Financial Services

Hi friends, Welcome to our first meetup in this The Friendly Meetup for Actuaries and Quants! We're a sister group of [The Friendly Data Meetup London](https://www.meetup.com/the-friendly-data-meetup/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize), a bootstrapped 2000+ person group. This one is focused on actuaries and quants :D As a smaller group, we make meaningful connections with like-minded quantitative professionals. Lifelong friendships are forged along the way! Whether you're new in town, want to expand your social circle, get into the insurance and banking space, or see a friend you know, this is the place to be! No guest speakers nor rigid agenda, just a casual meetup and lots of fun conversation! 🥳 We're also on Luma, so please follow us there too! [https://luma.com/friendly-actuaries](https://luma.com/friendly-actuaries) See you soon! NOTE: Please remember to bring your ID with you, as all guests must be of legal age to enter the venue. **About Us** 🤗 Welcome actuaries, quants and friends! Sometimes, it can be difficult to make friends within the field, and that's what we're all about! We're a group of like minded individuals who understand the highs and lows of working in finance and insurance. ✅ Our primary goal is to have higher quality conversations that are more meaningful, with smaller groups so that we get to spend more attention on each individual. 💯 If you're already reading this, you're definitely welcome! We welcome everyone, whether you're already in the field, looking to get started or just curious! 🗨️ Bring your friends, bring your plus ones, we're all just here to have a good laugh and a good chat about the world, even if it isn't always about our work. **Our values:** 📖 Openness - We welcome everyone 🤝 Trust - Build long-lasting friendships together 💝 Care - Be kind to others and help each other out **Who it's for:** \- Life Actuaries \- Non\-Life Actuaries \- Health Actuaries \- Pensions Actuaries \- Reinsurance Actuaries \- Quantitative Analysts \- Quantitative Traders \- Investment Bankers \- Portfolio Managers \- Financial Engineers \- Entrepreneurs\, Contractors \- Anyone who works with Insurance\, Pensions\, Hedge Funds\, Investment Banks\, Asset Managers etc\. \- Anyone looking to get into the space \- Friends **How to Make the Most of the Meetup** The Friendly Meetup for Actuaries and Quants has one simple purpose: meaningful connections. We're not just a community of people, we're friends who get invested in each others lives. We check in on our friends regularly, and personally. So come and join us, more than just once or twice! **Code of Conduct:** The Friendly Meetup welcomes all genders, nationalities, ethnicities, backgrounds, identities etc. There is a strict no discrimination policy in adherence to our code of conduct and our guiding principles. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for hateful or antisocial behaviour. In short, be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Behave professionally, don't make others uncomfortable. Remember that harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for The Friendly Meetup.

