Volunteering keeps Hasgeek’s conferences running — and it’s a two-way exchange. Beyond the practical support you provide, you get access, exposure, and skills alongside the community.
Roles for other Hasgeek events are announced separately.
Volunteer applications for Fifthel 2026 are open now. Deadlines vary by role — some roles close as early as 10 July, most close by 18–20 July for priority consideration. See Roles — Fifthel 2026 for the specific deadline for each role.
Apply now →
- Network with practitioners across data engineering and AI
- Build hard and soft skills that carry over to your workplace
- Make friendships within the community
- Give back to and support a community you’re part of
- Apply once — you’ll be matched to roles as events come up
- Some roles are one-day commitments; a few need pre-event lead time (flagged clearly below)
- You’ll hear from the volunteer coordinator about which role you’ve been matched to, along with next steps
- Breakfast and lunch covered on conference day
- Access to talks during your non-shift hours
- A 50% membership discount coupon, issued after the conference, subject to the eligibility criterion below
Coupon eligibility: Volunteers who sign in and sign out for their full assigned shift (verified against the shift roster by the hall manager or volunteer coordinator), without leaving their station unattended, are eligible for the coupon.
Coupons will not be issued for: no-shows, early departures without prior notice, or leaving your station without arranging coverage — even if you sign back in later.
If you need to step away during your shift (including to attend a session), arrange for someone to cover your station and confirm your return time with them.
Community guideline: Fifthel runs on a community-funded model. We recommend volunteers also purchase a conference ticket or annual Hasgeek membership, if you’re able to — this isn’t a condition of volunteering, but it directly supports the community you’re contributing your time to.
Setup (pre-event)
Thursday, 30 July, 3 PM – 8 PM. Volunteers with pre-event responsibilities must be present at the venue during this window.
Reporting time — 31 July
Report between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM to the volunteer coordinator, even if your shift starts later. (Some roles have an earlier call time — noted in the role description.)
Dress code
Comfortable clothing and shoes suited to walking and standing for extended periods. Shorts are fine. Formal wear is not required.
What to carry
Phone, phone charger, power bank, water bottle (to cut down on paper cup waste), a snack for energy, notebook and pen.
If you need to drop out
You may withdraw up to 4 days before the event with no penalty. Please inform the volunteer coordinator as soon as you know — this gives us time to find a replacement.
Shift-notice window (separate from dropping out — this applies to leaving a specific shift early)
Advance notice: 1 week is best case, 3 days is worst case.
Travel and accommodation
Hasgeek does not reimburse local or inter-city travel for volunteers. Outstation volunteers are responsible for their own travel and stay.
Code of conduct
All volunteers are expected to follow the Hasgeek Code of Conduct. Please read it before your shift.
Breakfast — provided exclusively for volunteers, no wristband or token needed. The volunteer coordinator takes a headcount in advance and coordinates with the caterer.
Lunch — volunteers receive a wristband on the morning of the conference. The wristband is your sign for lunch — no separate token required.
Volunteers may visit sponsor stalls during breaks for networking. Please politely decline any swag offered at the stall.
Hasgeek requests sponsors, ahead of the event, to set aside swag specifically for volunteers based on each sponsor’s own allocation and planning. Where a sponsor has agreed to provide volunteer swag, it will be distributed at the help desk at 6:00 PM on 31 July.
Note on “extended commitment” roles: most roles below are single-day. A few need pre-event lead time — from a few days to about a week and a half before the conference. These are marked ⏳ Extended commitment.
Application deadlines vary by role type:
- Digital Poster Design — closes earliest, ~10 July, since posters need time to run before the conference for promotion to be useful
- Emcee — closes ~12 July; this role involves a short selection process, not just headcount
- Extended commitment roles (WiFi Setup & Troubleshooting, Sponsor Booth Day-of Support, General Setup & Production Support, Sticker Design, Print Production Support, Installation Project Owner) — close ~15–16 July, to preserve pre-event briefing/working time
- All other roles — priority deadline ~18–20 July for guaranteed consideration; applications after this are reviewed on a backfill basis until 3 days before the conference (28 July)
- Post-Event Video Editor — stays open until the conference itself, since the work happens afterward
AV Console Manager
Direct the talk — ensuring audio, slides, and the speaker are captured and streamed correctly for every session in your hall. You’re the single point of contact for AV in your hall.
