Who are the people powering the world’s data centers? Inside Data Centre Podcast is a podcast about the global data center industry, focused on the careers, companies, and conversations shaping modern digital infrastructure. Hosted by Andy Davis, the podcast features interviews with data center professionals, investors, operators, vendors, and industry leaders from around the world. Each episode explores how people enter the data center sector, how their careers develop, and the challenges facing data centers as demand for cloud, AI, and connectivity continues to accelerate. Covering hyperscale, colocation, operations, sustainability, and skills, Inside Data Centre Podcast is essential listening for anyone working in, or looking to work in, the data center industry.
In the sixth episode of our series recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes, Andy Davis is once again joined by co-host Rory Flashman from Spa Communications for a special episode reflecting on the event itself.
Joining the conversation:
Annabel Helm, Managing Director, Datacloud
Leanne Starace, Senior Vice President, Equinix
Together, they discuss the scale, impact and continued growth of Datacloud Global Congress, which welcomed 6,500 attendees, 7,000 registrations and almost 3,000 CEOs on site in 2026.
The conversation explores how the event has evolved into one of the most influential meeting points for the global data centre industry, bringing together operators, investors, developers, hyperscalers, suppliers, policymakers, finance leaders and new stakeholders from across the digital infrastructure ecosystem.
Annabel shares how Datacloud has grown while maintaining its focus on influence, impact and high-quality networking, with new companies, new sectors and new decision-makers joining the conversation. Leanne also discusses the value of the event from an operator perspective, highlighting the importance of collaboration, transparent dialogue, innovation and deal-making across the industry.
The episode also looks at the biggest themes from the show, including power, investment, nuclear, talent, community, AI, liquid cooling and the increasing importance of education as new sectors and stakeholders engage with the data centre market.
Recorded live at Datacloud Global Congress 2026 in Cannes.
Key Topics:
The scale of Datacloud Global Congress 2026 and its continued growth.
Why the event is focused on influence and impact, not just size.
How the show brings together the full data centre ecosystem.
The importance of transparent conversations around power, talent, investment and community.
Why new stakeholders, including nuclear and finance leaders, are now part of the data centre conversation.
How events like Datacloud help educate emerging sectors on digital infrastructure.
The value of networking, collaboration and deal-making on the show floor.
Equinix’s perspective on global growth, customer engagement and AI-ready infrastructure.
Why talent development and early-career engagement remain critical to the industry’s future.
How Datacloud is evolving for 2027, including expanded stages, new formats and more speakers.
Why the data centre industry is no longer “the best industry nobody has heard of”.
Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at Datacloud Global Congress 2026, why the event has become such an important platform for the global data centre industry, and what its growth says about the future of digital infrastructure.
The Inside Data Centre Podcast is recorded in partnership with DataX Connect, a specialist data centre recruitment company based in the UK. They operate on a global scale to place passionate individuals at the heart of leading data centre companies.
To learn more about Andy Davis and the rest of the DataX team, click here: DataX Connect
SPEAKER_01
The data centre industry is moving faster than ever, and behind the scenes, some seriously smart people are making it all happen. Welcome to the Inside Data Centre podcast, where we dive into the stories, insights, and innovations driving real change across the industry. From hyperscale campuses to game-changing technologies, we're talking to the people shaping the future of digital infrastructure. Whether you live and breathe data centres or just want to understand what's powering our connected world, you're in the right place. So we are back.
SPEAKER_03
Back for the penultimate episode of the Inside Data Centre Times Data Cloud podcast. Thank you for having us, Annabelle. It has been amazing. Today's episode, we are going to talk about the show. Uh-huh. Highlights from the event. But before we get into it, maybe we just do a quick intro for anyone who doesn't know you.
SPEAKER_04
Perfect, yes. My name is Annabel Helm. I'm the managing director for Data Cloud. And it's been a total bloody team effort this week, this year, these next last 18 months. And I couldn't be prouder actually of what the TV called off.
SPEAKER_03
And Leanne, off you, pleasure to be here with you.
SPEAKER_00
Thank you so much. Yeah, my name is Leanne Storacci. I'm the senior vice president at Equinix, which is a global data center operator. And this is my fourth show at Data Cloud in Cannes. And the largest one, it's incredibly impressive to see how this event has grown and what HIDA it's become.
SPEAKER_03
Couldn't agree more. Couldn't agree more.
SPEAKER_02
And I'm back with my delightful customer. And I'm Andy Davis, yeah, still here. Still here. Sunglasses on. It's the last day, it's Thursday. You're just being consistent now. I'm very tired. Cam Croak is here, but we're we're good to go.