For our March meetup, we're back at the fabulous Accurx offices. We have two excellent talks lined up, the agenda will be: * 6:30pm - arrive, drinks, networking * 7:00pm - Welcome & Housekeeping * 7:15pm - **Talk 1: "Devops 2014 Revisited - a Dozen Years of Noise and Confusion"** It is 11th February 2014, a nervous Andy Burgin takes the stage at Agile Yorkshire and begins to share the current thinking from the burgeoning DevOps movement. Fast forward 12 years: DevOps is different — or is it? During a recent clear-out at chez Burgin, an old, forgotten laptop was discovered discarded between a box of floppy disks and a collection of old Computer Shopper magazines. While the laptop was no longer functional, a painstaking data recovery process rescued the files on its hard drive via a collection of old adaptors and half-working wires. Among the files saved from the Wakefield Council recycling centre was a copy of the very PowerPoint deck presented at that meetup 12 years earlier. But what was in this digital "time capsule"? What happened to DevOps? What did it become? Is it now a tool, a job title, or did something "bad" happen to it? Are the thoughts shared over a decade ago still relevant today? Join Andy as he looks at how we travelled from DevOps to Cloud, SRE, Platform Engineering, Team Topologies, Developer Experience, and VibeOps - Most importantly, we'll explore what the future of DevOps can learn from its past. **Speaker:** Andy Burgin, Principal Platform Engineer @ Flutter UK and Ireland *Andy is a Principal Platform Engineer at Flutter UK and Ireland. He considers himself a Kubernetes, AI and DevRel fettler, spending far too much of his spare time running software in containers that really shouldn't be. He is a small part of the organising team for DevOpsDays London and ran the DevOps meetup in Leeds for almost a decade hosting over 50 events. He’s attended and has spoken at a bunch of DevOps conferences and in his own words is an "all-round DevOps nuisance".* * 7.45pm - food, more drinks & networking * 8.00pm - **Talk** **2: "Navigating From Tension to Flow: A Human-Centred Guide to Overcoming Misalignment"** Behind every stalled project, missed milestone, or unclear decision is a story of tension between what people want, what’s needed, and what’s possible. But tension isn’t failure. It’s feedback. This talk explores how to recognize and respond to tension using Team Topologies principles, flow first thinking, and a healthy dose of human insight. We’ll show how organizational patterns, team boundaries, and interaction modes can either amplify or ease misalignment — and how trust, empathy, and bold conversation are just as important as structure, if not more so. Packed with real-world examples, this session blends organizational design with emotional intelligence to help you design for flow — and for people. **Speakers:** Faye Benfield, Product Leader, Independent & Rich Allen, Fast Flow Facilitator @ Conjurer *Faye Benfield is a Product Leader with over 15 years experience in product management, agile delivery and digital transformation. Specialising in helping organisations adopt product practices, Faye has a proven track record of embedding product teams, evolving ways of working, and aligning stakeholders to achieve strategic goals. Faye has held leadership roles, including Head of Product and Delivery at Parkinson’s UK and Head of Product at Comic Relief, where she spearheaded digital transformation initiatives and cultivated effective, people-centred teams. As a consultant at Armakuni, she combined hands-on coaching with practical tools and techniques to help clients navigate the complexities of product delivery, with a focus on balancing human dynamics and practical constraints.* *Rich Allen is a sociotechnical architect, consultant and creator of User Needs Mapping, a practical technique for aligning teams around what matters. With over 20 years’ experience across software engineering, technical leadership, and organisational design, Rich helps organisations reduce friction, clarify boundaries, and improve flow by working outside-in from real user needs. He was a foundational contributor to the development and teaching of Team Topologies, helping shape the core materials now used in Team Topologies training and consulting worldwide. Rich is the author of User Needs Mapping: Aligning Teams Around What Matters.* * 8.30pm onwards - drinks and networking. So, please come and join us, we look forward to seeing you there. The LOPUG team. * Food and drinks provided * Good time will be had by all

