Lego Groups Sydney

From EVP & CPO of Walmart US to Advisor for MrBeast: A Chat with Jon Alferness

Some careers shape products. Others shape industries. Join Leading the Product for an exclusive evening with [Jon Alferness](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-alferness-b193a3/) — one of Silicon Valley's most accomplished product leaders, advisor and investor. Jon is a highly experienced technology and product leader with more than 20 years' experience in Silicon Valley and the global retail sector, including recent focus on the food and grocery sector. Across more than two decades, his career has been defined by senior executive roles delivering digital transformation and innovation at some of the world's most influential technology companies, including Google, Pinterest, Lyft and, most recently, as Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer at Walmart US whilst a Strategic Advisor to MrBeast — a role encompassing eCommerce, Financial Services, Health & Wellness, Merchant Tools, and Last Mile Delivery. Prior to Walmart, Jon spent 13 years at Google, where as Vice President of Product Management, he played a pivotal role in developing Google Ads across Search, Mobile, Shopping, and Travel, driving innovations that shaped the digital advertising landscape. Now, Jon's roles consist of Non Executive Director for Woolworths Group and Advisor/Investor to many companies. Hosted as an intimate Fireside Chat, with Brainmates CEO [Adrienne Tan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennetan/) driving the fireside chat, this is a rare opportunity for the Australian product community to hear directly from someone who has operated at the highest levels of global product leadership. This will be an open, candid conversation exploring what it really takes to build enduring product organisations, lead through constant technological change, make high-stakes decisions, and develop the next generation of product leaders. We'll dive into topics including: * How product leadership has evolved across the world's biggest technology companies. * What separates exceptional product organisations from merely good ones. * Leading through AI, disruption and constant change. * Building products, teams and cultures that scale. * The lessons, mistakes and experiences that only come from operating at the very highest level. Following the fireside conversation, we'll open the floor for an audience Q&A, giving attendees the chance to ask their own questions and engage directly with one of the industry's most experienced product executives. We'll then continue the conversation over drinks and networking with Sydney's product community. **Evening timeline** 5.30 – 6.15pm: Arrive, grab a drink, and connect 6.15 – 7.15pm: Fireside conversation with Jon Alferness and audience Q&A 7.15 – 8.00pm: Networking, conversation, and connection Whether you're an experienced product leader, an aspiring executive, or simply curious about how the world's best product organisations think and operate, this promises to be an evening of practical insights, honest stories, and unforgettable access. A huge shoutout to Dovetail for their gracious hosting at their Surry Hills office. We'll have light food and drinks covered—all we ask is that you bring your curiosity, your questions, and your perspective. RSVP your spot today.

Houdini Day @ UTS

**PLEASE NOTE: This is not a sign up page, you must visit the following link for event details and to register:** **https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/houdini-day-uts-tickets-1991121795891?aff=oddtdtcreator** Welcome to the very first **Houdini HIVE + Ignite Workshop Day at UTS**! Please join us for an exciting in-person gathering where creativity meets technology. Dive into the world of visual effects, animation, and more with industry professionals and experts. Select from one of our 4 hands-on workshops in the morning , then stay for our inspiring lineup of presenters in the afternoon as well as our expert discussion panel. Prizes and Swag sponsored by **SideFX.** * **Lab 1 Create Blue Mountains Landscapes, Mark Flanagan, RMIT University** *Attendees will look at setting up a USD workflow, with Solaris and RenderMan. From research to render... Building a Blue Mountains landscape from DEM data, working with Copernicus and Terrain tools, for adding detail and textures. Scattering trees, rocks and biome relevant assets. Finishing off with volumetric clouds and the signature blue haze which gives the area its name.* * **Lab 2 Learn to Animate with KineFX, Garrick Rawlingson, Floating Rock** *Ever wanted to animate in Houdini? Here’s your chance. Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the fundamentals of animation by bringing the classic bouncing ball to life — and take it a step further by animating the cutest kiwi character.* * **Lab 3 Motion Graphics in LOPS, Matt Tillman, Pixel Ninja** *This hands on workshop guides participants through the process of building and rendering a short product-focused motion graphics sequence. Working from the ground up; starting with modelling the asset in SOPs, before blocking and assembling the sequence in Solaris and finally lighting and rendering with Karma XPU.* * **Lab 4 The Key to SOPs: Attributes, Fraser Shiers, ILM & Hipflask** *To wield Houdini's true power and potential, you need to master attributes — and that's exactly what you'll be doing here. In this beginner-friendly workshop, you'll unleash attributes to drive parameters and scatter and distribute geometry. You'll gain a solid understanding of how attributes work, and come away with production-proven tools and techniques for bending them to your will.*

