What we’re about
Welcome to The Architecting for Innovation Meet-up group.
This group was formed initially as an offshoot from the Australasian Architecture Network Group on Linkedin www.linkedin.com/groups/1822816 Then it was a group of Enterprise and Solution Architects meeting in the pub for a few beers and a chat.
Since then, we have run several formal meet-ups in Sydney and Melbourne. The subjects have changed and morphed but always with an Architecture undertone with an eye on innovation.
Meet-up subjects have included:-
- Who needs Data Architecture anyway?
- Architecting intelligent enterprises
- Business Capability Modelling - Creating a performance framework Lunch and learn
- A journey into Enterprise Architecture
- Architecting for Governance at Scale
- How architectures fail, and what to do about it
- Databricks Delta Lake Deep Dive & Roadmap
- Digital Transformation in Banking
- Customer 360
- EA for Digital - Digital for EA
- CQRS and event sourcing
- The Future of Data in a Hybrid/Multi-Cloud Environment
- Practical mechanisms to align Business Architecture with Technology Architecture
- Making sense of Data-Driven Architecture
- Modern Data Pipelines with Kafka and MongoDB
- Salesforce/Mulesoft with Telstra Track & Monitor
- First meetup of 2020! Are you Well-Architected
- Leadership, AR and (A|V|M) Crime
- Kafka with MongoDB and Confluent
- The CIO and The Start-up Founder
- Modern apps in a microservices age
- Internet of Things in the Property Market (IoT in PropTech)
- Creating a Strategic Enterprise Architecture – from Noisy to Influential
- Building a Sustainable Opensource Ecosystem
- Unveiling the Sydney IoT Landscape
- Pragmatic Approach to Microservices and Cell-based Architecture
- Open Source Technology in an Open Architecture World
- Product across NPP and Cyber-security in The Global Payments Landscape
- FinTech Sydney - Start-up to Enterprise
- Disruptive Innovation
- FinTech
- IoT Security
- Attracting and retaining Architects
- DevOps
- Wearable Devices and the Internet of Things
- Predicting The Future of Cloud
- Tom Graves Masterclass
We work hard to provide value to our community through access to pertinent market intelligence and networking platforms, creating and hosting industry thought leadership events; and presenting interesting jobs for exciting companies.
We cover a range of subjects in the Technology and Digital landscape with the focus on innovation and disruption.
If you are keen on joining a panel for any of the upcoming meet-ups, let me know.
Thanks,
Andrew Blades
www.linkedin.com/in/andrewblades
[Andrew@TheBridgeSearch.com](mailto:Andrew@TheBridgeSearch.com)
[www.TheBridgeSearch.com](http://www.thebridgesearch.com/)
Upcoming events
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•OnlineIf Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is-The EA's Role in Portfolio Discipline
OnlineIf Everything Is a Priority, Nothing Is: The Architect’s Role in Portfolio Discipline
## Event Overview
Join us for an informative and inspiring Architecting for Innovation Lunch & Learn as we introduce our newest double act: Matt Clarke and Ben Wu. Together, they’ll tackle some of the most pressing questions in enterprise architecture today — starting with the challenge at the heart of our session: “Who in the business really cares about your vision?”
From there, Matt and Ben will explore:- If everything is a priority… is anything?
- How architects can influence portfolio discipline without losing sight of innovation
- Why aligning vision with business priorities is critical to delivering sustainable results
Expect a candid, high-impact conversation that bridges strategy, investment, and delivery—plus a few fresh perspectives you won’t want
to miss.
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM -2 pm (Sydney time)
🌐 Format: Virtual Lunch & Learn## 🎤 Host
Andrew Blades
Principal – The Bridge Search
Founder – Architecting for Innovation
With over 25 years of architecture recruitment and advisory experience across Europe and Australia, Andrew is a respected connector of top-tier architecture talent. His work has helped build vibrant architecture communities and advance the profession in technology-focused organisations.## 👥 Speakers
### Matt Clarke
Principal Consultant – Making Gains Consulting
Matt is a Transformation and Portfolio Management Advisor who partners with executives and architecture leaders to connect strategy, investment, and delivery. With more than two decades of experience across the Asia-Pacific region, he has embedded Portfolio Management frameworks that turn ambition into achievable, value-driven outcomes.
Matt began his career at Rolls-Royce Plc, where he chaired the IT Capital Board and first developed his interest in portfolio governance. Since then, he has worked across aviation, infrastructure, health, utilities, and government—helping organisations strengthen decision-making and realise business value from complex transformations.
Certified in MoP and MSP, and a member of the Business Architecture Guild, Matt is known for his clear thinking, balanced judgement, and collaborative style.### Ben Wu
Principal Consultant – Business Consulting Services, NetApp
Ben is a data strategy expert who connects business strategy to data strategy realisation within enterprise portfolios. With over four decades of experience across the Asia-Pacific region and globally, he has been a key player in some of the most innovative digital initiatives at Tier 1 organisations.
Ben’s career began at Westpac, where he led the development of Internet Banking infrastructure and the Bank of Melbourne systems integration. Since then, he has worked across global tech, infrastructure, health, utilities, government, and aviation—maximising the business value of data assets.
Ben is known for translating broad leadership ideas into meaningful architectural outcomes. He believes data strategy is the strongest link between business intent and value delivery.## 📋 Suggested Run Sheet (60 mins)
20 attendees
Past events
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