Welcome to our March event. We're delighted to welcome [Matt Johnson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhjwork/), CEO, Rayo, and [Dan Keely](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-keeley/), Principal Data Engineer, Rebura. **Matt** talks about hard-won AWS lessons on keeping cloud costs under control - plus a real “oops” story of how one small mistake can blow up your bill (and how to stop it happening again). **Dan** talks shares how hardware-style production thinking makes your data platforms more reliable, maintainable, and cheaper to run A big thank you to our sponsors [The Scale Factory](https://rebrand.ly/scalefactory) and [Cloudscaler](https://rebrand.ly/cloudscaler)! **Programme:** **18:00:** Arrival, registration **18:15:** Talks start **20:00:** Networking with food and a drink provided by the generosity of our sponsors. **Talk 1:** ***When things go wrong: Managing cost in the cloud with Matt Johnson.*** There are lots of sessions that talk about the theory of cost management and tooling available on AWS, but far less look at the real world challenges of using them in production, as well as the rough edges they have - not to mention what happens when things go wrong! In this session Matt will cover some of the hard lessons learned from working with AWS over the last 14 years, with a real-world example of how a simple mistake can cause problems, and how to avoid them in future. The presentation is aimed at both those new to AWS and to veterans of the platform, and also includes practical guidance on how to improve your cost management on AWS. Matt has been using AWS since 2011, including 8.5 years at AWS in the public sector tech org. He has presented at 6 separate re:Invents and dozens of other events, covering a wide range of topics. Now as CEO of Rayo, Matt continues to help customers deliver mission outcomes using cloud technology. **Talk 2:** ***Predictable Designs in Data Engineering on AWS with Dan Keeley.*** What if we treated data engineering systems the way world-class hardware teams treat products headed for mass production? John Teel (Texas Instruments) has spent years taking complex hardware from prototype to dependable, high-quality production at scale. In this talk, Dan borrows those “production-grade” principles - predictability, repeatability, and ruthless attention to failure modes, and translates them into practical patterns for building data platforms on AWS. This is less about any single AWS service and more about building data systems that behave consistently, even as requirements, volumes, and teams change. **What you’ll learn:** Attendees will leave with practical, reusable approaches they can apply immediately: * How to make systems maintainable * How to keep costs efficient without heroics * How to borrow best practices across engineering disciplines Dan is a community driven data engineer and now c-level team builder working with a wide range of Data technologies in the cloud. He is on the steering group for the biggest tech conference in London - BigDataLDN. He has won a number of awards, including being named in the top 50 data leaders and influencers in the UK. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- If you are interested in speaking at one of our events please check out our [call for papers here](https://awsuguk.org/call-for-papers/). We are advocates for greater inclusion & diversity in UK Tech and are especially keen to receive talk submissions from people in underrepresented groups. If you are interested in speaking at a future meetup but would like to discuss what to expect or need assistance please contact our Inclusion & Diversity Lead Natalie Gray - graynataliej@gmail.com or DM her [@natjgray](https://twitter.com/natjgray) Check out our [website](https://awsuguk.org) for more information about our community. Remember to follow us [@AWSUserGroupUK](https://twitter.com/AWSUserGroupUK) and on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/aws-ug-uk) for the latest updates and you can find videos of our past meetups on [YouTube](http://bit.ly/2dZnvEE). If you want to chat with other members, join our [Community Discord Server](https://discord.gg/yMa8Rvtsmy).

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-connector-women-only-business-networking-event-in-london-tickets-1983534141011?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-connector-women-only-business-networking-event-in-london-tickets-1983534141011?aff=meetup)** Connect with inspiring women entrepreneurs, leaders & professionals at the 39th Women Connector® networking event in London. ## **Women-Only Business Networking Event in London** Women Connector® is a premium women-only business networking event in London designed for female founders, entrepreneurs, directors, investors, and senior professionals who value meaningful connections and long-term collaboration Now in its 39th edition, Women Connector® is part of the London Connector® portfolio, built on a simple principle: relationships are human-to-human first, and business is built on trust, respect, and win-win collaboration all in a welcoming space. ### **Where does the event take place?** Women Connector® takes place at **The Back Room Bar**, a private, speakeasy-style space hidden behind **Hard Rock Cafe London**. The venue offers an intimate and atmospheric setting ideal for exclusive networking. Its discreet environment allows women to connect safely and comfortably, away from the noise and pressure of traditional large-scale events. ### **Why do women choose Women Connector®?** Many past attendees have shared that they joined Women Connector® because they felt it was a safe, warm and supportive environment to network. Women Connector® focuses on: * Respectful, inclusive conversations * Hosted introductions to like-minded women * Collaboration over competition * Long-term professional relationships Guests frequently describe the atmosphere as cordial, intelligent, empowering, and welcoming — a space where ambitious women feel confident introducing themselves and building meaningful connections. ### **Who should attend Women Connector®?** This event is ideal for: * Female CEOs and founders * Women entrepreneurs and business owners * Senior leaders and executives * Investors and decision-makers * Ambitious women seeking high-quality networking in London All attendees share a mindset of growth, generosity, and collaboration. 🔒 This is a women-only event. ### **What happens during the event?** **6:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In** Guests are welcomed by the hosts. Attendance is guest-list only. **6:00 – 9:00 PM – Hosted & Curated Networking** You will leave with valuable connections, new opportunities, and the uplifting energy that defines every Women Connector® evening. ### **What makes Women Connector® unique?** Women Connector® is intentionally designed to remove the awkwardness and pressure often associated with networking events. It provides: * A structured yet relaxed format * A private venue environment * A trusted, respectful community * An emphasis on long-term collaboration rather than quick sales This approach reflects the London Connector® philosophy: strong relationships come before transactions. ## **📲 WhatsApp Group** On the day of the event, attendees will receive an email invitation to join the Women Connector® WhatsApp group to continue conversations before and after the event. ## **Refund Policy** Tickets are **non-refundable**. If you are unable to attend, you may **transfer your ticket** to another attendee—simply inform us of the replacement name in advance. ## **Event Disclaimer** Please note that **photos and videos may be taken** during the event and used for London Connector® and Women Connector® social media channels and promotional materials. If you prefer not to appear in any photos or videos, kindly inform the host upon arrival and your preference will be fully respected. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#business](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business/) * [#networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networking/) * [#women](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#london](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23london/) * [#womeninbusiness](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23womeninbusiness/) * [#londonevents](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23londonevents/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#women_entrepreneurs](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women_entrepreneurs/) * [#business_professional](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_professional/)

