Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering

**WHAT TO EXPECT** Ready to get hands-on with real-world cybersecurity challenges? Join us for an interactive Hack The Box Auckland meetup, hosted at [Lightspeed](https://www.lightspeedhq.com/au/). Whether you're thinking about being a hacker or are already a seasoned one, this event has something for everyone. You’ll take part in a guided walkthrough of a Hack The Box challenge, learning the tools, techniques, and thought processes used to tackle real security problems. After the walkthrough, you will have the opportunity to explore an additional HTB machine, collaborate with other members, and tackle various challenges together. We’ll wrap up the night with a raffle, giving away Hack The Box prizes including VIP platform access and HTB Academy cubes. **VENUE** This is a hybrid event. **In-person:** [Lightspeed Commerce New Zealand](https://www.lightspeedhq.com/au/) 2 Nuffield Street, Newmarket, Auckland 1023 **Online:** Google Meet (6:00–8:00 pm NZDT on January 22, 2026) **WHAT YOU GET** * Access to a dedicated Hack The Box lab during the event * A chance to win Hack The Box giveaways * Hands-on learning in a supportive, community-focused environment * Opportunities to connect with other cybersecurity professionals, students, and enthusiasts **WHAT YOU NEED** * A laptop. * A HTB account. * Discord application. **HOUSE RULES** * Follow all rules and guidelines in the **[HTB TOS: HTB Terms of Service](https://www.hackthebox.com/tos)** * Active HTB content cannot be shared publicly. Retired challenges or machines are fair game. * [Lightspeed](https://www.lightspeedhq.com/au/) is proud to host and support this community-led event as part of our ongoing commitment to growing cybersecurity skills and talent in Aotearoa. * Respect for the venue and people is expected from all the attendees. **ADDITIONAL NOTES** * Join our Discord for event discussion, upcoming event announcements, and CTFs here: **[discord.gg/aDWymsDxWu](https://discord.gg/aDWymsDxWu)** **CODE OF CONDUCT** We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all attendees. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, the following behaviors are strictly prohibited: * Smoking * Drinking alcohol * Any form of discrimination or racism * Any other forms of misconduct Any attendee found engaging in these behaviours will be immediately banned and permanently removed from the group. Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and enjoyable atmosphere for all.

Hey all! My name is Sarah, I'm a romance girlie in my twenties, and welcome to the Mostly Romance Book Club! I am a big mood reader so assigned books at book clubs don't really do it for me. I wanted to create a space where anyone can come with whatever book they want, meet new friends, and chat about what they've been reading. When: First and third Thursday of every month, starting in February. 7-8:30 pm. Schedule: First 30 minutes: Introductions and chat about all things books Next 45 minutes: Silently read your personal physical book, ebook, or audiobook (yes audiobooks count :)) Last 15 minutes: Chat some more and wrap up the meeting

Network with an average of 60+ business professionals, all attendees get an opportunity to give a 30 second elevator pitch, enjoy a light breakfast, 10 minute educational presentation on topics that change weekly, and enjoy networking before and after the meet up.

HYBRID EVENT, VIRTUAL SPEAKER In this talk, Sean Hoar will explore the transformative journey of AI’s role in modern software engineering, from rapid prototyping (“Vibe Coding”) to strategic AI integration by skilled practitioners. It clarifies the distinctions between AI-assisted, AI-enabled, and practitioner-led approaches, offering insights into how developers can effectively adapt to and harness AI tools. The presentation also highlights recent advancements and practical strategies for leveraging AI in daily workflows and long-term development.

Gaming, AdTech, EdTech, Media Streaming, and FinTech are just a few of the workloads where high-availability cloud infrastructure matters. Whether you’re doing battle daily in one of these spaces or are just curious about ways to improve performance, meet us in Reston for an in-person discussion on bare metal cloud architecture. You’ll meet our product lead, James MacKenzie, who will walk through how modern bare metal serves as a control plane for hybrid and private cloud architectures. **What we will cover** * Ways to leverage bare metal, containers, and orchestration for better performance and predictable economics; * Real-world hybrid, disaster recovery, and data-intensive architectures; * Our approach to eliminating ingress and egress fees. **Who should attend** * Cloud architects and platform engineers; * DevOps professionals and infrastructure leads; * FinOps stakeholders managing data-heavy or hybrid workloads. **Why attend** This is a technical, architecture-first conversation. You will leave with a clearer understanding of high-availability cloud infrastructure and how organizations are scaling cost-effectively. Food and drinks will be provided. Space is limited to keep the discussion interactive.

**Swing'n Saturday Den** \- West Coast Swing Dance Party \- 4th Saturday of the Month Where: Elegant Dancing, 11230 Waples Mill Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030 ​When: 4th Saturday (no dance if it lands on or a day before/after a major Holiday) Time: 7:45pm- Beginner Level 1 Lesson (No experience needed) 7:45pm - Intermediate Level 2 /3 Lesson 8:30pm - 11:30pm-Dance Social Cost: $20 - Lesson + Dance Social \*Must Register in advance \*No partner needed ​

Federal Executive GovCon - "Supporting Government Efficiency with Thought Leadership" When: Thursday, January 22, 2026, 5:30 – 8:00 Location: Lost Rhino, 21730 Red Rum Dr, Ste 142, Ashburn, VA 20147 (\*\* NEW LOCATION \*\*) Come network with other local GovCon Executives and enjoy a few free beers on us and engage with our sponsors and Industry speakers. Please register here for your spot and please enter full name and company so a badge will be waiting for you. Sponsorships: 1 of 2 spots are available. DM me to claim the 2nd sponsorship to highlight your company to an invitation-only executive audience.

Join us in our English Conversation Meetup where we get to know one another, support each other and practice English! Whether you're a beginner or advanced speaker, we want to help support you wherever you are! What to expect: * introductions & ice breaker game * read current events article * discussion questions * announcements We will eat somewhere afterwards - hoping you can join!