Syd HUG @ FIN

**The Houdini HIVE weekend kicks off right here — grab a drink, meet fellow Houdini artists, and settle in for an evening hosted by FIN at their Pitt Street studio.** Tickets will be limited so please RSVP to secure your spot \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **PRESENTATIONS** **Houdini 22 Highlights & Overview \- Adam Lee \| Technical Consultant at SideFX** Adam Lee will showcase the latest features in Houdini 22, highlighting his top favourites. Get a quick insider’s look at what’s new and why it matters to your workflow. **Presentations by artists at FIN** More details coming soon. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **SCHEDULE** 6.30pm: Doors open, networking 7.00 to 8:30pm: Presentations and Q&A 8:30 to 10:00pm: Networking and refreshments \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS** * Wacom is offering a chance to win one of their newest tablets. * SideFX has great merch and Houdini Indie licences up for grabs.

From transaction to insight to agent

Operational data used to live in one world and analytics in another — separated by brittle ETL, hours of latency, and a copy of your data you couldn't trust. This month we're closing that gap. We've got a hands-on look at Lakebase and the Lakehouse working as one system, a talk from the team at Slalom, and - because the best answers in this group usually come from the room rather than the stage — a proper open round where we crowdsource solutions to whatever people are actually stuck on right now. Slalom are hosting us, and there will be pizza and drinks. Come hungry, come with a problem you'd like to discuss or just help others to brainstorm on theirs! **🎤** **Talk 1 — Closing the operational/analytical gap with Lakebase and Lakehouse** **Speaker: [Vysnavi Mohan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vysnavi-mohan/), Databricks** Operational data used to live in one world and analytics in another — separated by brittle ETL, hours of latency, and a copy of your data you couldn't trust. We close this gap with Lakebase and Lakehouse. We write live application state into Lakebase, Databricks' managed Postgres transactional engine, and watch it sync automatically into Unity Catalog as a governed Delta table — no pipelines to babysit, no reverse-ETL tax. On top of that synced table we've built an analytics view that serves fresh insights the moment a transaction lands. You'll walk away knowing: * Where Lakebase fits next to the Lakehouse, and what it's *not* for * How the managed sync into Unity Catalog actually behaves — and what governance you inherit for free * What it takes to serve analytics off live application state, without a pipeline in the middle **🎤 Talk 2** - **Grounded, Governed, Useful: Enterprise AI Agents on Databricks** **Speaker: [Morty Mahzoon](https://www.linkedin.com/in/morteza-mahzoon/), Slalom.** Morty will share some exciting things Slalom team are working on, including Genie, Omnigent, Knowledge Bases and more! AI agents are easy to prototype, but much harder to make accurate, secure and useful at enterprise scale. This session explores how Databricks capabilities such as Unity AI Gateway, Genie Ontology, knowledge bases and Omnigent can help organisations build governed agents grounded in trusted data and business context. **🧠 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. Comment below or message the organisers!

