Presentations

Come join us and practise public speaking! All levels are welcome. Take the first step to overcome your fears, build confidence and learn to speak with impact in a friendly, supportive and encouraging environment. Start you public speaking journey with us now to improve your communications skills and elevate all aspects of your life. Please arrive 10 minutes early so we can settle everyone in for a 5.30pm start. See you soon!

A calm, intimate space to pause, reflect, and release what you’ve been holding — no pressure, just space to breathe. ### ✨ KISMETRIX \| True Connection [Ticketed Event](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/apr-22nd-healing-circle-fire-ritual-pause-reflect-release-tickets-1985990411783?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl) **Healing Circle & Fire Ritual** Pause. Reflect. Release. 📍 RYVE Level 1, 38 Shafton St, Huntingdale VIC 📅 Wednesday, 22 April 2026 🕖 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM ## A SPACE TO PAUSE Life gets heavy sometimes. Not always in obvious ways — but in the quiet things we carry: Unspoken thoughts Emotional weight Stress, heartbreak, uncertainty This evening is a space to slow down, breathe, and reconnect with yourself — gently. ## WHO THIS IS FOR This space is for you if: • You’ve been feeling overwhelmed or mentally full • You’ve been holding things in without space to process • You’re seeking clarity, grounding, or emotional reset • You want something deeper, but not overwhelming You don’t need to be “ready” or have it all figured out. Just come as you are. ## WHAT TO EXPECT A small, supportive and guided experience: • Calm and welcoming environment • Gentle reflection and awareness practices • Optional sharing (no pressure to speak) • Space to simply sit, listen, and be present • A symbolic fire ritual to close the evening ## FIRE RITUAL — LETTING GO You’ll be invited to write down something you’re ready to release. A thought. A feeling. A past story. Through a simple fire ritual, we allow that chapter to shift and move forward. Many people find this moment deeply grounding and freeing. ## SMALL & INTIMATE BY DESIGN This is not a large event. Numbers are intentionally limited to create a space that feels safe, real, and personal. ## ABOUT YOUR HOST Hosted by Vivienne Vu Founder of Kismetrix \| True Connection Vivienne creates spaces that support emotional awareness, presence, and authentic human connection. ## 🔔 IMPORTANT NOTES • This is a reflective group experience (not therapy or medical treatment) • Participation is always optional — you can simply observe • Respect, boundaries, and emotional safety are central to this space • Tickets are limited and kept intentionally small ## WHY PEOPLE COME TO KISMETRIX • Real experiences, not surface-level interactions • Spaces designed with intention and care • A sense of connection — with others and within yourself ### Hosted by KISMETRIX \| True Connection 📧 [social@kismetrix.com.au](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/apr-22nd-healing-circle-fire-ritual-pause-reflect-release-tickets-1985990411783?aff=ebdsoporgprofile) 🌐 [www.kismetrix.com.au](http://www.kismetrix.com.au/ "http://www.kismetrix.com.au")A

**Would you like to improve at public speaking, in a fun, supportive environment?** Come along to Toastmasters to learn how to write and deliver speeches, and have fun doing it! Please visit [www.maccabitoastmasters.org.au](http://www.maccabitoastmasters.org.au/) and register your interest to attend in person via the **Contact Us** tab on the webpage. We kindly ask that you arrive on time to avoid any disruption to the meeting. **About Maccabi Toastmasters** Maccabi Toastmasters encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to overcome public speaking nerves and to become confident and accomplished speakers! * Would you like to improve your public speaking and presentation skills for work or school? * How about overcoming the anxiety and challenge of providing constructive feedback and performance evaluations at work? * Maybe you're looking to change jobs and would like to brush up on your communication skills and really impress the interviewer? * Are you feeling anxious about an up-and-coming speech you have to give at a special event? A Birthday, Wedding, Anniversary, Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah, Engagement Party or Corporate function? * Would you like to improve leadership skills? * Maybe you're just looking to have fun by sharing your thoughts and stories in a entertaining and friendly social environment? If you answered YES or MAYBE to any of the above, then you've found the right club! Join us at our next meeting and see how friendly and entertaining our club is. Just come along and have some fun! **What to know before attending a meeting** Please **visit www.maccabitoastmasters.org.au/directions.html** for meeting information and directions. Our website is a great starting place to find out more about the club and what to expect when attending your first meeting. To assist us in running the meetings smoothly, we kindly ask you register your interest at least one day before attending. Please note that video recording of the meeting or speaker is not allowed, with exception granted only by written permission from the club executive committee.

