CEO Roundtables Sydney

Some Harsh Lessons from Playing Games

Schedule --- • 19:00 - 19:30 General networking starts. Setup space, open the first. Brief Introduction Round (Who are you? What do you do?). FREE drinks • 19:30 - 20:00 What bugs you (i.e. Lean Mastermind)? • 20:00 - 21:00 Topic of the day (see speaker details below). Q & A • 21:00 - 21:15 Last drinks. Closing down. Carry on partying elsewhere. **Details** --- General get together. Share the latest news in the entrepreneurs community. Have a drink with like minded people Exchange stories from the trenches and tips on how to run a better business. **Lean Mastermind Session** --- Share a Challenge or an idea you have for your start up / business How can we help you resolve your problem or help you improve on your idea? ## **Topic of the Day: Some Harsh Lessons from Playing Games** Jonathan plays the "corporate" game. ## **Speaker of the Day: Jonathan Sharpe** Details to follow ## **Audience** Suitable for those with a growing business looking to share solutions and experience to accelerate growth and value. Bring a friend/aspiring entrepreneur. **Format** --- Casual get together/Mastermind **Sponsors** --- Thanks for [WOTSO](https://wotso.com/locations/manly) for hosting the event and Michael from https://www.magaconsult.com/about for nourishment (i.e. free drinks and nibbles). Thanks to Amazon Web Services for their ongoing support: [https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started](https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started)

Women and Money: Roundtable discussion at the Women’s Library

AI that ships: building and deploying intelligent apps on Databricks

AI is everywhere, but shipping AI that actually works - reliably, on real data, in a production app - is a different challenge. That's what this event is about. We've got talks on building and deploying intelligent apps on Databricks, a look at how AI fits into the modern data stack, and - because the best conversations in this group come from the room - time to discuss what people are actually building and where it gets hard. Vivanti Consulting are hosting us in their space, and there will be pizza and drinks. Come with a question, bring a war story, or just come curious. Speakers will be announced soon! We will be running our Open Round after the talks as well. **🧠 Open round** \- what are you actually stuck on? The part we keep hearing people come back for. We go around the room, collect the real problems people are wrestling with this quarter - migration pain, governance sprawl, streaming costs, a model nobody trusts, whatever it is - and put them to the group. Someone here has almost certainly solved your problem already. Bring one problem you'd genuinely like a second opinion on. No slides needed, no need to have it figured out. **Call for speakers** Want to talk at a future meetup? We're always after speakers — 10-minute lightning talks count, and first-timers are very welcome. Reach out via LinkedIn or message here.

Master your Social Skills and 10x your Income LIVE MASTERCLASS

**Boost your confidence, connect like a pro, and watch your income soar at this live social skills masterclass!** ## Master your Social Skills and 10x your Income LIVE MASTERCLASS Ready to level up your game? Join us in person for this supercharged masterclass where you'll learn how to boost your social skills and watch your income soar! No fluff, just real tips and tricks that work. Don't miss out on this chance to transform your life and connections. Let's get social and get paid! This will be a game-changer if you are an Introvert who wants to break out of their shell or brush up your social skills overall, make an impact and grow your leadership and most importantly.... Multiply your income. ### **Get ready for this immersive experience and full of breakthroughs!!** Please buy your ticket from this link [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999263484902?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999263484902?aff=oddtdtcreator) **Speaker Profile:** Sam Lee is the Founder and CEO of Connect with Confidence, A Multi Award-Winning and Certified Social Skills Coach, 2x Published Author of “The Social Way” and “Connect with Confidence” which are Self-Help books currently sold through Amazon and Dymocks platforms. He is also a motivational and keynote speaker. He is involved in Non-For Profit Organisations such as Vice-President of Media and Communications for the Australian Vietnam Business Council, Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association and President of Hong Kongers Sydney Social Networking Community. After starting his career as a real estate agent, Sam moved into Helping Introverted Professionals to Master their Social Skills and Multiply their Income. Recently celebrating 6 years of Social Skills coaching over 1000+ students ranging from University students, Teachers, Lawyers, IT Professionals, Accountants, Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Top Executives and CEOs. He is also featured in media such as TV and Radio shows and worked with the NSW Government and other listed companies for training purposes. Please buy your ticket from this link [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999263484902?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999263484902?aff=oddtdtcreator)

Careers in Insurance - Sydney (Panel Q&A and Networking)