Monopoly

Career Mini-Games: Test-Drive Career Paths Before You Commit

How many years does it take to discover whether you're better suited to founding a startup, joining a fast-growing company, becoming a consultant, building a social enterprise, or forging your own unconventional path? What if you could explore them all in just two hours? Join us for an interactive, game-based experience where you'll rotate through a series of career pathway stations, each designed to simulate a different world of work. Through mini-games, discussions, and real conversations with others, you'll gain a feel for what each path demands and whether it excites you. Think of it as part networking event, part career expo, and part workshop. Rather than committing months or years to discover what fits, you'll have the chance to experiment in a safe, low-risk environment. Ask the difficult questions, challenge your assumptions, and explore possibilities without real-world consequences. Whether you're curious about launching a startup, finding a co-founder, becoming a specialist consultant or contractor, joining an ambitious scale-up, or pursuing another direction altogether, you will get value from knowing the rewards what each path offers. 🎟️ Register to attend: [https://luma.com/9mptle28](https://luma.com/9mptle28) **WHO THIS IS FOR:** * students exploring future career options * early-career professionals seeking direction * people considering change or transition * aspiring founders and entrepreneur enthusiasts * anyone searching for purpose * curious minds who enjoy games and hands-on activity Expect meaningful conversations, plenty of networking, and snacks to keep the ideas flowing. 🎟️ Register to attend: [https://luma.com/9mptle28](https://luma.com/9mptle28) **ABOUT THE HOST** ***Jonathan Lee*** is an experience designer, facilitator, and founder of Utopia Rising, with over 25 years of involvement in personal development. Known for creating playful yet meaningful social experiences, Jonathan specialises in holding space to allow the kind of participation that leads to connection, full self-expression, and insight. Since 2016, he has hosted 50+ events across 20+ original themes, including Gratitude, Paparazzi, Creative Arts, Productivity, Philosophy, Innovation, Evolution, and Time Travel, among others. 🎟️ Register to attend: [https://luma.com/9mptle28](https://luma.com/9mptle28)

Tuesday Social NBC Granville

This is group for all players with a view to play to improve their badminton skills.🏸🏸 Every Tuesday Time: 8pm-11pm Number of Courts: 6 courts Number of players: 40 Regular: 20 Non regular : 22 Quality Shuttles included Please made your payment to PayID 0416 379 688 Reference your name and the receipt to 0416 379 688 to confirm your spot. No cash... Location: NBC Granville Address: 62 Ferndell Street south Granville , NSW 2142 Important to know Disclaimer: The members and guests are fully responsible for their injuries by RSVPing to this event. You can get personal injury insurance for yourself by joining Sydney Badminton Association. I will share more information later. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Regards, Kim and Coach Thiet.

Riverwood MIISC - Indoor Open Skill Wednesday Socials

Our Open Skill Sessions are the easiest way to jump in, play, and enjoy pickleball. No pressure, no grading, just good rallies and good company. These morning and afternoon sessions are designed for all skill levels, whether you're brand new, still learning the ropes, or just looking for a relaxed social run-around. Players rotate through friendly doubles games, meet new people, and get plenty of court time. The vibe is simple: show up, have fun, and play at your own pace. If you want a welcoming, low‑stress session where everyone gets involved, this is your spot. Free to register online (Pay at desk of $7.50) Secure your spot only on Eventbrite: https://MIISCSocialPickleball.eventbrite.com.au

Riverwood MIISC - Indoor Open Skill Thursday Socials

Our Open Skill Sessions are the easiest way to jump in, play, and enjoy pickleball. No pressure, no grading, just good rallies and good company. These morning and afternoon sessions are designed for all skill levels, whether you're brand new, still learning the ropes, or just looking for a relaxed social run-around. Players rotate through friendly doubles games, meet new people, and get plenty of court time. The vibe is simple: show up, have fun, and play at your own pace. If you want a welcoming, low‑stress session where everyone gets involved, this is your spot. Free to register online (Pay at desk of $7.50) Secure your spot only on Eventbrite: https://MIISCSocialPickleball.eventbrite.com.au

