Session 9a – Optimizing WordPress on the Frontend by Byron Rode

About Ash Shaw

I founded LightSpeed in 2003 as an IT support company, and by 2007 we had fully embraced WordPress, evolving into a design and development agency. Since 2014, LightSpeed has been fully remote, working with clients across industries while keeping roots in Cape Town — a city where the mountains and sea are never more than a short ride away. Today, our focus is on building scalable, content-first WordPress and WooCommerce solutions. We’re behind open-source projects like the LSX Design System, LSX Design block theme, and Tour Operator plugin, and continue to champion workflows that empower both businesses and developers. I’ve also had the privilege of speaking at WordCamp Europe 2025, and serving on the Volunteers Team at WordCamp Europe 2024, experiences that deepened my commitment to giving back to the community that shaped my career. Outside of building, I’m a regular guest on OpenChannels.FM podcasts and have appeared on BugHerd webinars, sharing insights on workflows, remote agency life, design systems, accessibility, and the future of WordPress development.