Architecture Groups Melbourne

Welcome to the next 2026 AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup!

Hi Architects, Welcome to our next AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup for 2026, including more exceptional speakers and topics! :-D At each meetup we covered off various pillars in detail, best-practices and insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework. And giving away drones, of course. Lots of drones. **Please also note that AWS Security now requests a company name and company email where it is available. If you are a student, please list your institution and your student email address at that institution 👍** We'll be announcing more speakers on [https://well-architected.me](https://well-architected.me/) and previewing presentations during the coming weeks - our speakers and details this month include: * **Nitin Yadav\, Founder & Principal\, Nuvrix\.ai \| AWS Ambassador** **Productionising an AI Workload, the Well-Architected Way** Most AI workloads make it to demo. Far fewer make it to production, and the ones that struggle usually have nothing wrong with the model. The architecture around it just wasn't built for the real world. In this session, Nitin walks through what it actually takes to take an AI workload from POC to production on AWS, using the Well-Architected Framework as the lens. Covering cost controls, security guardrails, observability, and reliability for non-deterministic systems, with practical patterns you can apply immediately. * **SkillzLab Build Gen AI Well-Architected Reviews** **Well-Architecting App Build-off Review!** In this session, we will have review the apps from the previous session and perform AWS Gen AI Well-Architected Framework Reviews, with the drone going to the most **Gen AI Well-Architected** app on the night. This month's menu will include: * Pizzas * Beer: Nastro Azzurro * Wine: Big and red 🤤 NB: Please check in up the stairs from the ground floor to the Mezzanine Level. So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm **SHARP** start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-) Tired of Linkedin’s "thought leadership”, spam and advertising? Join https://well-architected.me/ , the AWS community built for architects, developers and cloud professionals. * Connect with experienced AWS practitioners * Preview upcoming AWS Meetups and relive past content * Create and review beautiful AWS case studies in minutes * Prepare for AWS certifications with curated quizzes * Show your manager and reports you’re well-architected (Please note that by registering to attend you agree to your details being shared as and where required with Amazon Web Services and AWS Well-Architected User Group partners)

Open House 2026: Melb CBD

July Meetup - Hosted Agents and shipping fixes fast with AI

**Andrew Rickard - 75,000 threads and a deadline: shipping fixes fast with AI** A production IIS server bleeding threads. A system under pressure. A fix that needed to ship — fast. This talk walks through a real P1 incident investigation and the rapid sequence of code changes that followed, showing how AI-assisted development changes the pace and shape of crisis response. We'll look at the actual context & data driven approach, the iteration loop, and how a legacy IIS issue became the catalyst for a move to Azure App Service. **Tama Waddell - Build, Ship & Run code-first Hosted Agents with Microsoft Foundry** You've spent this year building out your agent harness for your coding projects. Some of you have gone further and started automating your own workflows, business processes and SDLC. How do you build capable agents requires more than just an Agent.md file? How can I get my current harness into the cloud to run automatically. How do you orchestrate agents to talk to one another? How can I use tokens on the cloud rather than my own? Microsoft foundry provides these capabilities through prompt agents and hosted agents. Hosted Agents are Microsoft Foundry's code-first solution for agentic AI. Come join Tama as he shares how to get your own fully capable agent deployed into the cloud as a hosted agent. How to build them, ship them and run them so you can automate business workflows for yourself, your team or the company. Are you ready for the next generation of agents?