Play pickleball at Pennant Hills Park! Monday 7:15pm

Come play pickleball at Pennant Hills Park! No first time beginners please. Those new to the game should book into the beginners session through meetup. **What to expect:** 12 outdoor courts 3 levels of play Advanced Intermediate Social Please self-assess your level and join the most suitable queue. Players are welcome to challenge themselves, however, if you are consistently unable to keep up with the level of play, please move down a level or join social play to help keep games fun and balanced for everyone. After each game, come off the court and place your paddle back into the appropriate rack. There are two racks per level - please split your paddles with your partner in the rack to help mix players and keep games social and balanced (though you are welcome to stay together if preferred). Once a rack has 4 paddles waiting, those 4 players may take the next available court. Ages 16 + **What to bring:** Comfortable sportswear and non-marking shoes Water bottle A pickleball paddle if you have (we have extras if you don't) **Where to find us:** Netball courts 3, 4 and 5 inside Pennant Hills Park **Cost:** $12 Payable by Pay ID, Tap and Go (1.6% transaction fee) or Cash. **How to join:** Please RSVP to reserve your spot. (Please **do not pay for Meetup.** Subscribe using the free version!) Please mark off your name with the host upon arrival and pay before playing. If paying via Pay ID, please include your name and the date of the session in the payment description. We look forward to pickling with you! **Event updates:** Any important notices, including event cancellations will be communicated via the Penno Pickleballers Whatsapp Group. [Click here to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/KyxHvvSx0bK9rcYhnSgiAK) Please also follow us on instagram @pennopickleballers **Disclaimer** By confirming your RSVP to this event, you acknowledge and accept full responsibility for any risk of injury or damage to your property. The hosts and organizers are not liable for any injuries or property damage that may occur. Additionally, photos and videos may be captured during the event for our social media and promotional materials. By attending this event, you consent to the use of these images and recordings for such purposes.

Riverwood MIISC - Indoor Open Skill Friday Socials

Our Open Skill Sessions are the easiest way to jump in, play, and enjoy pickleball. No pressure, no grading, just good rallies and good company. These morning and afternoon sessions are designed for all skill levels, whether you're brand new, still learning the ropes, or just looking for a relaxed social run-around. Players rotate through friendly doubles games, meet new people, and get plenty of court time. The vibe is simple: show up, have fun, and play at your own pace. If you want a welcoming, low‑stress session where everyone gets involved, this is your spot. Free to register online (Pay at desk of $7.50) Secure your spot only on Eventbrite: https://MIISCSocialPickleball.eventbrite.com.au

135) Let's Try Bubble Soccer! ⚽🥅🏆

[Cost: $35? - Social Session, Full Details TBA] [Lunch/Dinner: Anywhere you want!] [\~Idea Credit: to Michael King🔥] @Olympic Park! Hello!!! The stuff you can Find on the Internet!... 👌 Bubbles?! & Soccer?! Well, that's just Madness in 1 Sentence, LoL! 😂 Why didn't this Stuff Exist in my Childhood yet?! Well, If you Equally Missed Trying this in Your Teenage Years... I'm Giving you the Opportunity, To Live it Up... .... One More Time! 🤘🔥 So, Come, Saddle Up... & Try this Ridiculous Portable Contraption! Then Food & Drinks, wherever you want If you can be Host, let me know, Thanks!\~ I Hope this sounds like Fun & a Good Event to you ✌ Hope 2 See you! :) \*\*\* Usual Info\*\*\* We can throw in some late Lunch or Dinner as well But, there could also be something straight afterwards (Maybe a Movie? Or, Mini Games Night Right After??...) & Everyone! are Welcome to join 🔥👍 🖖 The plan is to Eat, Drink & Socialize! This Event can be just to Break the Ice, for Newer Members & hopefully meet some rad, local West Side ppl, who would like to meet another/New circle of Friends 👍 So Come with an "Open" mind, & hopefully... you'll meet your next Crew or BFF\~ but Let's Continue with Our NY Resolutions, for the New Year, With some Awesome New Local ppl! Cheers! & Welcome to the Fam 👌 \- Dez