Join us every **Wednesday at 5 PM** at the Emporium food court (located behind Grill’d Burger Restaurant in the CBD, not near Melbourne Station) for a dynamic networking event tailored for filmmakers, actors, and film enthusiasts. Afterward, we continue the evening with Happy Hour drinks at a nearby bar and a chance to grab dinner together. Understanding that schedules vary, feel free to join at any time that suits you. Rain or shine, our community has gathered every week for the past year, maintaining a consistent and welcoming environment. Our group has grown remarkably, with a **weekly turnout of over 50 participants**, blending newcomers with regulars to create a vibrant, diverse community. Feel free to bring friends interested in filmmaking; it’s a great way to introduce new faces to our expanding network. Whether you’re a writer, actor, animator, or independent filmmaker, come share your experiences, discuss current projects, or chat about favorite films. This event fosters connections among like-minded individuals, encourages friendships, and opens doors for collaboration. At **7 PM**, we move to The Carlton Club, a five-minute walk away, where we continue networking in a more formal rooftop setting over drinks and food. This change of venue offers an ideal environment to keep conversations flowing. **RSVP** to help us gauge attendance and become part of a growing network of film professionals and enthusiasts. Though the event begins in the afternoon, the relationships you build here can last well into the night and beyond. **What to Expect:** *Our Wednesday meetup is primarily a large networking event for industry professionals. There’s no set theme, workshop, or speaker. It’s a relaxed gathering where filmmakers, actors, and creatives can connect, discuss projects, share needs, and learn from each other. Conversations flow freely around the table, fostering an environment of growth and camaraderie. Beyond Wednesdays, we also host exclusive events such as table reads, cinematography workshops with Panasonic, member screenings, and more. Each week brings fresh dialogues—some participants discuss their weekend shoots, others exchange insights with seasoned producers and directors, and a few engage in filmmaking exercises. It’s a space designed for creative engagement without strict structure or formal oversight.* *Note: Our community emphasizes collaboration, friendship, and goodwill rather than promotional activities. If you wish to promote a workshop, course, screening, or similar event, please contact the organizers first. Promotional privileges are generally reserved for trusted, long-standing members.

This month we have our own Sarah Jacobson sharing on **Speed v Substance: Preserving Knowledge Integrity in the AI Hype Cycle** AI has done something remarkable for knowledge management. It has put us on the executive radar in a way we have never been before. Budgets are being discussed, senior leaders are paying attention and KM is finally being recognised as fundamental to how organisations operate. But that visibility has come with a catch. The same technology driving the attention has created an expectation of immediacy that sits uncomfortably with what good knowledge management actually requires. People expect answers in seconds because that is what AI promises. Building robust foundations, curating quality content and establishing governance frameworks takes longer than a demo. This session explores the paradox KM leaders are sitting inside right now and what it means in practice. We will look at where the speed/substance tension is most acute, what happens when AI is deployed on top of poorly managed knowledge and why the organisations getting this right are treating knowledge as infrastructure rather than content. This is an interactive session. Come prepared to share where you are seeing this tension play out in your own organisation and what you have tried. Expect polling, group discussion and a few deliberate provocations. Thanks again to MinterEllison, who host the amazing space we meet in each month. **Session Details:** * **Date & Time:** 6:00pm AEDST, Fourth Wednesday of each month * **Format:** Virtual session on Teams * **Agenda:** * 6-6:30 pm networking * 6:30-7:45pm exploration of the topic * 7:45-8pm wrap up * 8pm dinner for those interested. KMLF has run monthly, almost uninterrupted since 1998, serving the Victorian Knowledge Management community with close ties to Change Mgt, Records Mgt, Information Governance and Academic communities.