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-tech-connector-london-tech-networking-event-for-women-tickets-1983602817424?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-tech-connector-london-tech-networking-event-for-women-tickets-1983602817424?aff=meetup)** Women in Tech Connector®: London’s premier networking for women in tech & startups. Build genuine, high-caliber connections that last. ## Women in Tech Connector® is a London-based networking event designed specifically for women working in technology, digital industries, innovation, and startup ecosystems. This focused event takes place **before [Women Connector®](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983534141011?aff=oddtdtcreator "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1983534141011?aff=oddtdtcreator")**, giving attendees the opportunity to build meaningful connections within the tech and startup space before joining a wider community of women in business and leadership. ### **👩‍💻 Who Should Attend?** * Women in tech leadership roles * Startup founders & co-founders * AI, data, product & digital professionals * Tech investors & advisors * Women scaling or building tech-enabled businesses ### **🌟 Why Attend?** * Expand your professional tech network in London * Connect with ambitious, growth-focused women * Build authentic, high-value relationships * Continue networking at Women Connector® afterwards This is a structured yet welcoming networking experience focused on quality conversations over transactional exchanges. ### **📍 Venue** **Hard Rock Cafe London** ### **🕓 Time** **17:00 (London time)** Doors open, guests are welcome to stay on for Women Connector® following the event at no additional cost. ## **📲 WhatsApp Group** On the day of the event, attendees will receive an email invitation to join the Women Connector® WhatsApp group to continue conversations before and after the event. ## **🎟 Refund Policy** Tickets are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your ticket to another attendee—simply inform us of the replacement name in advance. ## **📸 Event Disclaimer** Please note that photos and videos may be taken during the event and used for **[London Connector](https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-connector/?viewAsMember=true "https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-connector/?viewAsMember=true")®** and[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-connector/?viewAsMember=true "https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-connector/?viewAsMember=true")**[Women Connector](https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-connector/?viewAsMember=true "https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-connector/?viewAsMember=true")®** social media channels and promotional materials. If you prefer not to appear in any photos or videos, kindly inform the host upon arrival and your preference will be fully respected. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#business](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business/) * [#networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networking/) * [#tech](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23tech/) * [#women](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#womeninbusiness](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23womeninbusiness/) * [#londonevents](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23londonevents/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#women_entrepreneurs](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women_entrepreneurs/) * [#business_professional](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_professional/)