What you’ll do:
- Before the conference: set up and test all AV equipment in your hall — camera, mic, mixer, projector, streaming console — and run a full check against the schedule
- During talks: monitor the live stream continuously (audio levels, video feed, camera framing, system health), start/stop recording per talk, troubleshoot in real time
- After the conference: confirm recordings are saved, power down and pack up equipment
Good fit if you: are comfortable with AV hardware and troubleshooting under pressure, can stay focused through a full day of back-to-back sessions.
Time commitment: full day, hands-on throughout.
Reports to: the AV/console lead for role assignment and technical escalation.
Remote Stream Monitor
Watch the livestream from wherever you are and flag issues immediately over WhatsApp — no need to be at the venue.
What you’ll do:
- Watch the livestream continuously during session hours
- Flag issues immediately in the AV WhatsApp group — common ones are audio too low/noisy, or the stream going down
- Keep watching until the issue is resolved or escalated
Good fit if you: have a reliable internet connection, stay attentive through long stretches, speak up quickly when something’s wrong.
Time commitment: remote, in shifts, during session hours.
⏳ WiFi Setup & Troubleshooting
If you’ve set up networking gear at home or done any hands-on networking work, this role puts that to use — planning and running WiFi for the venue, and keeping it stable through the conference.
What you’ll do:
- 1–1.5 weeks before: get briefed on the WiFi setup plan; help flag inventory and materials needs to the Hasgeek team
- Day before: help wire up the venue
- Setup & event day: monitor uptime/downtime; troubleshoot packet drops or outages — especially at the registration desk, sponsor booths, and for the livestream
Good fit if you: have hands-on networking experience (home setups count), stay calm troubleshooting live issues, are available across the lead-up period, not just the event day.
Time commitment: ~1–1.5 weeks before the event (part-time, remote-ok for planning) through full days for setup and the conference.
Note on compensation: This role is voluntary, with standard volunteer benefits. Where someone brings professional-level networking expertise, Hasgeek may offer a small honorarium from community funds — decided case-by-case, not guaranteed upfront.
Registration & Help Desk
Often the first point of contact for attendees — checking people in, answering questions, and keeping the morning rush moving.
What you’ll do:
- Morning rush (8:00–10:00 AM): check attendees in via the Hasgeek app — scan badge QR codes, hand out lanyards, notebooks, and pens. Basic familiarity with pass types (members, tickets, sponsors, speakers, etc.) helps, since flow varies slightly.
- Let attendees know if they need to buy a food ticket
- Keep the swag desk replenished through the day
- After the rush: the team splits — some continue at the desk, others support flash talk/BoF sign-ups with hall managers
Good fit if you: enjoy talking to people, stay calm during a busy first two hours, pick up app-based check-in quickly.
Time commitment: full conference day. Call time: 7:00–7:15 AM (earlier than general reporting time).
Usher — Wayfinding
Helps attendees find their way around the venue — halls, food court, restrooms, sponsor booths, the testimonial station, and so on.
What you’ll do:
- Answer wayfinding questions and give directions
- Help manage flow during breaks — lunch, tea, hallway congestion outside halls
- Encourage attendees to check out Flash Talks and BOF sessions
Good fit if you: are approachable, know the venue layout, don’t mind being on your feet.
Time commitment: rotational shifts through the day.
Usher — Hall/Mic
Works inside the halls during sessions — mainly passing the mic during Q&A, and helping with in-hall flow during transitions.
What you’ll do:
- Pass the mic to attendees during Q&A
- Help manage entry/exit flow as sessions start and end
- Support the hall manager with anything needed to keep transitions smooth
Good fit if you: can move quickly and unobtrusively during a live session, stay alert through back-to-back talks.
Time commitment: rotational shifts, tied to your assigned hall’s schedule.