We invite you to join us for face-face English lessons at Upper Intermediate level each Monday and Wednesday evening, starting Wed 8th April. **Where:** Level 7, 628 Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD **Time:** 5:15pm - 7:30pm. Please come on time, as the doors are shut at 5:30pm. **What to expect:** You will be greeted by friendly tutors and trainee teachers. We are training English teachers and they work hard to prepare lessons for you. You will meet other speakers of other languages and engage in activities, and lots of practice speaking English.

Toastmasters is a worldwide organisation which empowers its members to conquer their fear of public speaking and become better communicators. There is no need to formally register for the event, just RSVP to this meetup event if you can, then simply show up in person on the evening. If there is no one at the entrance, please message one of the organisers on this app For more information, check out the City Centre Toastmasters website [here](https://citycentretoastmastersmelbourne.toastmastersclubs.org/). What we'll do at the meeting: \- Impromptu speaking \(Table Topics\): Everyone can take part in this\! \- Prepared Speeches: Please note that only Toastmasters members can give prepared speeches\. \- Get friendly and constructive feedback on your speaking\. \- Get to know each other during the break\, before\, and after the meeting\. Important to know * Members of this Meetup are not automatically members of the club. Meetup refers to people who belong to the City Centre Toastmasters Meetup group as 'members,' but from a Toastmasters' point of view, people are only members if they've paid their club dues.

Join the Melbourne TED Talk Community for an engaging session and meet people who like being an ideator, who want to bring their voice to a larger community. In contrast to a typical public speaking training event, where you receive feedback on your amms and aas and the way you present, this goes beyond that. **The objective of this community is to get inspired by some of the best ideas serving humanity, find your own calling and voice, be an ideator, and share your ideas clearly and persuasively.** The talk we will play is one of the amazing talks from the TED Library. In this session, we will delve deeper into the topic and gain perspective, and learn from each other. Be prepared to network, engage in meaningful conversations, and embark on a journey of professional development and leadership growth. **Mark your calendars and don't miss this opportunity to refine your public speaking abilities with the Melbourne TED Talk Community!** **TED Talk link to watch together:** **TBA** **Agenda (as a guide)** 6.00 PM Registration 6.10 PM Introduction by Attendees 6.20 PM 10 min talk on screen (optional) 6.30 PM Breakout session (Group / Individual) based on topic 6.45 PM Individual / Group shares their takeaways 7.00 PM Practice the Art of Public Speaking - 2-3 talks of 2.5 minutes 7.10 PM Feedback to the Presenters and overall session 7.20 PM Event Concludes & floor opens for Networking **Fees: The event has a $5 contribution towards hiring the hall and Audiovisual. This can be paid through PayPal at the time of registration.** Looking forward to seeing you there. The Organisers Raj