Looking for quality **business networking in London**? Join an exclusive evening at **Tide HQ**, organised by **GMax Card**, **Getshop Today,** and **Tide** \- three products built by founders\, for founders\. **WHY ATTEND:** * Free premium digital business card (£65 value) - claim it on the night * Real connections - co-founders, customers, partners & more * 50% off premium GMax Card upgrades for your team * Practical tools & insights to run your startup smarter Connect with **tech founders, startup teams, business owners, and professionals** **across fintech, finance, banking, business and technology.** **Testimonials:** Check out [video testimonials from founders who've attended previous events.](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) **Please note:** Free ticket includes event access only. To receive a physical contactless GMax Card, please purchase a paid ticket when available. **DRESS CODE** Business or smart. Dress as you would for an investor, client or partner meeting - polished and professional. **VENUE** **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ - Featherstone Building, Silicon Roundabout, London** Right at the heart of UK's tech and startup hub, Tide's modern headquarters provides an open, professional environment designed for founders and operators and built for collaboration. **ABOUT THIS STARTUP AND BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT** In the **startup and business world**, success rarely happens in isolation. The right connections unlock **co-founders, early customers,** and relationships that accelerate **growth**. But most networking events don't deliver that. After hundreds of iterations, we've built a **format that actually works:** * Well-tested icebreakers (optional, but they work) to break the initial awkwardness * "Quick intros" round - 30-60 seconds each so everyone knows who's who in the room * Short talks from [GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/) on strategic networking and Tide on founder-friendly business tools * On-the-spot [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) consultations - bring your banking and ops questions, get real answers * Drinks and refreshments for real conversations to develop naturally Co-organised by **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)** and **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**, hosted at **[Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F) HQ** \- the digital bank built for entrepreneurs\. Created by founders who've done it themselves\. Whether you're pre-seed or scaling, solo or building a team, this is where you meet the people who get it and can help you move faster. **WHO'S IN THE ROOM** Expect a mix of: * **Early-stage to growth-stage startup founders** * **Tech entrepreneurs** and product builders * **Fintech innovators** and operators * **Indie founders, solopreneurs** and **bootstrapped business owners** * **Finance professionals** and **startup advisors** * People working across **business and technology** **WHAT YOU WALK AWAY WITH** * Free [premium business card (£65 value) ](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop)\- ask the host to claim yours on the night * Real connections - potential co-founders, early customers, advisors, hires, or partners * 50% off [premium digital cards from GMax Card](https://www.gmaxcard.com/shop) for your whole team * Actionable insights on tools that actually make running a startup or business easier Part of our bi-weekly series. Check out [video testimonials](https://vimeo.com/1162995661) from founders and business professionals who've attended previous events. **ORGANISERS** **[GMax Card](http://www.gmaxcard.com/)**[ - Free digital business cards](http://www.gmaxcard.com/), with Premium NFC smart cards and team networking tools. **[Getshop Today](http://www.getshop.today/)**[ - UK based eCommerce platform ](http://www.getshop.today/)to build your own independent online store in minutes instead of relying solely on global marketplaces like Amazon or eBay. **Hosted at [Tide](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)**[ - The digital-first business bank ](https://www.tide.co/partners-business-account/?ref=GMAXF2F)built to support entrepreneurs and SMEs. **IMPORTANT DETAILS** Dress code: business / smart Photography & Video: Content may be captured by [CineEye Audiovisual Production Studio in London](http://www.cineeye.co.uk/) for promotional use. If you do not wish to be captured, please refrain from attending. ID Requirements: Attendance for 18+ only. Proof of ID may be requested at reception. Refund Policy: Refunds available up to 1 day before the event if any. Meetup fees are non-refundable (if any). **Secure your ticket today!**

