The spotlight is on Thomas Minne, Data Security Black Belt, Oracle, Luxembourg.

Data is the fuel of artificial intelligence, but without effective security, even the most exciting innovations can introduce new risks. Based in Luxembourg, Thomas Minne works at the intersection of these increasingly important fields.

Thomas Minne is a Data Security Black Belt and a member of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) Office of the Chief Technology Officer at Oracle. He advises some of Oracle’s largest and most innovative customers on security matters relating to their database environments, an area becoming ever more critical as organizations adopt AI and respond to emerging threats.

He also helps build a strong bridge between Oracle’s local sales teams, including Oracle ACEs, and the Product Management team. By exchanging insights from the field with Product Management, he contributes to the future direction of Oracle technology while helping bring the latest database security developments and information to customers across EMEA.

Thomas Minne holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. He has earned several Oracle professional certifications, including the prestigious Oracle Certified Master certification. Earning it required him to complete a challenging two-day, hands-on examination in Reading, United Kingdom.

He first joined Oracle as a graduate in 2008, shortly after completing his studies. From 2010 to 2024, he worked outside Oracle while remaining an active Oracle customer across several sectors, including the public sector, telecommunications, consulting, and banking. In December 2024, he returned to Oracle in his current role as Data Security Black Belt.

Alongside his day-to-day responsibilities, he is an enthusiastic Oracle Academy Ambassador whose energy, generosity, and long-standing commitment has made a strong impact on students, educators and the wider Oracle Academy community. Through practical workshops, guest lectures, and an Oracle Academy Tech Chat podcast, he helps students explore topics including SQL, Oracle Cloud, artificial intelligence, vector search, databases, and data security.

Whether students are solving a SQL Treasure Game, discovering how facial recognition works, or considering the opportunities created by AI, he aims to make complex technologies understandable, relevant, and exciting.

Oracle Academy: What inspired you to become an Oracle Academy Ambassador?

Thomas Minne: Sharing is caring! I enjoy spending time with students because I remember how valuable it was to hear directly from professionals when I was a student. Those interactions brought real-world context to what I was learning.

Now that I am a professional myself, it is important to give something back and offer students the same kind of experience. I strongly believe that part of Oracle’s future success will come from our involvement with academic institutions. Technology is a passion of mine, and we need to continue sharing knowledge and exchanging ideas with the students who will help shape our future.

Oracle Academy: How does your role at Oracle connect with your Ambassador activities?

Thomas Minne: I have the privilege of working with some of Oracle’s most innovative customers across EMEA, while also experimenting with our latest technologies.

When I speak to students, I can share authentic stories based on real experiences, real challenges, and technologies that organizations are using today. What I learn in my day-to-day work can then be shared during my sessions with students, helping make them relevant, practical, and impactful.

Oracle Academy: How would you explain the value of Oracle Academy to an educator discovering it for the first time?

Thomas Minne: One of the greatest benefits is the opportunity for educators and students to connect with professionals who are willing to share their experience and insights.

They also gain access to Oracle Cloud resources, allowing them to explore and learn about the latest technologies in a practical way. It is the combination of learning resources, technology, and engagement with industry professionals that makes Oracle Academy particularly valuable.

Oracle Academy: You helped introduce students to Oracle, SQL, Oracle Cloud, and data At TN’Teens 2025. What did the workshop involve?

Thomas Minne: At the TN’Teens 2025 event in Luxembourg, I introduced the students to Oracle and in an energetic and interactive way explained its role in the digital world.

The activities included an Oracle knowledge quiz and a SQL Treasure Game based on an Olympic Games database provisioned in Oracle Cloud. The students used SQL queries to find information and solve the challenge.

For many of them, it was their first real encounter with SQL. Instead of only hearing a theoretical explanation, they were able to use the technology themselves and see how data can be transformed into useful insights.

Oracle Academy: Why is hands-on learning so powerful for young people encountering technology for the first time?

Thomas Minne: Hands-on learning always makes the difference. It is how students learn, and it is still how I learn today.

Theory is useful because it provides the foundation, but hands-on experience is essential. When students can experiment, make mistakes, ask questions, and see the results for themselves, the technology becomes much more meaningful.

Oracle Academy: You returned to TN’Teens in 2026 with a workshop on facial recognition, vectors, similarity search, and Oracle Database 26ai. How did you make such advanced topics accessible to high school students?

Thomas Minne: I was delighted to return to TN’Teens in 2026 but those topics certainly were not easy. I tried to use concrete examples based on activities and technologies the students already encounter in their daily lives.

