2025

Mark Prosser -

It's now the first of February, 2026, and I haven't posted about 2025. In fact, I'm editing this post on a plane to NANOG96. I haven't really posted in a year because 2025 was such a busy year.

2025 was a momentous year for my and my development.

Podcasts

A new thing for me in 2025, was being featured on Podcasts.

TNO025: Know the Packet Flow | Packet Pushers
Knowing the flow of how a packet gets from one end to the other is one of the most important pieces of advice given by today’s guest, Mark Prosser. He shares his journey in the IT industry, his thoughts on Ops vs. design, and the differences between working in a telco NOC and the enterprise sector. He explains the value of communication between teams, supporting business logic, and good ways network engineers can use automation and programming.
Packet Pushers horizontal logo
HN779: Do We Really Need the Modern Networking Stack? | Packet Pushers
On today’s Heavy Networking, a roundtable panel considers whether a modern network needs to be built around underlays and overlays. This isn’t just Ethan yelling at clouds. This is a legitimate question pondering the real-world value of an overlay/underlay approach. Is overlay everywhere overkill, or is that the architecture we need to deliver a safe, secure, and reliable network to our businesses? Our roundtable panel has opinions.
Packet Pushers horizontal logo
Hedge 272: Are we addicted to the CLI?
Is the CLI the best way to configure, manage, and troubleshoot routers and other networking gear? Or should we move past the CLI towards automation and (possibly even) GUI-based tools? Mark …
rule 11 readergoodreads
Hedge 277: Sociotechnical Systems
What is the relationship between humans and machines? Do we adapt to machines, or do we adapt machines to humans? Does technology drive culture, or does our culture drive our technology? Join Mark …
rule 11 readergoodreads

An extra special thank you to Scott Robohn for making my first podcast episode so seamless (recorded in October 2024, mind you). Another big thank you to Russ White & Ethan Banks for having me on their networks.

Speaking

I not only shared my thoughts on podcass, I also spoke to humans in the flesh. I spoke at the following events, two of which are available for playback:

Grafana & Friends Toronto, Ansible Toronto Meetup.

NANOG95:

Autocon4:

I enjoyed each of my speaking opportunities, and I graciously thank the hosts for lending me the ears of your audience; however, Autocon4 was a very special talk for me. Not only did I get up in front of many community members I consider mentors and friends, but I also felt I made an earnest attempt to give back to a community that has given me so much. Thank you Scott, Chris, and the NAF Adivsory board for accepting my talk for such a milestone event.

Community

After the great success of NANOG92 in Toronto, I found myself asking myself, yet again, why don't we Torontonians ( and our neighbours) have a NOG of our own? So I went and started TORNOG.

The idea behind TORNOG was simple. I was having a beer reunion with my two former colleagues, and trusted mentors, Alex & Marcel. During the evening, I was thinking about all the great meetups I had been to. Finally, I pitched it to them, "Hey, I think we should start our own NOG in Toronto". Essentially, they replied, "Yeah, YOU should do that".

Flash forward to 2026, and we had two wonderful meetups in 2025. For the first one, in April 2025, I expected no more than a half dozen folks and a couple pizzas. From that meetup, I thought we would form a group that work work hard to spread the word. Instead, not only did more than a few people show up... but even a few amazing colleagues joined the effort, as founding volunteers.

Now the TORNOG team has grown to six folks and we're ramping up for our first full day conference this spring (April 13th, 2026). Please do join us as we work to establish 'a room of one's own', in these uncertain times.

So many thanks to James, Svetlana, Sadie, Billy, & Patrick for joining me in this crazy mission.

TORNOG - Toronto Network Operators Group
Toronto Network Operators Group
Toronto Network Operators Group

Career

One of the big supporters of the first TORNOG event was Nokia. I am forever grateful for the support Igor & Cecilia gave me, in helping get this event off the ground (shout-out to Scott Robohn for making them aware. You can see that man is addicted to supporting my journey).

Not only did they sponsor, but a lot of folks travelled in from the GTA and Ottawa to join our event. That's where I met my new colleague, and newest mentor, Steve. Some months after the event, Steve reached out and invited me to join my new wonderful team at Nokia.

I was already a fan of Nokia, thanks to my wonderful NAF colleagues Roman Dodin & Wim Henderickx. But, now that I'm in the organization, I can see that the great cuture runs deep.

When I was a young tech professional, I dreamed of working for a vendor. Nokia has now made that dream a reality.

Looking to 2026

I have high hopes for 2026. Some notable highlights I am looking forward to:

  • Welcoming folks from near and far to Toronto for TORNOG 1
  • My wife has finished school, so now we can take our first real vacation together since summer 2023 .
  • A year of reading, learning, and sharing knowledge
  • More podcasts, conferences, and meetups.
  • Potentially helping revive Pycon Canada

I'm sure there's more than that in store for me. Keep in touch with me to find out how it's going.