Hello and welcome to our joint **Cloud Platform Engineering London x Platform Engineering Leaders x Data & AI Leaders** meetup. This special crossover event brings together platform engineers, data and AI leaders, architects, SREs, and technology executives exploring how agentic AI systems intersect with modern platform engineering in regulated financial services environments. We are delighted to host this event at Lloyd's Banking Group in London. **Speakers & Sessions:** Panel: Agentic AI in the Enterprise Speakers: * Joseph Reeve, Growth, ElevenLabs * Chris Parsonson, CEO, Solve Intelligence * Joanna Crown, Director of Data, Moonpig * Sultan AI Awar, Solutions Architect (Digital Natives) at Databricks * Moderator: Ethan Sumner, Co-Founder & CEO at Community Stack Session: Agentic AI in Practice: How LBG is delivering scalable business value through AI Description: This session highlights LBG’s enterprise approach to scale Agentic AI, showing how the Group has built a scalable and safe foundation for Agentic AI through investments in data & AI platforms, governance frameworks, reusable agentic patterns, and AI upskilling for colleagues. Speakers: * Astitva Karunesh - AI Business Lead, AI CoE, Lloyds Banking Group * Lara Vomfell - Senior Data & AI Scientist, AI CoE, Lloyds Banking Group Session: How AI can catch what staging environments can't Description: Dylan from Overmind will spend five minutes explaining a complex Cloudfront outage that exposed the personal data of more than a hundred thousand people. Then another five minutes explaining the AI techniques that we used to simulate this exact outage using off-the-shelf models and live infrastructure state, which would have allowed them to prevent it before it ever happened. Speaker: Dylan Ratcliffe, Founder & CEO at Overmind **Agenda:** 18:00 — Arrival and refreshments 18:15 — Welcome and introduction — Ethan Sumner 18:20 — Agentic AI in Practice - LBG 18:40 — How AI can catch what staging environments can't - Dylan 18:50 — Break 19:00 — Agentic AI in the Enterprise 20:00 — Close and networking We are always keen to hear from: • Speakers • Hosts • Sponsors If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please reach out to [Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/) via LinkedIn. These communities form part of the [Community Stack](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/) ecosystem and follow the [Community Stack Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct) and [Privacy Policy,](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy) ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees.

**Join the London Investors and Traders Group for an afternoon of discussion and networking focused on trading and investing** Whether you are a short-term trader or a long-term investor, this event offers a platform to discuss market trends, exchange ideas and strategies, and potentially collaborate on future trade and investment projects. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your trading and investing knowledge and skills while making valuable connections in the trading and investing community. **This event is only for members who have posted RSVPs here.** (Please change your RSVPs early if you are unable to attend so that some of those on the waitlist could) **AGENDA** **15.00 Meet Greet and Network** **16:30 Discussion** Topics for Talks & Discussion: **Current Developments** in the Financial Markets **Active, Passive & Systematic** Investing Strategies **Trading Strategies for** Short, Medium & long-term **Followed by Q&A** **18:30 Close** **We look forward to meeting you at this event!** *(We are a peer group of Investors and Traders, not an advisory service)*

Hello and welcome to our joint **Cloud Platform Engineering London x Platform Engineering Leaders x Data & AI Leaders** meetup. This special crossover event brings together platform engineers, data and AI leaders, architects, SREs, and technology executives exploring how agentic AI systems intersect with modern platform engineering in regulated financial services environments. We are delighted to host this event at Lloyd's Banking Group in London. **Speakers & Sessions:** Panel: Agentic AI in the Enterprise Speakers: * Joseph Reeve, Growth, ElevenLabs * Chris Parsonson, CEO, Solve Intelligence * Joanna Crown, Director of Data, Moonpig * Sultan AI Awar, Solutions Architect (Digital Natives) at Databricks * Moderator: Ethan Sumner, Co-Founder & CEO at Community Stack Session: Agentic AI in Practice: How LBG is delivering scalable business value through AI Description: This session highlights LBG’s enterprise approach to scale Agentic AI, showing how the Group has built a scalable and safe foundation for Agentic AI through investments in data & AI platforms, governance frameworks, reusable agentic patterns, and AI upskilling for colleagues. Speakers: * Astitva Karunesh - AI Business Lead, AI CoE, Lloyds Banking Group * Lara Vomfell - Senior Data & AI Scientist, AI CoE, Lloyds Banking Group Session: How AI can catch what staging environments can't Description: Dylan from Overmind will spend five minutes explaining a complex Cloudfront outage that exposed the personal data of more than a hundred thousand people. Then another five minutes explaining the AI techniques that we used to simulate this exact outage using off-the-shelf models and live infrastructure state, which would have allowed them to prevent it before it ever happened. Speaker: Dylan Ratcliffe, Founder & CEO at Overmind **Agenda:** 18:00 — Arrival and refreshments 18:15 — Welcome and introduction — Ethan Sumner 18:20 — Agentic AI in Practice - LBG 18:40 — How AI can catch what staging environments can't - Dylan 18:50 — Break 19:00 — Agentic AI in the Enterprise 20:00 — Close and networking We are always keen to hear from: • Speakers • Hosts • Sponsors If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please reach out to [Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/) via LinkedIn. These communities form part of the [Community Stack](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/) ecosystem and follow the [Community Stack Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct) and [Privacy Policy,](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy) ensuring a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees.