Philosopher's Walk - Royal Botanic Gardens

Weather looks reasonable on Sunday. Participants are invited to join us for a walk and talk about science, philosophy, AI and emerging technology. One major topic will be discussed: Anthropics: [A global workspace in language models](https://www.anthropic.com/research/global-workspace) (read this!) **Schedule** * **10.30** am – Meet outside the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre (near the Observatory House, and a walk away from the Shrine of Remembrance) * **11.00** am – Venture into the gardens and walk the outer path anticlockwise, spiralling inwards towards the lake * \~1.00 pm – (optional) Lunch by the lake, (BYO or there are Terrace Café options) **Getting there:** If coming by **tram**, get off at Stop 19 - Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd **Parking** is free on Anderson St far side of the Botanic Gardens ([near eastern gate B and Tecoma gate C](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/interactive-map/)) subject to time limits in some stretches (mostly 3 hrs) - which is the only free parking area near the gardens that I can find. Check signage on the day. See this [PDF for more detail](https://athsvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Tan-Parking-Map.pdf). **Possible discussion topics** * Anthropics: [A global workspace in language models](https://www.anthropic.com/research/global-workspace) (read this!) * Latest AI models - Anthropic's Fable unblocked * AI Pause / Stop - will it work? (Regulatory catch-up, xrisk, global-coordination & geopolitical arms races, enforcement & logistics, existing capability overhang) * Technical AI safety - Mechanistic interpretability, linear probes, RLHF, behavioural evals * General AI alignment approaches: control vs motivation: \- control \(External Constraints\) focuses on building walls *around* the AI to restrict what it can do, trip wires etc. \- motivation \(Internal Alignment\) focuses on changing the AI’s inner desires so it *wants* to be ethical/help humans/act in accordance with the well-being of all sentience * AI ethics: how is it related to AI safety? What should be the target for AI alignment? Should the target be aggregate human preferences, religious doctrine, moral naturalism or something else? * Metaethics and ethics * Moral realism: a stance-independent moral ontology, useful for capturing non-arbitrary moral choice * Moral anti-realism: error theory, non-cognitivism, moral relativism etc * Can AI be fault-tolerantly aligned to moral realism or anti-realism? * Is sentience required for moral reasoning or moral deliberation? Can it be a hindrance? * Moral progress and indirect normativity * AI safety, automated persuasion, the orthogonality thesis * How epistemics (including science) makes progress * Health, wellness, and how to live a good life * Latest trends in AI: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude * Economic impacts of AGI, automation, and unbounded inequality * UBI and universal wealth redistribution * The likelihood of future doom or utopia * Human augmentation and hacking human potential * Plato's cave * Fun theory and value theory "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." - Nietzsche, *Twilight of the Idols* Philosophy discussions can feel quite sedentary - hence our experiment in cross-pollinating exercise with engaging discussion. Exerting mind and body together may produce a fascinating dynamic. A sedentary lifestyle (and, by association, philosophy) has been linked to depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Ease the anxieties of the armchair philosopher engaging in mental gymnastics with minimal muscle movement - join our raggle-taggle crew of aspiring philosophers walking the talk. Healthy body, healthy mind. Bring elemental protection (umbrellas, sunscreen, etc).

Melbourne Python Meetup – July 2026

**Melbourne Python's Meetup July 2026!** Join Melbourne’s Python community for another night of learning, sharing, and connecting. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been coding in Python for years, our monthly meetup is the perfect place to learn something new and connect with fellow developers. This group is for developers, data scientists, web programmers, and anyone passionate about Python. 📅 **When:** 5:30 PM, Thursday, July 23, 2026 📍 **Where:** Judo Bank, Queen and Collins Building Level 26/376-390 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia 👉 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/A9JQTYGrMqGn8AzAA](https://maps.app.goo.gl/A9JQTYGrMqGn8AzAA) **Note:** The entrance is next to Rustica Cafe. Press level 26 when you arrive, and you'll find us there! **Agenda for the Evening** **5:30 - 6:00 PM**: Networking **6:00–6:15 PM** : Welcome and logistics 🎉 **6:15–6:45 PM** - **Talk 1:** Samko Yun - **Sr. Solutions Engineer @Neo4j** on The Shape of Suspicious Behavior: Anomaly Detection with Graphs. In this session, Samko explores how graph technology can uncover suspicious behaviour such as fraud, money laundering, account sharing, and coordinated activity. Using practical examples and lessons from real-world projects, we’ll look at how graphs help reveal patterns that traditional approaches often miss. **6:45–7:00 PM**: Break – Connect with someone new! **7:00**–**7:30 PM** - **Talk 2:** Justin Warren - **Principal Analyst/Founder @PivotNine** on Renegotiating the Social Contract for Free Software. This talk explores the social contract of free and open source software in light of recent events, using Elinor Ostrom's work on common pool resources, the Tyrant Test, corporate intentionality, and Stafford Beer's "the purpose of a system is what it does" as lenses. **8:00 PM**: Event concludes 🌟 **Special Thanks** 🌟 A huge shoutout to our sponsors **Judo Bank**, **AWS** and **Neo4j** for making this meetup possible. Your support means the world to us! **Interested in Speaking or Sponsoring?** We’d love to hear from you! Email us at **melbournepython@gmail.com** or fill out our speaker interest form at https://forms.gle/S5T1SL4ULY5aogf47. We can't wait to celebrate Python and the incredible Melbourne community with you. See you on July 23! 🎉

