Sharkfest
- naome mathieu
- Apr 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 25
Back in October 2023, I attended SharkFest Europe in Brussels as a Women in Tech scholarship recipient. The scholarship covered one training course and full access to the conference — and wow, what an experience it was.
As part of the scholarship, I took a two-day course titled Next Generation Protocols & Advanced Network Analysis taught by the incredible Phil Shade. Phil is insightful, and so well rounded. He walked us through analyzing infected malware network packets, which was both eerie and fascinating. Everyone in the class received a folder packed with resources and all the content covered. Phil’s passion for network analysis really set the tone for the rest of the week.
SharkFest Conference Highlights
After the courses, the main conference kicked off. This was the first self-hosted SharkFest Europe, and it did not disappoint. There were numerous briefings to attend, each one more compelling than the last.
Some of my personal highlights included:
"Bake Your Own Pi: Building a TLS Decrypting Wireless Traffic Sniffer" by Ross Bagurdes
"Weird Captures, What Can You Do?" by André Luyer
"Multicast & Broadcast Reconnaissance - What Can a Hacker Learn From Your Packets?" by Betty DuBois
Getting to sit in rooms with experts like Betty, Ross, and André was wild. Each session offered insights that I’m still unpacking months later. ( Get it, haha un pack... packet...nevermind)
The Keynote: Lessons from Gerald Combs
The conference opened with a keynote from none other than Gerald Combs, the creator of Wireshark, along with the core developers. Gerald’s talk on the theme of “how did we get here?” was moving. He spoke openly about the mistakes he's made throughout his career, and how those missteps were stepping stones in his journey.
It was a powerful reminder that growth often comes from failure, and hearing that from someone so iconic in the field? Invaluable.
The Packet Challenge
On the final day, there was a multi-tiered packet analysis challenge. We were grouped up and had to analyze a pcap file to solve a complex scenario. It was hard as hell, and honestly, my teammates deserve way more credit — but we pulled through and landed in third place!
The teamwork, stress, laughter, and sheer brainpower in that room.. priceless.
A Heartfelt Community
One of the things that stood out most was the tight-knit, welcoming community. I met so many amazing people, from Sheri (a pivotal force in organizing these events) to the brilliant devs like Roland and Peter. I felt seen, supported, and inspired.
This was hands down my favorite conference I've ever attended. It wasn’t the biggest, but it had the most heart.
Exploring Brussels
Outside of the conference, I got a chance to explore Brussels — and let me tell you, it’s got this dark, moody beauty that I adored. The gothic architecture, the cobbled streets, and the diversity of people made it such a vibe.
I found time to wander into local thrift stores and soak in the city’s charm between sessions. My mom came along as my travel companion, and it was such a treat to have her join me for the final days.
Final Thoughts: Apply for the Scholarship!
If you're a woman in tech, please apply for the SharkFest scholarship. And honestly, if you're even remotely interested in network analysis or packet work — go to this conference, whether it’s in the U.S. or overseas.
You won’t just leave with technical knowledge — you’ll leave with community.
Fun fact: I also got a signed copy of Interconnections: Bridges, Routers, Switches, and Internetworking Protocols by Radia Perlman!
Useful Links & Resources
🎥 SharkFest Videos
SharkFest Official YouTube Channel
Explore sessions, talks, and interviews from past conferences.
What to Expect at SharkFest (feat. me! 😉)I was interviewed in this one — check it out!
SharkFest’23 EUROPE Retrospective
See Gerards Keynote: https://sharkfest.wireshark.org/retrospective/sfeu/sf23eu/
p.s. don't judge my very very bad hair day in the photo with Gerard and Ronald lol.
Comments