## Allies of Women in Data & AI A panel discussion spotlighting women’s careers in data & AI. **📍 Venue:** [Datatonic](https://datatonic.com/) HQ **🎙️ Panellists:** * [Hazal Muhtar (Wise)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazalmuhtar/) * [Laura Lewis (Monzo)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralewisuk/) * [Josie Williams (Global)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiewilliams/) * [Lina Mikolajczyk (Venatus)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/linajczyk/) **🎤 Compere:** [Adam Dathi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dathi-384a4329/) Event & Afterparty Sponsor: [Meltano](https://meltano.com/) This event centres the real career journeys of women working in data and AI — from breaking in, to navigating challenges, to stepping into leadership. Through an open, honest panel discussion, our speakers will share: * The realities of building a career in data & AI * Barriers they’ve faced (and how they’ve worked around them) * Practical advice for women aspiring to senior and leadership roles The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A and relaxed, meaningful networking with women in data & AI and the allies who support them. *** ### Why this event exists Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in data & AI leadership. This event is about visibility, learning from lived experience, and creating space for better conversations. Delivered in collaboration with [Stacked Pathways](https://cognifysearch.com/stackedpathways/), a free mentoring initiative for women working in Data & AI, organised by [Cognify](https://cognifysearch.com/). *** **Who should attend** * Women working in (or moving into) data & AI * Allies who want to listen, learn, and actively support change

Come and join us for a coffee/tea and chat as we discuss what’s hype and what’s real as well as how analytics helps us fight human trafficking. All Food and drink must be paid for as you consume it. A minimum of a drink must be orders can be water soft drink or coffe/tea etc excellent cocktails available.

**\*\*THIS IS NOT A FREE EVENT & RSVP ON MEET UP DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENTRY\*\*** **TO ATTEND THIS EVENT A TICKET MUST BE PURCHSED FROM OUR WEBSITE. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE A TICKET:** [https://truedating.co.uk/events/saturday-night-singles-party-14-mar-2026](https://truedating.co.uk/events/saturday-night-singles-party-14-mar-2026) ### 💘 London's Most Fun Way to Meet Real Singles – No Swiping Required! 💘 **Hosted by True Dating– London's #1 Speed Dating & Singles Party Experts** If you’re tired of endless swiping, awkward DM convos, and dating apps that go nowhere… this is your sign to shake things up. Welcome to **True Dating’s Singles Party** – where London’s most eligible, outgoing singles meet *in real life* for a night of laughter, chats, connections... and maybe even a first date that turns into your last first date. ### So what exactly *is* a Singles Party? It’s simple: ✅ A room full of friendly, professional singles ✅ A free welcome drink before 8.30pm to break the ice ✅ Balanced ratio of men/women ✅ And plenty of opportunities to spark something real We’ve hosted **hundreds of events** across London and helped **thousands of people** meet their match. No awkward setups, no cheesy games—just a relaxed, buzzing atmosphere where genuine connections happen. ### Why you should come: * **Everyone’s in the same boat.** Seriously. Tired of apps? So is everyone else here. * **Real conversations, real chemistry.** Way better than text banter and filtered selfies. * **You’ll actually meet people.** Like... face-to-face. Revolutionary, we know. * **Your next drink could lead to your next date.** Just make sure you get there before 8.30pm! ### How it works: After the event, you’ll receive login details for your **True Dating account** to select your matches from the night. If they select you too – boom! You’ll be able to chat securely via our private messaging system and set up that all-important date #2. (Just be sure to make your matches by 4pm the next day! ### “But what if I don’t click with anyone?” We’re so confident you’ll meet someone you'd want to see again that **if you don’t, your next event is FREE.** No strings, no stress. ### Event Info: 🕒 Doors open at **8.pm** 🍸 Free welcome drink if you arrive before 8.30pm 📍 Ask for **True Dating** at the venue entrance and we’ll guide you to your reserved area 🎟️ **Tickets are limited** and most events sell out – don’t wait! 👉 **Stop Swiping. Start Dating.**

