Instructional Design

**Register now to attend! =>** [https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-05-06](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-05-06) **<=** **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * **40%** OFF **[Linux Foundation](https://mf1.ksug.ai)** bundles Code: **FOURTH26AI** * **25%** OFF **[FinOps X Day](https://ksug.ai/discount/?tab=events&ref=meetup)** Code: **KSAIX26899** * Missed **75%** off [LF / CNCF](https://lf.ksug.ai/)? [Get Notified](https://ksug.ai/?notify&ref=meetup) for next BIG drop! We're excited to welcome you to the upcoming **KSUG.AI Australia Meetup** — happening both in-person at at Amazon and online via [Zoom](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai)! 🎉 We're actively seeking more awesome K8s and AI topic speakers! 👉 [https://speaker.ksug.ai](https://speaker.ksug.ai) **Agenda and topics preview:** * Food, drinks and Socializing * Welcome / Introductions by the Organizers @**[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** * **Topic 1:** Unlock GenAI inference anywhere with Amazon EKS Hybrid Nodes and Nvidia DGX by **[Frank Fan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankfan7/)**, Principal Container Specialist SA @**[AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** * **Topic 2:** I Came for the Kubernetes. The AI Did the Kubernetes by **[Olga Mirensky](https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgamirensky/),** Sr. SRE @**Ping** Identify * **Lighting Talk:** From Zero to Episode 1: Building a Content Pipeline With Claude Code by **[Eva Ng](https://www.linkedin.com/in/evang2/)**, Founder @**GMIG** * **Quiz time:** nice swags giveaways Food and drinks will be provided between **5.30 and 6 pm** on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a great opportunity to learn and network with our peers. Thanks to our sponsors @**[Amazon](https://aws.com/)**! **[Register here](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-05-06) to secure your spot!** See you all there! **Location:** Amazon MEL12, Level 13.304 [555 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kbi13GZqj2zDqDz2A) 👉 Join our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/Rp9WzYyKua) and [WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D9a9IDiCS7U4cqQ0Sh60cz?mode=gi_t) for latest update! 🔖 𝐎𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬: ☸ 30% OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** Certs - Code: **30K8SUG** ☸ 20% OFF **[FinOps](https://ksug.ai/finops)** Certs - Code: **KSAI_20** 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐃𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬: ✅ Learn 𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑 ⚡ ✅ Certify 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 💰 ✅ Grow 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑 💪 𝟐𝟎𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎+ follow **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** 🔥 [linktr.ee/ksug.ai](https://linktr.ee/ksug.ai) *By registering, you consent to the management of your personal information in accordance with KSUG.AI Meetup's [Privacy Policy](https://k8sug.ai/privacy). Additionally, you agree that our sponsors may contact you.* **[KSUG.AI](https://ksug.ai/?ref=meet)** is an independent community and not affiliated with or endorsed by CNCF. Kubernetes, K8s, Kubestronaut are registered trademarks of The Linux Foundation.

We’re excited to announce our next **Melbourne MLOps Community Meetup** of the year! This one is right out of a sci-fi blockbuster. We are going to explore the AI landscape from **humanoid robotics** in Aged Care, something the team at Andromeda is actively trying to achieve, to the rise of agentic AI **as a teammate** in Software Delivery. DO NOT miss this chance to see how the world is changing right before your eyes. **🎤 Speakers** We’re thrilled to introduce: **\- Jason Chan**, Head of Machine Learning *at* Andromeda. Jason is a jack of all trades in the ML/Software engineering domain. He’s a rare talent who seamlessly pivots from leading elite defense autonomy teams at BAE Systems to architecting **enterprise MLOps** and teaching Deep Generative Models for **Stanford Online**. In his talk, *Making a Machine Feel Like a Character, and Other Hard Problems at Andromeda Robotics* Jason will explain how they are building a companion robot for aged care. A character that a resident is happy to see. **\- Farzad Khodadadi**, Principal Engineer *at* Catapult Sports. Farzad is a seasoned engineer with over 15 years of experience delivering enterprise-scale, cloud-native technology solutions. Specialising in the design and architecture of enterprise IoT platforms, he leads high-performing engineering teams while shaping long-term technical strategy. He will share his wisdom on utilising **Agentic AI** in Software Delivery in his talk: *From Tool to Teammate: Agentic AI in Software Delivery*. **Networking** The Melbourne MLOps Community is committed to fostering a space where AI/ML engineers and practitioners can connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships. Come ready to discuss: * The tools you’re experimenting with * Trends you’re seeing in ML and MLOps * Challenges you’re tackling * Ways to find peer support We’ll have food, drinks, and the perfect space for great conversations — so feel free to bring along anyone interested in ML, MLOps, or AI more broadly. **Agenda** 🍕 **5:30pm** – Networking, drinks & food 🙋 **6:00pm** – Welcome 🎤 **6:10pm** – Presentation by Jason ❓ **6:30pm** – Questions for Jason 🎤 **6:40pm** – Presentation by Farzad ❓ **7:00pm** – Questions for Farzad 🍻 **7:10pm onwards** – Networking, drinks & food We’re looking forward to seeing you there! **P.S.** If you can’t make it in person, we’ll be streaming the event via Google Meet. Google Meet link: [https://meet.google.com/fxh-hpsg-ryt](https://meet.google.com/fxh-hpsg-ryt)