Most of them use facial recognition through social media or on their phones without necessarily understanding how it works. By starting with something familiar, such as Face ID, I could introduce the concepts behind vectors and similarity search in a way that felt more accessible and relevant.

The students then worked with Oracle Enterprise Linux and Oracle Autonomous Database in a cloud environment. They were not simply hearing about AI-related concepts; they had an opportunity to explore them practically.

Oracle Academy: What surprised you most about the students’ response?

Thomas Minne: The level of engagement showed that young people are not simply passive users of technology. Many genuinely want to understand how it works and what they might be able to do with it. One student even tried to reproduce the workshop at home after the event. That kind of follow-up demonstrates real curiosity and is very rewarding to see.

I was amazed by the depth and quality of some of the students’ questions. To those who say the current generation gives us no reason to be optimistic about the future, I would say that they are wrong.

Oracle Academy: Your workshops use familiar examples such as Formula 1®, data-driven performance, and facial recognition. Why are real-world examples so important?

Thomas Minne: They help students understand that these technologies are not abstract concepts confined to a classroom. Technology is already part of the activities, products, and experiences they encounter every day.

Real-world examples also help students see that, by mastering these technologies, they can have a meaningful impact on the world. They can find their place in the industry and contribute to exciting and innovative projects.

Oracle Academy: You also appeared in an Oracle Academy Tech Chat podcast about AI and security. What was the most important message you wanted listeners to understand?

Thomas Minne: On the Tech Chat podcast, I talked about why AI innovation must go hand in hand with data protection. I explained concepts such as AI vectors, RAG, Oracle Database security features, and responsible experimentation in a way that is valuable for students, educators, and anyone curious about AI security.

One of the key messages was that AI is not magic. It is a set of tools that processes data. Schools and universities are going through a challenging period and must adapt to the rapid development of AI. Young people need to learn how to use this new tool effectively, but they also need to understand that, like any other technology, AI has limitations.

Students must practice using it, question its outputs, and learn where those limitations lie. Responsible experimentation and critical thinking are essential.

Oracle Academy: And why must AI innovation and data security develop together?

Thomas Minne: Data is the fuel of AI. Without high-quality data, there can be no high-quality AI. That data also needs to be protected. AI systems can involve vectors, sensitive information, and access to important organizational data. If security is not considered from the beginning, it can become one of the main barriers preventing organizations from adopting new technologies.

That is why databases and security are two fundamental areas for students. Those who build strong knowledge in both will have a real advantage when they enter the job market.

Oracle Academy: What advice would you give students beginning to explore databases, AI, cloud technology, or security?

Thomas Minne: Take it one step at a time. Students should focus on understanding the fundamentals rather than chasing every new trend. Databases remain essential because AI depends on data, while security is critical because organizations must be able to trust the technologies they adopt.

Learning and mastering complex subjects takes time, and that is still true for me today. Nobody understands everything immediately, and nobody ever finishes learning in technology. The most important skill students can develop is learning how to learn. They will need to continue building their knowledge throughout their careers as new tools, risks, and possibilities emerge.

Oracle Academy: You have also delivered a guest lecture for students at your former IT school. What do students gain from meeting technology professionals?

Thomas Minne: Students want real-world examples because they want to understand why they are being asked to study certain subjects. When professionals share their experiences, students can see how the technologies they are learning about are used in practice. That can be very motivating and helps them imagine themselves in their future careers.

It also gives them an opportunity to ask questions about the realities of working in the industry—something that cannot always be fully covered through a traditional curriculum.

Oracle Academy: You are planning to return to the Institution in October. What can the students expect from your next guest lecture?

Thomas Minne: I have learned a great deal during the year since my previous visit, so I have many exciting topics to share. The students can expect engaging demonstrations and a clear connection between what they are currently learning and how those technologies are being used in the real world.

Returning to my former school is particularly meaningful because I once sat where those students are sitting today. I understand the value of meeting professionals and seeing where an IT education can lead.

In other Ambassador activities, I also hope to continue sharing what I learn through my role at Oracle and introducing students to current developments in databases, AI, cloud technology, and security.

Oracle Academy: Lastly, outside of work and volunteering, what helps you recharge?

Thomas Minne: I love board games. They give me an opportunity to reconnect with friends and take a break from electronic devices for a few hours. I also enjoy hiking in the Swiss mountains with my family. It is a wonderful way to spend time together and completely disconnect from technology.

I am simply very happy to be part of this Ambassador journey. It has been a truly refreshing and rewarding experience.

Thank you, Thomas Minne, for volunteering to be an Oracle Academy Ambassador.