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

Builders, creators, architects, admins, consultants - come one, come all. This one's for you. We're bringing a little friendly competition to the Columbus ServiceNow community while highlighting the cool things people have built on the platform. Five presenters will take the stage to showcase something they've built, solved, designed, or imagined on the ServiceNow platform - and a panel of judges (plus YOU, our amazing audience) will score them live. So basically, America's Got Talent but make it ServiceNow's Got Talent. Bring a notepad if you'd like 'cause you'll definitely be learning something new. Each presenter gets 10 minutes max to wow the crowd with: • A demo • A real-world business solution • A bold idea • A UX transformation • Or a creative use of the platform Judging Criteria: 🏆 Business Value 🚀 Innovation ✨ User Experience This event is about celebrating ideas, sharing knowledge, and showing how ServiceNow can drive both business impact and meaningful user value. Come learn. Come support. Come get inspired. Refreshments and bites will be provided. And maybe next time… you’ll be on stage.

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that. As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact? Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization. We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM. 📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St Located in: The Shops at Worthington Ample parking is available. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️

FREE meetup. Register HERE 🎟️- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unlocking-retirement-capital-flips-wholesales-private-money-strategies-tickets-1983411263481?aff=cicmeetupapp **Unlocking Retirement Capital: Flips, Wholesales & Private Money Strategies in Self-Directed Accounts** **Featuring Guest Speaker:** Amanda Holbrook (Specialized Trust Company) **Hosted by:** Columbus Investors Club ### **Event Description** Most people think retirement accounts are passive. That they’re “for later.”That you can’t touch them. That real estate and retirement money don’t mix. They’re wrong. This meetup is about how investors use **Self-Directed IRAs and Solo 401(k)s** to put retirement capital to work…**buying real estate, funding deals, and even raising private money** (the right way). ### **Featured Guest Speaker: Amanda Holbrook** We’re excited to welcome **Amanda Holbrook of Specialized Trust Company** to break this down clearly and practically…so you understand what’s allowed, how it works, and what to avoid. ### **What You’ll Learn** Amanda will walk through: **Flip inside a Self-Directed IRA or Solo-401(k)** * How to structure the deal correctly * How expenses must be handled * When UBIT may apply **Wholesale within a retirement account** * How assignments work * What type of income it creates **Use OPM (Other People’s Money) to scale** * How investors raise private money from Self-Directed IRAs * How to structure notes properly * How to fund deals inside **and** outside your own retirement account ### **The Core Idea** There is a lot of capital sitting in retirement accounts. This session shows you how real estate investors unlock it **without guessing, winging it, or accidentally creating a compliance mess.** ### **Who This Event Is For** * Investors flipping or wholesaling who want to understand self-directed rules * Anyone raising private money (or wanting more capital sources) * People with retirement funds who want them working harder than stocks/mutual funds ### **Event Details** **Location:** Ohio Brewing Company – 421 E 2nd Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 **Date & Time:** Thursday, March 26th, 6–8 PM *(Doors open at 5:30)* **Cost:** Free *(Seats are limited — RSVP required)* **Food:** Free food included **FREE meetup. Register HERE** 🎟️- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unlocking-retirement-capital-flips-wholesales-private-money-strategies-tickets-1983411263481?aff=cicmeetupapp *Disclaimer: This event is for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or investment advice.*

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!