Hall Manager
Own the smooth running of one room for the day — speaker readiness, session timing, and clean transitions between talks.
What you’ll do:
- Before the conference: join your track’s speaker WhatsApp group, get familiar with the schedule and speakers, communicate tech-check timings
- On the day: confirm your assigned speakers have checked in at registration, get them through tech-check on time (including the video release form, for live-streamed tracks), locate and guide them to the room before their session, and coordinate closely with your AV console manager
- After each speaker’s session, direct them to the testimonial station (location will be decided and updated by 18 July) if they haven’t already given a testimonial
- During sessions: monitor timing to keep things on schedule, manage clean transitions
- After the conference: shortlist and send speaker photos, contribute to the lessons-learnt document
Good fit if you: are organized, calm under time pressure, comfortable being the point person speakers and AV both come to.
Note: This role covers session flow and speaker logistics — it does not include moderating Q&A (that’s the Emcee’s job).
Time commitment: full day, for as long as your room/track is running. Pre- and post-event tasks can be done remotely.
You’ll receive: a detailed schedule, speaker bios and guidelines, and the code of conduct, ahead of the conference.
BOF Coordinator
Birds of a Feather (BOF) sessions are informal, facilitator-led discussions — make sure the room is ready, the session runs on time, and facilitators and attendees have what they need.
What you’ll do:
- Before each session: open the room, check seating, confirm signage, verify equipment
- Welcome facilitators, answer questions, get the video release form signed if applicable
- During the session: start and end on time, give time-remaining reminders, keep an eye on attendance and engagement
- Handle issues on the spot: overcrowding, a missing facilitator, technical glitches, noise
- Help attendees with questions, or redirect to another room if a session is full
- After each session: collect quick feedback, reset the room, report back to your coordinator
Good fit if you: communicate well, stay organized under shifting demands, solve small problems on the fly, enjoy being around people.
Time commitment: for the duration BOF sessions are running.
Food Coupon Counter
Staff a food-ticket checkpoint — either at the dining hall entrance or an outside station — helping attendees buy food tickets on the spot and checking wristbands for volunteers.
What you’ll do:
- Check wristbands for volunteers with pre-issued lunch access
- For attendees without a food ticket, direct them to scan the QR code to pay, and confirm payment shows as successful before letting them through — no cash is handled at any point
- At registration, let attendees know upfront that they’ll need a food ticket if they haven’t already bought one
Integrity note: All payments happen via QR code, verified through the backend — never accept cash or wave someone through without seeing payment confirmation.
Good fit if you: are attentive, comfortable holding a line firmly but politely, reliable about following the verification step every time.
Time commitment: rotational shifts, concentrated around meal windows.
Washroom & Facilities Watch
A small, low-key role: keep an eye on washroom supplies and cleanliness through the day, and flag issues immediately.
What you’ll do:
- Periodically check that soap, toilet paper, and hand-washing supplies are stocked
- Flag cleanliness issues to the help desk or directly to venue staff
Good fit if you: are observant, don’t mind a low-visibility role, are comfortable politely flagging issues to venue staff.
Time commitment: periodic checks through the day.
Note: We’re looking for one male and one female volunteer for this role, to cover both washrooms.
⏳ General Setup & Production Support
Help get the venue physically ready — collecting materials from vendors ahead of time, and being hands-on at the venue during setup.
What you’ll do:
- 3–5 days before: help coordinate with and collect materials from vendors (banners, signage, etc.)
- Setup day: help transport materials to the venue, put up banners/signage, arrange furniture as directed
- Conference day: be available for general physical/logistical tasks
Good fit if you: can commit time in the days just before the event, are comfortable with physical tasks and some running around, follow instructions well under pressure.
Time commitment: intermittent across 3–5 days pre-event, plus setup day and conference day.
⏳ Sponsor Booth Day-of Support
Be the extra pair of hands for sponsor booths on the day — helping move materials, pointing sponsors to stored items, and handling small on-the-spot needs.