SPEAKER_03
We are good to go. Sandabel, I'm gonna come straight to you. Yeah. Let's get into the data. Let's get into the stats. How big has this year's show been? How many people have come through the doors?
SPEAKER_04
So we've had six and a half thousand people in through the doors, seven thousand registrations. And what I love about this, and because I know we talked about this last year, is that we never wanted to be the biggest. It was more about influence and impact. Um I I got the team to do kind of a little bit of stats. So out of those, kind of that extra growth, we've actually got over a thousand more CEOs on site this year. So last year we had 1800 CEOs on site. This year we've got just like 3,000 CEOs on site out of six and a half thousand people, and that's just CEOs, not president, money, directors, you know, and and and and right. So that's really exciting for us. Terrifying because it means there's a lot of very important people here. So from a duty of care perspective, you don't want to be dropping any balls, and I'm sure we have. Pressures on, but it is really exciting. I mean, it's yeah, I'm very happy.
SPEAKER_02
And I always say it shows the growth of the industry, doesn't it? Like if you've like yourself, you've been to four, you see that every year you come here, you're in you live and breathe this industry day to day, and you don't you know it's grown, but you don't appreciate it. Then you come somewhere like this and you see the scale and the growth and new people, new faces, which is brilliant for the industry as well.
SPEAKER_04
630 new companies this year that we didn't have last year. Like that that's a lot. I mean, a normal conference to have 630 companies in and of itself is a lot.
SPEAKER_03
Yeah, that is absolutely incredible. That really does demonstrate the growth. And and in terms of conversations, Leanne, I'm gonna come straight to you with this. What have been the biggest conversations you've been having during the show? Power, investment, people, community.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, yeah, I'd say all of the above, you know, as as Annabelle was mentioning, just the caliber of decision makers and influencers in our industry who are present at the show, it's really unlike any other gathering in the technology industry. And, you know, the very transparent conversations, collaborative conversations about, you know, how we're operating and building, not just today for the future, concerns that the industry has about resources, power, the way that communities think about us, and the way that we need to, you know, invest in that perception, the way we're thinking about talent in our industry, and the way that we need to think about investments and return on investments, and also innovation. So really great dialogues that are happening and actually deals that are getting done right here on the floor.
SPEAKER_02
And I think the the what you've what we've got here is the ecosystem, isn't it, of the industry where you can have all those conversations because you do have the full spectrum of the ecosystem of the industry from the investors, the funds, the developers, the operators, the products, the contractors. They're all here. So companies like yourselves can have those conversations with your supply chain, with your investors, with potential customers and get deals done. It's difficult to get deals done because everyone's so spread, but when they're all together, you can do it. Yep.
SPEAKER_04
It is interesting. I suppose two kind of case in points for that. So we've just come from the Nuclear Grey Eye Summit, right? Nuclear is a thing. And you know, I think a lot of J Centers and SMRs, that is maybe broadly understood. But to have people here, like Eurenko, for example, at a data center conference, I mean, who would have thought a fuel enrichment company would be here? And they are, and they play a critical part in terms of fuel availability if we are to deliver nuclear as a promise for AI. Or at the Investment and Finance Forum on Tuesday, what we did differently there was really focus the conversation not so much around what our industry financing needs are, but what would the limited partners need to know when they're deploying that amount of capital and especially capital that's coming from pension funds or public money into our industry because there is so much growth? With growth comes risk, there comes opportunity, all of that stuff. But that's very interesting to have that number of kind of limited partners actually on site at a data center conference, as opposed to a super return or a financing conference, and that's a real sea change. And this is where we work really hard to make sure that we're bringing in those new different stakeholders, and then it holds handing handholding them a little bit, right? There's a reason why we did Nuclear today, is because a lot of people say, you know, the people who are building Size Well C or Hinkley are here, they don't know anything about the data centers. So we've spent the last couple of days walking them around, giving them exposure to what we do, what our industry is, so that when it comes to bringing it all together, that everybody's coming from a place of similar knowledge, if that makes sense.
SPEAKER_03
Providing that education to the attendees who don't really know enough.
SPEAKER_04
Right.
SPEAKER_03
It's interesting.
SPEAKER_02
What what have you in your personal highlights? My highlight, your team just Louis just asked me what my highlight was. We'll say the people. Like I think this industry is just full of amazing people, and it's great to just meet people that either you know or new people. But any personal highlights from the last three or four days, depending on how long you've been here?