## 🇯🇵 Progressi部: Japanese-English Language & Culture Exchange 🇦🇺 **"Serious Study, Authentic Community" — 本気で学び、本気で交流する。** Join us for our weekly exchange designed for those dedicated to practicing Japanese and English. This is a space to improve your language skills, share cultural insights, and make new, like-minded friends in a respectful environment. ### 🎯 Who This Group Is For We welcome individuals who are here to **actively practice their Japanese or English**. Whether you are looking for a study partner or want to learn more about culture, this is a community for focused and meaningful interaction. **✅ 受付方法 / Event Check-in (Strictly Required)** 到着の際、必ず主催者に以下の提示をお願いします / Upon arrival, please present the following to the organizer: * **Meetupの参加申し込み（RSVP）画面をご提示ください。** / Show your Meetup RSVP confirmation screen. * **予約なし（No RSVP）での参加はお断りしております。** / No walk-ins permitted without a confirmed RSVP. * **Participation Fee: $3 CASH** Non-Japanese citizens. ### 🚫 Conduct & Safety Policy To ensure a high-quality experience for all members, we maintain a strict standard of behavior: * **Immediate Ban:** Any individual found guilty of misconduct or creating "trouble" will be banned from the group immediately.**.** * **Organizer Authority:** The Organizer reserves the right to remove any member at their sole discretion to maintain the safety and integrity of the community. * **Respectful Interaction:** All members are expected to be polite and mindful of others. Do not make fellow participants feel uncomfortable or pressured. * **Privacy:** Please respect the personal boundaries of others. Do not pressure members for private contact information. **If any member makes you feel uncomfortable, please report it immediately to the organizers: Shin, David, or Ray.** *** ### 📝 Event Details * **Time:** Saturday, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM * **Arrival:** Please arrive **10–15 minutes early** due to limited seating. * **Entry Fee:** **$3 CASH** (Non-Japanese citizens). This contribution covers monthly meetup hosting fees. * **Photography:** Photos will be taken during the event for our community archives. ### 🇯🇵 日本語でのご案内 メルボルン市内のカフェで、本気で学べる日英言語文化交流会を主催しています。 * **目的:** 日本語・英語の練習、そして同じ目標を持つ友人作りを目的としています。 * **参加費:** 日本国籍以外の方は $3ドル（現金のみ）。 * **ルール:** 迷惑行為やトラブルを起こす方の参加は一切禁止です。主催者の判断により、即座に退会・出入り禁止の措置を取らせていただきます。 * 困ったことがあれば、すぐにオーガナイザー（Shin, David, Ray）までお知らせください。 ### 🔗 Connect With Us * **Facebook:** [facebook.com/groups/progressibu](https://www.google.com/search?q=http://www.facebook.com/groups/progressibu) * **X (Twitter):** [twitter.com/progressibu](https://www.google.com/search?q=http://twitter.com/progressibu)

Join us this month for a panel with PMs who have experience shipping and working daily with Ai. Bring your stories and questions as there will be plenty of time for Q&A. **Our Panel** * [Daragh Kan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daraghkan/) \- Head of Product at Cuttable * [Dave Slutzkin ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveslutzkin/)\- Co\-founder and CEO at Cadence * [Melissa Cupples](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcupples/) \- Head of Product \(AI & Automation\) Doors 6pm Start 630pm Thanks to our fabulous hosts for our location **InvestorHub.** [InvestorHub](https://www.linkedin.com/company/invhub/) is a Melbourne-based scale-up with the mission to make being listed a superpower. Our software allows listed companies in Australia and the UK to manage their end-to-end investor relationships, from their investor-facing website, a detailed investor CRM, analytics, and more. We're [hiring](https://investorhub.pinpointhq.com/) for Product Managers, Product Designers, Engineers and more right now! If you're interested in co-sponsorship please let us know. Some beverages will be provided but right now it's BYO food.

* Let's kick off at **El Sabor !** We will be at El Sabor Level 1 bar enjoying the social & business chats. * Host of the event Sash (Sachin) is qualified accountant in practice. Mostly he is present in the event but it is subject to his prior commitment. However everybody is still invited to chat & socialise whether he is present or not. The place is a platform for everyone to gather,meet & help each other. * Our reservation is at 6-8 pm every Friday. * Address is 500 Victoria Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 * Join us to meet new friends, hang out and have some laughs. New people are always welcome 😊🍺🍺 * Come along to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. * **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being.

