About me
Who are you?
I'm Liya Mathew, a passionate advocate for a future where innovation and sustainability are intertwined. I thrive on exploring new ideas and championing initiatives that promote sustainable practices, believing that every small step contributes to a healthier planet. My journey is driven by curiosity and a deep commitment to making a positive impact on the world around me. I am dedicated to empowering communities, nurturing collective action, and inspiring change through thoughtful, eco-friendly approaches. Every day, I strive to blend creativity with responsibility, working towards a vision where technology and nature coexist in harmony for the benefit of future generations.
What do you do for a living?
I work as a Site Reliability Engineer at Goldman Sachs in London, ensuring that our systems run smoothly. In addition to my day job, I am also the colead for the Patterns project—a catalogue of best practices from the Green Software Foundation. Through this role, I help promote sustainable software engineering and believe that technology and sustainability should always go hand in hand.
What are you going to talk about at FlowCon?
The talk is all about how we can blend sustainability with our everyday digital product development practices. It introduces the concept of Green Ops, where sustainability principles are integrated with DevOps methodologies to drive innovation without a complete infrastructure overhaul. Attendees will learn how to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste, ensuring environmental impact is considered at every stage of product development. The session will explore practical strategies for balancing sustainable code practices with operational efficiency, all while building resilient, future-proof systems. Ultimately, the talk aims to inspire a mindset shift—encouraging us to see sustainability as an integral part of our technical journey, with measurable benefits for both our projects and the planet.
What are you the proudest of?
At 22, I took a bold leap and moved to a new country—even though I had never even stepped out on my own before. It was a challenge, but it shaped me in ways I never imagined.
What speaker and/or topic would you like to see at FlowCon?
I would be excited to attend all the sessions especially Seeing the world through a different lens by Trond Hjorteland.
If you were an art piece, which one would it be?
If I were an art piece, I’d be a bold, intricate tapestry—woven with threads of resilience, curiosity, and purpose. Each pattern would represent the different chapters of my journey, from taking a leap into the unknown to finding my voice in the causes I care about. The colours would shift and evolve, reflecting my constant growth, my passion for sustainability, and my commitment to building reliable and lasting foundations—whether in technology or life. It wouldn’t be a static piece but a living, breathing work, always expanding, always learning, and always striving to make a difference.
What's your favorite band, artist or song?
I would love each and every one that has a melodious touch!
Sum up your session or workshop in only 1 sentence
The world can be a better place if you wish to, so start painting the software green!
What are the 3 top takeaways from your session or workshop?
1. Lifecycle Sustainability – Sustainability spans the entire product journey, from design to decommissioning. Every stage offers opportunities to reduce environmental impact and build long-lasting, efficient systems.
2. Code vs Operational Efficiency – Writing efficient code is just one piece of the puzzle. True sustainability comes from balancing optimised software with resource-efficient infrastructure and runtime environments.
3. Starting the Conversation– Change begins with awareness. Embedding sustainability into engineering discussions ensures it becomes a core consideration, driving greener decisions at every level.
