VIRTUAL SUMMIT
FinOps Forward 2026—now on demand
FinOps isn’t just cloud cost control anymore. Learn how top teams are turning AI, SaaS and hybrid complexity into measurable technology value
Overview
FinOps Forward 2026 brought together the FinOps Foundation, IDC, Flexera experts and practitioners to unpack a clear reality: FinOps has become a technology value discipline—spanning AI, SaaS and hybrid environments, not just cloud cost control.
As scope expands and complexity increases, the focus is shifting from controlling spend to proving business outcomes.
If you’re rethinking how to govern this expanding landscape while still demonstrating measurable value, this on-demand summit delivers the signals, patterns and execution models shaping how teams are approaching FinOps in 2026.
What leaders took away
- How teams are governing AI spend without slowing innovation
- Where FinOps is expanding next—and where execution breaks down first
- What “run-state” maturity looks like at scale
- Proven patterns for ownership, accountability and repeatable execution
Watch the sessions
IDC opening keynote
Setting the pace: The technology value decathlon and the 2026 FinOps landscape
Jevin Jensen, Research Vice President, IDC
FinOps leaders are being asked to manage more scope without losing control—and IDC’s outlook makes clear where pressure is rising fastest: AI adoption, SaaS growth and hybrid environments that don’t fit neat cost models.
This session grounds the conversation in market reality, helping leaders understand where value leakage accelerates and which priorities matter most entering 2026.
Flexera keynote
Winning the AI cost game: FinOps strategies for the technology value era
Jeremy Chaplin, Director, Solutions Architecture & Advisory – FinOps, Flexera
AI spend behaves differently from traditional cloud: bursty demand, usage‑based pricing and new cost drivers make forecasting and accountability harder by default.
This session breaks down how FinOps teams are adapting—connecting AI for FinOps and FinOps for AI into a governance model that supports experimentation while protecting value.
Panel
Championship stories: Real teams, real wins in technology optimization
Leaders from FNB South Africa and Boomi, moderated by Josh Fraser, Chief Customer Officer, Flexera
When FinOps scope expands, execution breaks before tooling does.
FinOps leaders explore the four defining forces of 2026—AI, automation, expanding scope and hybrid environments—highlighting common false starts across FinOps teams and the operating patterns now proving durable at scale.
FinOps Foundation closing keynote
Reviewing the tape: The State of FinOps insights
Steve Trask, Chief Operating Officer, FinOps Foundation
The closing keynote connects the dots on how FinOps is evolving: more centralized execution, broader collaboration and rising demand for AI cost management skills.
It’s a clear snapshot of where FinOps is heading—and what leaders should prioritize to move from “advanced” to “operationally mature.”
Speakers
Jevin Jensen
Vice President, Infrastructure & Operations Research
IDC
Jevin Jensen is Research Vice President, Intelligent CloudOps Market service at IDC since 2021. He covers infrastructure as code, Infrastructure Automation, FinOps cloud cost transparency, DevOps, hybrid/public/multi-cloud management platforms and edge management.
Prior to IDC, Jensen was a Vice President of Global Infrastructure at the world’s largest flooring manufacturer, where he led the P&L and 150-person Infrastructure and Operations (I&O) team, transforming business capabilities through modern technologies and processes. He has more than 25 years of progressive IT-leadership experience in publicly traded enterprises.
Steve Trask
Chief Operating Officer
FinOps Foundation
Steve has been involved in the FinOps Foundation since its inception in 2019. He has deep knowledge of FinOps industry data and trends, having managed the State of FinOps Report since it began in 2020. He stays closely connected with the community, with interests in intersecting disciplines and evolving FinOps team structures. You can always find him at FinOps X and regional events in the UK, where he is based.
Salomé Keet
Head of Software Asset Management & FinOps
FNB
Salomé Keet is a long-standing ITAM and FinOps leader with more than two decades of experience across IT finance, software asset management and optimization. As Head of Enterprise IT Asset Management at FirstRand’s FNB South Africa, she champions the alignment of ITAM and FinOps to drive cost efficiency and strategic value. A FinOps Certified Practitioner and active ITAM Forum Vice Chair, she is a passionate advocate for community collaboration and industry advancement.
Eric Mulartrick
FinOps Leader, Advisor
Boomi
Eric is an experienced FinOps leader with a strong practitioner background in cloud financial management and optimization. As FinOps Lead at Boomi, he works closely with engineering, finance and product teams to improve cost visibility, accountability and value across cloud and SaaS environments. A long-standing member of the FinOps community, Eric is a FinOps Certified Practitioner and frequent speaker at FinOps Foundation events, bringing a practical perspective on AI-driven cloud consumption and sustainable FinOps operating models.
Jeremy Chaplin
Director, Solutions Architecture & Advisory (Cloud/FinOps)
Flexera
With more than 20 years in IT, Jeremy specializes in cloud financial management, helping global enterprises optimize multi-cloud environments for cost and performance. He is a trusted advisor to enterprise-scale cloud teams, with deep expertise across AWS, Azure and GCP. At Flexera, he leads strategy and delivery for Cloud Cost Optimization (FinOps), aligning innovation with enterprise and hybrid IT needs.
Josh Fraser
Chief Customer Officer
Flexera
Josh Fraser is Chief Customer Officer at Flexera, with more than 15 years of executive experience helping enterprises address cloud complexity, rising costs and accountability across technology investments. He works closely with global organizations to improve visibility, strengthen governance and align cloud and SaaS spend with business priorities. Josh brings a strategic, customer-led perspective on driving measurable outcomes across complex, hybrid environments.
Turning technology spend into value
As FinOps expands beyond cloud, leaders need more than visibility—they need scalable execution models across AI, SaaS, and hybrid environments.
Flexera helps organizations turn expanding technology spend into governed, repeatable value across the full portfolio.
Get your free cloud savings analysis
10‑minute setup • Least-privilege read-only access • Review results with a FinOps certified expert
Recommended assets
FinOps for AI—AI for FinOps: The complete guide
The essential guide to managing AI’s impact on cloud costs—and using AI to improve forecasting and anomaly detection.
2026 State of the Cloud report
Insights from cloud leaders and practitioners on AI, governance, hybrid complexity—and the shift toward business value.
AI Pulse report
Pulse-check insights on how organizations are governing AI spend, managing cost risk, and operationalizing AI at scale.
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