* Join us for an evening of professional networking and valuable insights at our Entrepreneur & **Small Business Networking Mixer**. Connect with fellow small business owners, entrepreneurs, and like-minded professionals to share business strategies and exchange ideas for startup success with a drink. * * We have carved a deal with the restaurant of 10% Discount of all Menu items & drinks if you mention the staff "**Friday Business Meetup Deal**" * * We will delve into the power of integrating feminine wisdom with masculine energy for enhanced business strategies and entrepreneurial success. Discover the importance of positive human collisions in fostering innovation and growth, while expanding your network in a dynamic and supportive environment. * * Don't miss this opportunity to meet new contacts, exchange knowledge, and take yourself to the next level! * * **About Host:** Host of the event Sash (Sachin) is qualified accountant in practice. Mostly he is present in the event but it is subject to his prior commitment. However everybody is still invited to chat & socialise whether he is present or not. The place is a platform for everyone to gather,meet & help each other. * * **Address & Timings :** from **6-8 PM** at **500 Victoria Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 (This event will be on every Friday same time same day unless otherwise advised)** * * Join us to meet new friends, hang out and have some laughs. New people are always welcome 😊🍺🍺 * * Come along to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. * * **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being.

* **Topic:** Journey to Open Lakehouse * **Date:** Thursday 23rd April 2026 at 6.00 pm - 8.00 pm * **Networking:** 6 pm - 6.30 pm and 7.20 - 8 pm * **Presentation Time**: 6.30 pm - 7.20 pm *(includes welcome, presentation 30 mins & community marketplace)* * **Location:** Thoughtworks HQ Level 35/360 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 * **Ticket:** Free of cost, however, registrations and RSVP are required! * **Sponsor:** Thoughtworks **Journey to Open LakeHouse** This session explores the practical realities of migrating to an Apache Iceberg lakehouse to reduce analytics costs and minimise vendor lock-in. We’ll cover architecture choices, migration pitfalls, operational lessons, and the measurable outcomes of adopting open table formats. Ideal for data engineers, platform teams, and architects evaluating the next evolution of their data stack. **About The Speaker** Karel Alfonso is a Software Engineer with experience working with reputable organisations, including Block and Thoughtworks. He studied in Havana before moving to Australia around twenty years ago, where he has built a strong track record in software delivery, distributed systems, data platform engineering, real-time streaming, and technical leadership. Karel is known for his collaborative, friendly approach and is highly regarded within the data engineering community. He has presented at FlinkForward Seattle 2023, Programmable 2023, 2024 and other community meetups. We’re excited to bring the Data Engineering Melbourne Meetup group together for an evening with Karel and his insights!

The **Reston-Herndon Toastmasters club** is the place to be if you want to improve your public speaking, communication, listening, and leadership skills in a friendly, supportive environment. By joining Toastmasters, you'll learn to relax, plan, and present great speeches, whether you have ten days to prepare or just 10 seconds. Our club meetings are held every **2nd and 4th Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM** at Herndon Fortnightly Library located at 768 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170. The library will be closed, so please contact us for directions. Guests are always welcome at our club meetings! If you are interested in joining the club or would like to attend as a visitor, please fill out the form at [https://3550.toastmastersclubs.org/?contactus](https://3550.toastmastersclubs.org/?contactus). We will reply with directions.

What does it look like when ideas come to life? Join NOVA Scribes and MAFN for a full-day, in-person open house where the public is invited to step inside the world of facilitation. This is a come-and-go experience designed for curiosity, exploration, and conversation. Whether you are new to facilitation groups, you are welcome. The space will be set up as a "theater in the round," (see the image) with facilitators working live around the room. Throughout the day, you will see different techniques, styles, and modalities demonstrated in real time, from visual templates, facilitation tools, and decision-support methods. You can observe, ask questions, and engage directly with the practitioners as the work unfolds. **What you can expect** * Live demonstrations of facilitation techniques * Multiple practitioners working simultaneously, each with their own approach and style * Short, informal demos and tiny teaches that explain how and why specific techniques are used * Opportunities to talk one-on-one with experienced facilitators * A chance to see how facilitation can support sensemaking, alignment, and group dialogue **What you might explore** * Methods and templates for planning, strategy, and reflection * Facilitation methods that support participation and decision making * Tools, materials, and setup considerations for live work This open house is designed to be accessible, hands-on, and inspiring. You do not need to stay all day. Come for 20 minutes or stay for hours. Watch ideas take shape. Notice how facilitation can change the energy in the room. Ask the questions you have always wanted to ask. If you have ever been curious about how facilitation works and supports groups, this is your chance to experience it up close. **Open to the general public. No prior experience required.** We’re not charging for this workshop, but we will be asking for donations!