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, no, I've been here since the beginning. I I think uh the networking opportunities here are just incredible. The and uh the openness of people to have dialogues and introduce themselves and show up to the variety of events. Um, and also the app that uh is provided to us really allows us to find the right people who are here, set up meetings, is incredibly convenient. And so you really get a great uh value for every moment that you're here and can can uh network and collaborate. And also the panel sessions have been extraordinary. Just the level of talent and expertise and the sharing and collaboration that's happened there on multiple stages. Um, it's hard to make it to everything. But I've learned a lot and also, you know, um found new networking partners that are going to serve me in my current and future business needs that I I couldn't have access to anywhere else but at this show.
SPEAKER_03
That's phenomenal. Yeah. How about you, Annabelle?
SPEAKER_04
Oh gosh. I mean, all of the things. I mean, the people, right, is is always a thing. Cause I mean, a lot of us have been kicking around this industry in various different corners for longer than I would like to admit. Um, and it's so lovely, kind of seeing those familiar faces, meeting new people. You get you get such a buzz. Yeah. And then obviously I'm a massive geek, so it's about the content and the thought leadership and really being able to sit in and the privilege actually to be able to share these insights or hear these insights from people who are not just changing the direction of our industry, but actually really of societies as a whole. You know, what we do is critical. And what not what I do, but what you guys do. I mean, it's incredible, right? And what a privilege to actually even share a share stage with these people.
SPEAKER_03
The best industry that nobody's ever heard of. Well, they have now.
SPEAKER_04
Yeah, it's true.
SPEAKER_03
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Especially if we go for this.
SPEAKER_00
We're not a secret anymore.
SPEAKER_04
Worst kept secret. I mean, probably four years ago when we met, nobody knew. I mean, I don't think my friends knew what a data center was. Now they're on the news all the time. Everyone knows.
SPEAKER_02
You just got to change, just got to change the conversation, make sure it's on the news for the right reasons.
SPEAKER_04
For the right reasons.
SPEAKER_02
But that's what I know.
SPEAKER_03
That's on us. Definitely, definitely. I couldn't agree more with you about uh about the people. It's definitely been a massive highlight for me. Like seeing people that I've been trying to catch up with for like six months or so and just up passing ships, everyone, one place, one time, all together, and you're gonna literally like just have that major moment and brings the event to life.
SPEAKER_04
I think let's not forget Lenny Kravitz either.
SPEAKER_02
And I saw a Data Four did a drone show last night. I just met they were just showing me the video. I missed it somehow, but they did a drone show top 10 last night, yeah. 20th anniversary drone show. Incredible.
SPEAKER_00
It is incredible.
SPEAKER_02
I was gonna say one thing I think you do really well as well, is obviously of many things, is bringing young people, young talent here, and seeing that because I did a panel and some of the some of the young talent that's you know, they're here, you're you're you're basic, they're they're free to be here. People are showing them around, they're mentoring them because that yeah, we all know how we need more people. That also is how we change conversation and get the correct messaging out there by speaking to them and bringing them to events. So well done for that.
SPEAKER_04
Exactly. Yeah, that the talent and digital infrastructure program, something we've invested in now for quite a few years, and it is really important. And what I love is actually, we now have alumni from three years ago who are coming back kind of as a mentor to say, since this is what's happened to me in the last three years, you know, and obviously not just from these three days, but from the connections that you make, and you get out what you put in as well. And it the mentors are so good at telling them what to say, how to adjust their CV, what they should be looking at, you know, cut the bullshit, straight to the point, sell yourselves, you know.
SPEAKER_02
Immersive. You know, all of that. Oh, yeah. They do ask me for advice on branding.
SPEAKER_00
I'm sure they do.
SPEAKER_02
I'm happy to help. Anyone out there?
SPEAKER_00
You can see so much opportunity here as a new to career person, like all of the different diversity of career paths that are present in this one location, plus so much energy and so much investment and such a long future pathway. I mean, it's I've if I were new to career, I'd I think it's overwhelming and exciting all at the same time.
SPEAKER_03
I love that. Yeah, I love that. So, Annabelle, uh last year, big theme for the event was the the conference where business gets done.
SPEAKER_04
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03
And a lot of business got done here last year. Uh, there's probably lots you can't talk about, but is there any news out of the event that you can share?
SPEAKER_04
Oh, do you know what? I'm actually I'm actually not going to because there is so much, and I don't want to play favourite.
SPEAKER_02
I've heard some very big deals. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04
Well, as you go for it, and depending.