# ​An evening for students (or anyone curious about a career in insurance) to meet seasoned professionals working within the insurance industry — panel talks and networking, and a shot at winning a free 1-on-1 one hour insurance career consultation. ​Forget everything you think you know about a career in insurance. It's one of the biggest, most human industries out there — and it's HIRING. The CC:OVER is bringing together seasoned recruiters and insurance professionals from across the industry for one relaxed evening of real talk about what these jobs actually look like. **\*\*\* ACCEPTING REGISTRATION VIA LUMA LINK ONLY: (https://luma.com/oflce7nf)** ​**🕔 How the evening runs** * ​5:00 – 5:30pm — Doors open. Grab a coffee, settle in, meet a few faces before things kick off. * ​5:30 – 7:00pm — Panel sessions and Q&A. Hear directly from people working across the industry — what they do, how they got there, and what they wish someone had told them at uni. * ​7:00 – 8:00pm — Networking. Swap the panel format for real conversations — ask the questions you didn't want to ask in front of a room. ​**🎤 Meet the panel (lineup TBC)** We're locking in speakers across the breadth of the industry, including: * ​Recruiters * ​Underwriters * ​Brokers * ​Insurtech founders * ​Claims * ​Actuaries ​Full names and bios to be announced closer to the date — different job, different path into the industry, every one of them. ​**🎁 Why you'll want to be in the room** * ​An exclusive lifestyle perk, for every attendee * ​The chance to win a free 1-on-1 careers consultation with a highly regarded veteran of the industry. * ​First access to future CC:OVER events, before anyone else hears about them ​ ​**📍 The details** * ​Free entry * ​Sydney CBD - UTS STARTUPS * ​Open to university students or anyone curious about a career in insurance, risk, actuary or insurtech — no experience or existing industry knowledge needed. ​Come with questions. Leave with a much clearer idea of what a career in this industry could actually look like. *** ## ​Further instructions ​This event is free but RSVP is essential **via Luma link (https://luma.com/oflce7nf)** as spots are limited — we'll follow up closer to the date with full panel bios. Location UTS STARTUPS SYDNEY CBD. NSW, Australia

Tabletop Tuesdays

Are you ready for the next Tabletop Tuesday? Tabletop Tuesdays is back at Game Plus! Developing a board or card game? Or just like playing? Join us at Game Plus on the last Tuesday of the month for Tabletop Tuesdays! If you have a game you are developing then bring it along to playtest with others. If not then either turn up to do some playtesting, or play some other commercially available games. If you own a game you would like to play then bring it along. There should be a few options to try.

AzNConnecT Syd Networking Drinks - AI vs Human - The Great Debate

**AzNConnecT Syd Networking Drinks - AI vs Human - The Great Debate - Oct 30th Fri** Is AI set to replace humans, or will human creativity and intelligence always have the edge? Hear from AI and human experts as they share insights, challenge perspectives, and debate the future of technology, business, and human potential. Join us for an engaging discussion, fresh ideas, and networking with like-minded professionals. 📅 **Date:** Fri, 30 Oct 2026 🕡 **Time:** 6pm - 9pm 📍 **Venue:** Dynasty Karaoke - Lvl 1/63 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW 💰 **Pricing** ✅ Members: **Free** ✅ Non-Members Early Bird: **$25 (First 10 sales)** ✅ Non-Members General: $35 ✅ At the Door: **$50** 🍷 Includes canapés & drink 🎟️ **70 Pax Only** Secure your place early to avoid missing out. 📩 RSVP Today [https://tinyurl.com/aznconnectoct2026](https://tinyurl.com/aznconnectoct2026) Or AzNConnecT ISO App [https://tinyurl.com/Aznconnectapp](https://tinyurl.com/Aznconnectapp)

SYDNEY 🔥 BOSS LADIES Networking Meetup @ Novotel Darling Harbour

**👠 L​assie & Edward Zia host a monthly Boss Ladies Meetup @ Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour!🔥** Join Women in Business for a fun and relaxing Networking Meetup hosted by Lassie & Edward Zia. ​​Our events are about creating a platform for fostering and empowering meaningful connections, getting everyone out of their homes and offices to build a stronger Network within our Communities. **​T​he Event:** ​Our gatherings are free to you and pretty casual, with minimum structure to allow natural flow of conversations. Please make a donation, we really appreciate your support. Come along, grab a cold beverage on arrival, ​introduce yourselves, make new friends, take photos for social media and connect with each other on your phones via Linkedin. Our leaders will give a brief introduction while we purchase our own lunch. Feel free to move around and speak to everyone, and enjoy a coffee afterwards​ too. **Before the event** ​Make sure that you have registered and updated your professional profile and install Linkedin on your phone, our preferred social media platform for high quality professionals and Business Partners. **After the event​:** ​Feel free to stay back for more Networking fun in the afternoon. ​Touch base with those you have met and connect with any you may have missed via the event posts on Linkedin created by Lassie on the day. Schedule a coffee meet and or come along to our next event to re-connect with others. **P​arking:** Wilson Parking available underneath the hotel. They are a top option and better if you book the day before too. **First time with Us?** You're in good hands! We've been running​ networking events in ​since 2015 and beyond. **About Us** Our Meetup Business Community has over 16k members and has become one of Australia's largest Business Networking Meetup groups. We host regular Networking events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and zooms throughout the year, supporting a network of ever growing businesses. With over 16,000 members in our Business Community, you have the best chance of meeting like-minded people to grow and scale your Network faster. **[Book into our coming events here and donate to support our work here x](https://linktr.ee/edwardzia)**

Data Driven or Data Distracted!