Gather in Hawthorn: STEAM, Art, Food

July is for the letter G! It was a bit tricky coming up with ideas, but with the help of member feedback, we managed to curate some intellectually stimulating and aesthetically pleasing venues within walking distance of Glenferrie train station. **ITINERARY** 11am: Meet at entrance of National Communications Museum (375 Burwood Road, Hawthorn). Enjoy the exhibitions and informative displays, including a trip back in time to remember how we used to communicate before smartphones and wifi. 12pm: Reconvene to walk over to Town Hall Gallery to view the exhibitions. 12.45pm: Time for lunch. Plenty of options on Burwood Road and around the train station. Let's enjoy great food and introvert-friendly conversation together. 2pm: End of outing. **ABOUT NATIONAL COMMUNICATION MUSEUM:** (Source: https://ncm.org.au) National Communication Museum is a unique Melbourne experience, where visitors are invited to consider everyday items that have become essential to our lives in a new light. NCM invites visitors to contemplate new and old technology, interact with the items on display and explore old communication concepts as well as look toward the future of communication technology. NCM is two levels of informative displays with the first level hosting exhibitions on new and evolving technology and concepts, and the second level reminiscent of how far technology has come, displaying the devices we all know and have loved. **ABOUT TOWN HALL GALLERY:** [Town Hall Gallery | Boroondara Arts | City of Boroondara](https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/boroondara-arts/visit-us/town-hall-gallery) [Exhibitions and visual arts | Boroondara Arts | City of Boroondara](https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/boroondara-arts/whats/exhibitions-and-visual-arts) **COST OF OUTING:** There is an organizer fee of $10 per person. You can bring cash on the day or PayID me at 0403 413 056 (Serena Low). Cost of food and drink is at member's own expense. **GETTING THERE:** The closest train station is Glenferrie which is on the Alamein/Lilydale line.

Lebanese.

Lunch at Vapiano Flinders Lane/Collins Street

Let’s have lunch at this pizza and pasta place that is card only payment. You can pay the Organiser cash, please bring small notes and coins, not $50 or $100 notes. The food here is really good. https://vapiano.com.au/menu-food

Melbourne Foundational Models Meetup: Showcasing Australia’s AI Builders

**[REGISTER HERE]** ( https://luma.com/qikchg4r ) Australia’s AI ecosystem is rapidly evolving, and while much of the global conversation focuses on models developed overseas, there is a growing community of founders, researchers, students and industry leaders building AI capability right here in Australia. ​Join SMEC AI, RMIT RAIsE Hub and RMIT Activator for an evening showcasing practical AI innovation being developed across startups, industry, education and research, with foundational models acting as the enabling technology behind many of these advances. ​This event brings together builders from across Melbourne’s AI ecosystem to share what they are creating, experimenting with and learning. Through talks, demonstrations and showcases, attendees will gain insight into how AI is being applied in real-world settings and where Australia can play a meaningful role in the next wave of innovation. ​Rather than focusing purely on theory, the evening is designed to highlight practical capability, interdisciplinary collaboration and tangible examples of AI in action. ## ​What you’ll learn: ​• How foundational models are enabling innovation across startups, research and industry ​• The difference between simply adopting AI tools and building AI capability ​• Practical examples of generative AI being deployed in real-world environments ​• How universities, founders and industry can collaborate to accelerate innovation ​• Lessons from teams actively building AI products, services and research projects ​• Opportunities for students, researchers and founders to participate in Australia’s growing AI ecosystem ​ ## ​Featured segments include: ​• Short talks from industry leaders and AI practitioners ​• Showcases from startups, student teams and research projects ​• Networking and ecosystem connections ## ​Who should attend: ​• Founders and startup teams ​• Students and researchers ​• AI engineers and technical practitioners ​• Industry professionals exploring AI adoption ​• Innovation and ecosystem leaders ​• Anyone interested in the future of AI capability in Australia ​Whether you’re building with AI, researching it, investing in it, or simply curious about where the technology is heading, this event offers a unique opportunity to connect with the people helping shape Australia’s AI future. ## ​**About SMEC AI** ​SMEC AI is an initiative of Boab AI in partnership with Artesian, Cremorne Digital Hub, University of Melbourne, RMIT, La Trobe University, Victorian Medtech Skills And Devices Hub, TNG and Rockwell. ​SMEC AI focuses on the agriculture, clean energy, medical and enabling capabilities industries as defined by the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas. ​The SMEC AI project and activities has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Industry Science and Resources AI Adopt program and is aimed at enhancing the adoption of artificial intelligence by small to medium enterprises in Australia. ## ​**About RMIT RAIsE Hub** ​RMIT Artificial Intelligence Advanced Innovation Experience (RAIsE) is RMIT University’s AI Education–Research–Industry Nexus. ​RAIsE connects interdisciplinary AI education, applied research, and industry collaboration to advance responsible, industry-connected artificial intelligence. The Hub equips students across disciplines with industry-informed AI capability, enables research with real-world impact, and supports dialogue on enterprise AI adoption and governance.