SPEAKER_02
No, I'm not gonna announce, but I know because I haven't actually looked at any news for the whole week. So I don't know what's been announced and what has it, but there's some really big news coming in the IT.
SPEAKER_04
There's lots, and our ME MOU signing stage has just been crazy. I mean, it's you know, that there is so much happening. I mean, yeah, the the the numbers of zeros are just boggling, not just in uh gigawatts, but in dollars, pounds, euros.
SPEAKER_03
And how about you, Leanne? Any any news you can share is it's all under wraps for now?
SPEAKER_00
Well, no, I think there are some really exciting public things that Equinix has been talking about. Uh we operate more than 270 data centers around the world, and we have an investment strategy which we call Build Boulder, where we have over 50 active projects. So our expansion potential is just incredible. And the number of clients we serve, over 14,000 service provider, hyperscale enterprise clients, many of whom are present here at this show. So it's a great opportunity for us to get to collaborate and meet with them, but also enhancements that we've announced with uh fabric intelligence, which allows all of these companies to connect to one another within our ecosystem and advancements in liquid cooling for our AI ready data center. So we talked about all of those things this week and uh made a lot of great progress with our partners because many of the companies that make that possible are exhibiting and participating in the show uh as well. It has been.
SPEAKER_02
So it's busy.
SPEAKER_00
Yes, it's super busy.
SPEAKER_02
Yeah, we've all been busy, Roy. We've been pretty busy. We have true, true, yeah. Well done to you. And and lots of people have been talking to me about new locations as well. Like I've heard Finland gets mentioned all the time in Europe, yeah, the US, new states, uh, Central America. I was talking to investors about platforms in Central America, and I think one thing that I've seen change and evolve is that is the the investment is not centric to certain regions anymore. You're talking this is a a truly global industry, and I think you've probably seen it, it's a truly global conference now. Like it is there's people here from everywhere, which is great. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_04
It's great.
SPEAKER_03
So on that note, last question then. Everyone is already starting about next year. Uh-huh. What's on the horizon? You reveal anything.
SPEAKER_04
Can I reveal anything? Yes, I can reveal things. So uh well, our dates is broadly the same as we have this year, so 31st till 2nd of June. Perfect. We're moving to a Wednesday till Friday.
SPEAKER_03
Okay.
SPEAKER_04
Because it's Memorial Day on the Monday in the US. We want to make sure that everybody's got the opportunity to come. Plus, it's F1 and show jumping. Who doesn't want to spend a Friday night in a car? Um, we are also opening up one of the main stages in the Palais du Festival over there, which is, you know, the big 1500-person theatre, which has, you know, given that the film festival finished what four days ago, yeah, think about the people whose bombs were all moving less than 10 days ago. And that's super exciting. So for things like, you know, and I know that we kind of stealth introduced this all female opening, closing keynotes, to be able to do that on the main stage with a type of kind of production and quality that we really want to be able to deliver, like that's really exciting for me. Um, plus also then being able to do more out on the promenade. You know, you probably saw Judson's controls is out there, there's gonna be more, you know, it's it's it's really exciting, and it's only possible because of the support of the lights of you, you know, because well, we all know what the cost of living precious is doing to everybody for us to invest, we can only do that with growth, right? As everyone can.
SPEAKER_03
Live on stage next year, Rory? 50 we can do that.
SPEAKER_04
We're already projecting 450 speakers next year. We had 300 this year to put that into cop tags.
SPEAKER_03
Wow. Yeah, okay. Well, we could we can definitely do that. Maybe, maybe not on the main stage. We're worried about not filling it. Never worry about that.
SPEAKER_00
You'll fill it after this podcast. I'm sure it'll be completely exactly that.
SPEAKER_03
We needed that today, yeah. Absolutely needed that. Well, guys, thank you so much. You've been incredible and uh and genuinely uh from from the age of Z. Don't want to speak on behalf of any, but thank you.
SPEAKER_02
Yeah, thank you, well done. And and enjoy your party tonight, because I'm sure you will need it. You're too small.
SPEAKER_04
I think we flooded last night, mate.
SPEAKER_01
And the night for the night for that's it for this episode of the Inside Data Centre Podcast. Thanks for tuning in. This show is brought to you by Data X and Data Exec, the recruitment partners powering global talent across the data centre and digital infrastructure world. If you enjoyed today's conversations, don't forget to follow, like and subscribe. It really helps us grow the podcast community. Stay tuned for more stories, insights, and conversations with the people shaping the future of our industry.