What you’ll do:
- ~1 week before: get onboarded and walked through the floor plan — which space belongs to which sponsor, what each booth’s setup looks like
- Setup/conference day: help move sponsor materials to booths, show sponsors where to collect stored items, handle small ad hoc requests (e.g., a TV not working, an urgent print item)
- Coordinate with the production vendor’s on-call support for anything beyond a quick fix
Boundary to know: If a sponsor asks for anything beyond materials or logistics support, direct them to the sponsor relations lead — don’t commit to anything on their behalf.
Good fit if you: are resourceful, calm about small fires, comfortable interacting with sponsors without overstepping.
Time commitment: a walkthrough session about a week before, plus setup day and conference day.
Testimonial Recorder
Staff a dedicated testimonial station at the venue (location will be decided and updated by 18 July), capturing short video testimonials from speakers, sponsors, attendees, volunteers, and editors. Within your shift, you’ll rotate between asking questions and operating the camera/mic setup.
What you’ll do:
- Staff the testimonial station during your assigned shift
- Rotate between interviewing and operating the recording setup with your shift partner(s)
- Ask engaging questions that draw out a genuine, usable response
- Get video release consent from anyone you record, before or immediately after filming
- Hand off footage in an organized way for the video editing team
Good fit if you: are comfortable approaching strangers and speakers, think of good questions on the spot, are reasonably confident with basic phone-camera-plus-mic setups.
Time commitment: rotational shifts through the day.
Works closely with: Hall managers (who direct speakers your way), Video editing team (footage handoff).
Conference Photographer
Capture photos across the day from a provided shot list — mandatory and optional shots covering sessions, sponsors, candid moments, and the overall energy of the event.
What you’ll do:
- Work from a shot list provided ahead of the conference
- Photograph sessions, speakers, sponsor booths, candid moments, general atmosphere
- Hand off photos in an organized way after your shift/the event
Good fit if you: have your own camera (DSLR or a good phone camera both work), have an eye for candid/event photography, can move through the venue for extended periods.
Time commitment: full or partial day shifts. We’re looking for 4–5 photographers total, mixing phone and DSLR shooters.
Workshop Photographer
A lighter version of conference photography, for workshops on 17 July, 25 July, and 8 August. Genuinely open to a workshop attendee who enjoys photography.
What you’ll do:
- Take photos through the workshop from a simple shot list
- Hand off photos after the session
Good fit if you: are attending the workshop anyway and enjoy taking photos.
Time commitment: duration of the workshop.
Onsite Reels Editor
Turn raw footage into short, shareable reels — in real time, at the venue, during the conference, for posting on Instagram and elsewhere. This is about instinct and speed, not professional editing chops.
What you’ll do:
- Take footage from the day (testimonials, talk highlights, candid moments) and turn it into short-form video quickly
- Post to Instagram and other relevant channels
- Work with a fast turnaround — same-day, ideally same-session
- Use whatever editing tool you’re already comfortable with (CapCut, InShot, etc.)
Good fit if you: regularly make Instagram/short-form content for fun, have a feel for pacing and storytelling, can work fast without overthinking it. We’re not looking for professional editors — just a natural flair for this.
Time commitment: onsite, full or partial day.
Post-Event Video Editor
Take the raw testimonial footage and talk recordings from the conference and turn them into polished, publishable videos after the event.
What you’ll do:
- Edit testimonial videos into a publishable cut
- Produce short/snippet content from full talk recordings
- Work at your own pace post-event, with a clear turnaround deadline
Good fit if you: same profile as the onsite editor, but prefer working after the fact rather than under real-time pressure.
Time commitment: post-event, remote, deadline-based.
X / LinkedIn Live-Posting
Sit in on talks and post real-time snippets, insights, and highlights — tagging Fifthel and Hasgeek so the community can follow along.
What you’ll do:
- Attend talks and post takeaways, quotes, or interesting moments as they happen
- Tag the relevant handles in your posts
- Focus on substance over volume — a few sharp posts beat a stream of filler
Good fit if you: understand the subject matter well enough to spot what’s interesting in a talk, are comfortable writing quickly and publicly.
Time commitment: rotational, tied to sessions you’re covering.