Our CCX Sydney October event features a very lively and topical panel discussion entitled Data Driven or Data Distracted We will be applying a $10.00 cover charge to cover Food and drinks and on this occasion will be kindly hosted by the ONSET https://theonset.com.au The Onset is a specialist recruitment business deeply connected to Australia’s design and technology ecosystem. They work with ambitious companies, brilliant industry experts and a wider group of specialists across data, AI, design and transformation through The Omnia Collective. About the session **How Product, Design & Engineering actually use evidence to make decisions** How much data do we really need to make better product decisions? And when does being “data-driven” start getting in the way of good product thinking? For this CCX Sydney session, we’re bringing together four practitioners from different corners of the product ecosystem — analytics, strategy and service design, UX/CX, and engineering — to explore the role data and evidence actually play in product development and delivery. Each speaker will have **15 minutes to make their own case** for — or against — being **DATA-DRIVEN OR DATA-DISTRACTED**. Rather than presenting a single view, they’ll challenge us to look at how research, analytics, customer insight, AI, product requirements engineering and data can influence the decisions we make — from defining the problem and creating the PRD through to designing, building and releasing the product. Our speakers bring four very different perspectives: **Olga Pasikova\, Senior Analytics Director; Rob Tot\, Strategy & Service Design Lead; Thomas Shillingford\, UX \| CX \| Strategy \| AI and Author; and David Berigny\, Forward Deployed Engineer\.** Each panel member will bring their own experience, provocations and examples to the question: **when does data help us make better decisions — and when does it simply give us more information to react to?** Then we turn up the heat. Following the four presentations, **Sophie Greenfield, Senior Product & AI Designer at CBA**, will lead a lively panel discussion, bringing the speakers together to challenge each other's perspectives and explore the tensions between data, evidence, intuition, customer understanding and design judgement. Because being data-driven sounds simple. **Knowing what data to trust, what it actually means, and when to ignore it is where things get interesting.** **About our Panel:** ### Olga Pasikova **Senior Analytics Director** Olga Pasikova is a Senior Analytics Director and experienced digital analytics specialist with more than a decade working across data, analytics and digital measurement. She brings a strong ability to translate complex analytics challenges into clear strategic direction, helping teams use data to understand behaviour, measure outcomes and make better-informed decisions. Olga is also an active member of Sydney’s data and analytics community. ### Rob Tot **Strategy & Service Design Lead** Rob Tot is a Strategy and Service Design Lead who works at the intersection of customer needs, business strategy and service innovation. His work brings together strategic thinking and human-centred design to help organisations navigate complex problems, uncover opportunities and turn insight into meaningful product and service outcomes. ### Thomas Shillingford **UX \| CX \| Strategy \| AI \| Author** Thomas Shillingford is a UX and CX strategist, designer, author and speaker with extensive experience across digital products and customer experiences. His career has included work spanning research, customer journeys, interaction design, usability, design strategy and large-scale digital transformation. More recently, Thomas has been exploring the impact of AI on design practice, including how AI is changing design systems, strategy and the role of human judgement. ### David Berigny **Forward Deployed Engineer** David Berigny is a Forward Deployed Engineer working at the intersection of technology, product development and real-world customer problems. His role brings engineering directly into the product development process — translating customer and business needs into practical technical solutions, testing ideas in the field and using evidence from real-world implementation to inform what gets built and how it evolves. ### Sophie Greenfield FACILITATOR **Senior Product Designer & Facilitator** Sophie Greenfield is a Senior Product Designer at Commonwealth Bank with more than 20 years’ experience across UX, product design, research and digital strategy. Her career has spanned product strategy, customer research and experience design across organisations including CommBank, Westpac and ING Direct. Sophie has a particular interest in the intersection of **data, customer insight, product strategy and AI-enabled design**. She has been exploring and teaching AI-enabled design practices, from research synthesis and hypothesis validation to rapid prototyping and new ways of working for designers. For **DATA-DRIVEN OR DATA-DISTRACTED?**, Sophie will facilitate the conversation between our four speakers, challenging their perspectives and helping unpack the bigger question: **when does evidence genuinely improve product decisions — and when can data become a distraction from understanding the customer?** We are so excited to be wrapping up the year with this awesome panel discussion hosted by new friends of CCX Sydney, the ONSET. [https://theonset.com.au/](https://theonset.com.au/) Lastly make sure you Join us for sponsored drinks from Amplitude post the event at a nearby bar: Amplitude is the AI analytics platform built for data analysts, PMs, and growth teams. It doesn't just report on what happened; it shows you why and what to do next, all self-serve and in real time. And we're buying drinks. Join us after the meetup at the Strawberry hills hotel Regards Kevin, Lydia, Sylvia, James and Carolina.

