundation as a Program Committee Member for cdCon 2026. I enjoy bringing together my experience in programme leadership with hands-on curiosity about emerging technologies, especially where AI/ML and modern delivery practices can create practical value.
I’ve also lived and worked across three continents, which has shaped my perspective and strengthened my ability to collaborate across cultures and communities. I enjoy connecting people, ideas, and technology to create positive change.
Your hobbies?
I enjoy a mix of tech and non-tech hobbies. In tech, I like learning about machine learning and AI, experimenting with new ideas, and contributing to open source projects like Ortelius. I also enjoy writing, documentation, and community-related work because they help make technology more accessible to others.
Outside of tech, I enjoy exploring entrepreneurship and building my online skincare retail business. I find it fascinating to work on customer experience, branding, and continuous improvement from a completely different perspective.
I also love reading, travelling, exploring different cultures and cuisines, and discovering new places. In my free time, I enjoy recharging with good food, light exercise, and quality time with family and friends.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist or historian. I was fascinated by history and loved the idea of uncovering stories from the past. I’ve always been naturally curious and enjoyed understanding how things worked, whether in history or in everyday life. Looking back, that same curiosity and love of discovery probably led me to a career in technology.
What led you to a career in tech?
I was drawn to tech because I enjoyed solving problems and improving the way people work. I started from a software engineering background and gradually moved into larger roles across infrastructure, DevOps, programme delivery, and transformation. What kept me in tech was the fact that it is always evolving. There is always something new to learn, whether that is delivery methods, cloud, automation, or now AI and machine learning.
I also like that tech is not only about systems. It is about people, collaboration, and creating better outcomes at scale. That combination has kept my work interesting throughout my career.
Do you remember your first open source contribution?
Co-authored blogs.
How did you get involved in the Continuous Delivery Foundation?
Tracy Ragan strongly encouraged us to apply for a role on the Program Committee Member for cdCon 2026.
What’s your favourite thing/project/tech to work on?
The thing I’m most proud of is getting back into coding and contributing to open source after not doing it for many years. Over the last year, I pushed myself to become technically active again, contribute consistently, and reconnect with a part of my career that I had not used in a long time.
That journey meant a lot to me because coming back after such a long break was not easy. I had to relearn, adapt, and rebuild my confidence. Being awarded several Ortelius badges, including Champion, Legend, and Ambassador recognition, made that journey feel real. Those badges were meaningful because they showed that my contributions were valued by the community.
More than the awards themselves, I’m proud of what they represent: persistence, growth, and the willingness to start again. For me, this was about proving that it is never too late to contribute, learn new things, and make a difference.
Tell us about the thing you’re most proud of and why?
One of the things I’m most proud of is helping build the Ortelius open source community, not just the technology, but the people who make the project thrive.
Open source can be an incredibly powerful way to innovate, but historically, it hasn’t always been the most welcoming place for everyone. Women in particular are still significantly underrepresented in open-source projects. From the beginning of Ortelius, I made a conscious effort to change that dynamic by encouraging women to participate, contribute, and step into leadership roles within the community.
Over time, that effort has paid off in ways that mean more to me than any technical milestone. We now have an amazing group of women who contribute to Ortelius in meaningful ways, writing code, producing documentation, leading outreach, organizing events, and helping shape the direction of the project. They’ve become an integral part of the community and the culture we’ve built.
Seeing these contributors grow in confidence, influence, and leadership has been incredibly rewarding. Open source works best when it reflects the diversity of the people who rely on the technology.
For me, the Ortelius community proves that when you intentionally create space for people to participate, great things happen, for the project and for the people involved.
What is the best connection you’ve made through open source?
One of the best things about open source is the people. For me, the most valuable connections have been the people who are generous with their time, willing to share knowledge, and committed to building something bigger than themselves. My connections through the Ortelius and broader continuous delivery community have been especially meaningful because they combine technical collaboration with mentorship, encouragement, and friendship.
What is your #1 tip for getting involved in the community?
Just get involved. Listen, learn, and see where you can contribute. You do not need to start with a big technical contribution — small, consistent steps matter. Whether it is documentation, reviewing, organising ideas, giving feedback, helping with outreach, or simply showing up regularly, every contribution counts. Open source communities grow through participation, and once people see your genuine interest and reliability, more opportunities naturally follow.
What’s your favourite open source conference?
I haven’t attended one in person yet, but cdCon is at the top of my list. I’m especially drawn to it because it brings together people focused on delivery, DevOps, and practical software improvement. I also value open source communities like Ortelius, where I’ve been involved in discussions and planning around events and collaboration. What appeals to me most about conferences like cdCon is that the conversations are grounded in real systems, real challenges, and shared learning. I really enjoy conferences where the discussions are not just theoretical, but focused on real challenges, real systems, and real community collaboration.
Connect with Jing
More from Jing
She was part of the Program Committee that curated the program for cdCon 2026, happening May 18-19 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Check out the program