Important: Register on [AICamp website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026043014) is required for admission. **Description:** Join us for a community-led developer event focused on AI-assisted coding with GitHub Copilot. This event brings together developers to explore practical workflows, real-world use cases, and hands-on experiences using GitHub Copilot. Whether you are new to GitHub Copilot or already using it, this event will help you better understand how to apply AI-assisted coding techniques in everyday development. **Speakers/Topics:** \- Reynald Adolphe\, Microsoft\. Stay tuned as we are updating speakers and schedules. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support AI developers community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 5,000+ AI developers in D.C and 500K+ worldwide.

Let’s reboot the DC Postgres Meetup series! This inaugural meeting will be hosted by John Porvaznik and Eddie Pickle and all are welcome. We’re actively looking for speakers, co-hosts, event spaces and other folks that want to help bring this group back to life. If you can’t make it but want to be involved in the future, please let us know. John Porvaznik will present a talk on Postgres fundamentals including shared buffers, memory usage, pages, and more. John is a long time PostgreSQL Engineer and DBA in the government space with focus on ETL / Data Ingestion, PostGIS and spatial data sets, query optimizations, Database Design // DDL, benchmarking and specifications, data health, and system healths and monitoring. This meetup will be hosted near the Snowflake office in Tysons (event space sponsored by Snowflake). We’ll have pizza and drinks for folks. 6:00 arrival and networking, 6:30 talk followed by discussion, 7:45 close. The event is at 1750 Tysons Boulevard, McClean, VA, 22102, in the 1750 Tysons Conference Center. This is Metro Accessible from the Silver Line to Tyson's Corner station. Parking at the mall next door is free or the event building has paid parking.

Learn to manage stress and achieve self-growth through simple relaxation and Meditation. Heartfulness Meditation is a simple, modern, methodical approach to meditation. Rather than homing in on your breath or repeating a mantra, you simply focus inward, on your heart, to cultivate inner strength and serenity. Heartfulness meditation is gaining traction in recent years. It focuses on the heart, allowing individuals to connect with themselves on a deeper level, and ultimately achieve peace, relaxation, and clarity. It is a practice that encourages patience, self-compassion, and acceptance, helping cultivate a deeper appreciation for the present moment. This practice is offered with love and at no cost

We invite you to an in-person session in Seattle exploring the real impact of AI on knowledge-driven industries — from shifting economics and the disruption of traditional SaaS and consulting models to where organizations can still build lasting competitive advantage. As AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini continue to redefine how work gets done, organizations face a critical question: how can they adapt, remain competitive, and create lasting value? We’ll discuss practical strategies for integrating AI while preserving human expertise, along with actionable approaches to upskilling teams for an AI-driven workplace. Drawing on real-world experience from training thousands of professionals and deploying AI solutions, this session will provide clear, applicable insights for today’s evolving landscape. Following a short presentation, the session will open into an interactive discussion where attendees can share perspectives and explore key questions around the evolving role of humans, organizational adaptation, and staying competitive in an AI-first world. **Who should attend:** • Executives and managers in SaaS, consulting, and knowledge-driven organizations • Professionals exploring AI upskilling and workforce transformation • Anyone interested in the future of AI and knowledge work 📍 **Location:** Data Science Dojo, 5010 148th Ave NE, Suite 200A, Redmond, WA, United States 🔗 **Google Maps:** [https://lnkd.in/d8WA-yNc](https://lnkd.in/d8WA-yNc) **💻 Online Access:** A livestream will be available for those unable to attend in person; however, the full interactive experience is reserved for in-person participants.