The Corporate Toastmasters Club

Call out to all early risers! Sick of getting caught up at work and missing Toastmasters lunch or afternoon meetings? Start the day the right way, with our meeting then head off to work afterwards. You're invited to visit our small but active Toastmasters Club located at Tiny's Sandwich Bar, 1/55 Clarence Street, Sydney. Learn communication, public speaking and leadership skills in a safe, supportive environment. We meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month Time: 7:35am for 7:45am start Duration: 1 hour – finished by 8:50am Contact us on corporatetoastmasters@gmail.com or register here as a guest: [https://corporatetoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org/](https://corporatetoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org/)

SYDNEY 🔥 Business Networking Meetup @ Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour

**🔥L​assie & Edward Zia's Business Community is hosting a Business Networking Event @ Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour!🔥** **[Book into our coming events + donate to support our work x](https://linktr.ee/edwardzia)** Join like-minded people in Business for a fun and relaxing Networking Lunch and afternoon connecting. Our Business Community includes a diverse range of friendly and supportive Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, CEOs, Managing Directors, Boss Ladies, Thought Leaders and Influencers, open and ready to meet like-minded individuals, to connect and grow their Networks! (Not suitable for students) ​​Our events are all about fostering and empowering meaningful connections, getting everyone out of their homes and offices to build a stronger Network within our Communities. **​T​he Event:** ​Our gatherings are free to you and pretty casual, with minimum structure to allow natural flow of conversations. Come along, grab lunch, ​introduce yourselves, make new friends, and connect with each other on your phones via Linkedin. Our leaders will give a brief introduction after lunch, feel free to move around and speak to everyone before and after, and enjoy a coffee and or beverages of your choice throughout​ the event too. **Before the event** ​Make sure that you have registered and updated your professional profile and install the Linkedin app on your phone, our preferred social media platform for high quality professionals and Business Partners. **After the event​:** ​Touch base with those you have met and connect with any you may have missed on the day. Schedule a coffee meet and or come along to our next event to re-connect with others. **​P​arking:** Located in Darling Harbour, prepaid parking directly beneath Novotel Darling Harbour is available at Wilson Parking, provided that you book online 1 day prior. **First time with Us?** You're in good hands! We've been running​ networking events in ​since 2015 and beyond **About Us** Our Meetup Business Community has over 16k members and has become one of Australia's largest Business Networking Meetup groups. We host regular Networking events in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and zooms throughout the year, supporting a network of ever-growing businesses. With over 16,000 members in our Business Community, you have the best chance of meeting like-minded people to grow and scale your Network faster. **View all upcoming ​events [here](https://linktr.ee/LassieZia)** ### Frequently Asked Question​s **What is the dress code?** Smart Business casual and ​be photo ready. **Do many people attend by themselves?** Many of ​our attendees come by themselves​ and friends, colleagues and first timers are always welcomed. **How can I make contact with any questions?** ​Simply direct message [Edward Zia](https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardzia/) with any further questions. We aim to create High Value and the best Business Networking Events available out there! **Meet - Like - Know - Trust** **Your Network is your Networth!** 🌏🌏🌏💙💙💙🔥🔥🔥 If you love our High Quality Business Networking Events, please Sign up to become a Member of the **[Awesome Influencer Vault](https://edwardzia.teachable.com/p/theawesomemarketingvault)** and help us keep them Running! We really appreciate your ongoing support

We 🧡 RYDE Awesome Networking Meetup @ West Ryde Hotel

We 🧡 RYDE is our legendary Neighborhood & Business Community. We aim to bring local residents, businesses and lovers of Ryde together to make new connections, new friends and build a strong supportive network. **[To learn more, join our Facebook Group here!](https://www.facebook.com/groups/rydevoice)** #MacquriePark #Eastwood #WestRyde #Denistone #Meadowbank #Ryde Our Networking Meetups are fun, social, and casual. A great opportunity to meet and catch up for lunch and more with great locals. This is FREE from us, and please make sure to purchase food and drinks to support our hosts at West Ryde Hotel Your guests are most welcome too! The more the merrier. This event is hosted by Lassie & Edward Zia. **[Learn more about their events + support their work here! ❤️🤛](https://linktr.ee/edwardzia)**