Community Engagement — WhatsApp & Telegram
Keep the Fifthel community groups active and engaged during the conference — sharing snippets and takeaways, without posting livestream links.
What you’ll do:
- Post talk snippets, moments, and takeaways to the WhatsApp/Telegram community groups
- Respond to and encourage conversation to keep engagement alive through the day
- Do not share livestream links in these groups
Good fit if you: are a natural conversationalist online, understand the subject matter, enjoy keeping a group chat lively.
Time commitment: rotational, through the conference day.
Sticker Design — The Secret Society of Sticky Stickers
Come up with ideas and designs for 4–5 good, die-cut, standalone Fifthel stickers. Where all volunteers are statistically significant.
What you’ll do:
- Brainstorm sticker ideas and copy — in-jokes, community references, conference themes
- Design a shortlisted set of 4–5 stickers, die-cut and standalone
- Work within print specs provided by the team
Good fit if you: have a playful sense of humor, some design skill (even basic), enjoy quick, fun creative work.
Time commitment: pre-event, remote, deadline-based.
Print Production Support
Take existing designs and get them production-ready — resizing banners for print, and helping finalize layouts for notebooks and similar printed materials.
What you’ll do:
- Resize and adjust existing banner designs to fit required print dimensions
- Help finalize notebook and similar print layouts
- No new creative design needed — this is about clean execution and layout skill
Good fit if you: are comfortable in design tools (Figma, Illustrator, Canva, etc.), have an eye for layout and print specs, prefer precise, detail-oriented work.
Time commitment: pre-event, remote, deadline-based.
Digital Poster Design
Design digital posters for Fifthel’s pre-conference promotion — social media, community channels, wherever the conference is being announced.
What you’ll do:
- Design promotional posters/graphics ahead of the conference, based on provided content (speaker names, themes, dates, etc.)
- Work within brand guidelines and provided templates, if any exist
Good fit if you: have graphic design skills, can turn around clean, on-brand visuals quickly.
Time commitment: pre-event, remote, deadline-based — this role likely starts earliest, since promotion runs ahead of the conference.
Project Owner — “The Elephant in the Room” Installation
Take ownership of shaping and running this installation from concept to conference day: attendees bring a toy, and write about “the elephant in their room” on a nearby whiteboard.
What you’ll do:
- Define how the installation works practically — toy placement, whiteboard prompt, signage, attendee flow
- Figure out what help you’ll need (pre-event prep, on-the-day stewarding) and work with us to recruit volunteers for those specific needs
- Own the installation through setup and the conference day itself
Good fit if you: have some experience-design or installation instincts, enjoy owning something end-to-end, are comfortable creating a space that invites a bit of vulnerability from strangers.
Time commitment: pre-event planning (extent depends on the scope you define) + full conference day.
We’re looking for 1–2 project owners.
Do I have to be present for both the setup day and the conference day?
No — unless you have pre-event responsibilities at the venue, or you’ve been assigned as a volunteer for a workshop. If either of those applies to you, we’ll let you know when you’re confirmed for the role.
Can I attend a workshop if I’m volunteering?
If you’re volunteering for the workshop itself, yes — but you’re still expected to keep up with your assigned duties throughout. If you’re volunteering elsewhere (e.g., on the conference day), you can’t attend a workshop as a perk — workshops have limited seating reserved for conference attendees and members.
What time should I report?
Report between 7:30 AM and 8:00 AM on the conference day, even though the conference itself starts at 9 AM — there are things to do before doors open. Some roles (like Registration & Help Desk) have an earlier call time of 7:00–7:15 AM; check your specific role above.
What’s the dress code?
Comfortable clothing and shoes suited to walking and standing for extended periods. See Pre-event & day-of logistics for the full list.
What should I carry with me on the day?
Phone, charger, power bank, water bottle, a snack for energy, notebook and pen. Full list in Pre-event & day-of logistics.
What do I get for volunteering?
See What you get for the full breakdown — breakfast and lunch, talk access during your non-shift hours, and a 50% membership discount coupon (subject to the eligibility criterion listed there).