Building Physical AI - Show and Tell

Join us at Melbourne Connect Co-working for an evening of live demos and real product stories from practitioners putting AI to work on problems that matter. ​This Show & Tell brings together three builders working at the intersection of technology and community impact. Each speaker will walk through how their product works, what problem it addresses, and how it applies in real-world settings, no theory, just working technology and honest conversation. ## 🎤 **Speakers:** ​**Jeremy Peng — Circular Vision AI** ​An AI-powered recycling assistant that gamifies and rewards waste sorting, improves everyday behaviour, and uses data to power smarter circular systems. ​**Jaspal Sarai — Jenesys** ​Edge AI Infrastructure for devices like low orbit satellites and drones where on-device AI processes data in real time rather than in the cloud, supporting an alternative solution for accurate earth and weather observations. ​**Aish Singh — Deep Vitals** ​An AI-powered metabolic health platform turning live glucose and wearable signals into personalised daily actions that support behaviour change and simplify healthier decisions. ## 🗓 **Agenda:** ​Arrival and networking ​Featured talks and demos ## 🏢 **Venue:** ​Melbourne Connect Co-working is located within Australia's leading innovation precinct, home to a community of leaders across science, engineering and technology. To find out more, get in touch with our team. [melbconnectcoworking.com.au](https://melbconnectcoworking.com.au/?utm_source=meetup)

Tall Dark and Art Photoshoot Workshop with Model Sharna Kay

Afternoon at the Melbourne Museum & Coffee and Conversation

Join me for an easy going afternoon exploring and learning together at the Melbourne Museum. We'll have time to chat and meet new friends as we wind our way through the Melbourne Story, the living Forest Gallery and the dramatic Dinosaur Walk. We'll immerse ourselves in the newest exhibition, Our Wondrous Planet, a multisensory gallery where ecosystems and wildlife reveal the incredible connections of life on Earth, with large-scale projections, hands-on interactives, and stories bringing together First Peoples knowledge with modern science. We'll finish up at the Museum Market Cafe to enjoy a coffee and conversations together and share the highlights of our visit. An adult entry ticket is $18 and you can book online via this link [https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/tickets/](https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/tickets/) **Agenda** I will meet you to the left of the front entrance of the Melbourne Museum at 1.30pm and we'll make our way into the museum at 1.40pm From there we'll take time to explore the fascinating exhibitions and interactive displays through the museum. There will be time at the cafe to socialise and enjoy a coffee together and share our discoveries and insights. **Location** Melbourne Museum is located at 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton, in Carlton Gardens (near the Royal Exhibition Building). The most direct way via public transport is by tram Catch Tram Route 86 or 96 and get off at Stop 11: Melbourne Museum (corner of Nicholson Street and Gertrude Street). The closest train station is Parliament Station on the City Loop and it's a 10–15 minute walk from there. When you RSVP please **click Attend** on the event page and I will be in touch with the details. I will also be available in the event page Comments on the day.