Ever had an idea? Do you look at things and say "I can do that better"? If this is you then you will find our monthly inventor's meetings a great place to visit. For just $20 payable at the door you can attend a meeting from 7:15pm to 9:30pm at Mount Waverley Youth Centre, 45 Miller Crescent, Mount Waverley. See someone present their invention and learn how they did it, listen to an interesting guest speaker and pick up tips for your own inventions. Join 35+ other inventors for an interesting and informative meeting. Ends with great finger food and coffee. Members enjoy other services including invention evaluation, mentoring, Free patent searching tool, YouTube video of their product, product showcase webpage, "Inventor" name badge, inventing guide and more. Cost of membership is $200 with renewal each year of $80 and meeting evening cost of $5. Discount for country and tertiary student members. Need patenting information? Before each meeting there is a patent attorney answering questions from 6.30pm to 7.20pm (pay your visitor fee at the door first) who will help you understand patenting and other intellectual property options. Ask any question, learn about patenting costs, pitfalls, advantages. This also covers registered designs.

Join us at Preston Library and boost your public speaking skills! ## Speak with Confidence at Northern Exposure Toastmasters Join us in person at Preston Library for a fun and friendly Toastmasters meeting! Whether you're looking to sharpen your public speaking skills or just want to meet like-minded folks, this is the place to be. Share your stories, get useful feedback, and boost your confidence in a supportive atmosphere. ### **Set Your 2026 Challenge** Maybe this is the year you want to: * Improve your public speaking and presentation skills * Build confidence in meetings or high-pressure situations * Become a more influential leader * Sharpen your thinking on your feet * Strengthen your communication for career advancement * Expand your personal and professional network Whatever your 2026 challenge looks like, Toastmasters meets you where you are, and helps you grow from there. There is so much to learn from presenting speeches to become a Leader in the Club. * 1\. Personal & professional development * 2\. Improved communication & listening skills * 3\. Increased confidence * 4\. Develop & enhance leadership skills * 5\. Affiliation with an internationally renowned organisation Don't miss out on this chance to speak up and stand out!

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.

**At Happy Hour Toastmasters - We make public speaking** **FUN!** **Do you want to get better at speaking in front of people?** Maybe for that important presentation at work, or that big wedding speech you've been asked to give? Do you want to have fun and make a bunch of great new friends while doing it? Then **our club is the place for you!** Our club is a diverse and supportive group of people, from beginners to world championship finalist-level speakers, who meet regularly to practice and improve our public speaking skills. **You'll also** **learn:** * **leadership skills** * **networking and 'soft skills'** * **how to provide constructive feedback** * **how to control your 'ums' and 'ahs'** * **how to think quickly and creatively while speaking on your feet** * **and much more!** **Guests are welcome** to come to any of our meetings, and we are also to chat with you about questions you might have, so please get in touch! **Please note - Bookings are essential**, as we need to let you into the building when you arrive!

Too many kids as well as teenagers and adults have problems with study. Today's meetup will inform you about the basics in STUDY TECHNOLOGY that provides an understanding of the basics of learning and supplies exact ways to overcome all the pitfalls one can encounter during study. This is applicable to young children, teenagers (or their parents that are trying to help them) and adults alike. Study Technology shows how one studies in order to comprehend a subject so one can apply it. Laws on which learning is based and workable methods have also been discovered for anyone to apply for themselves or when teaching others. Too many students graduate from school and college unable to put to use what they’ve learned in school. It’s not that they’re stupid or that their teachers didn’t know how to teach. More than likely it traces back to the one thing missing from most educations—learning how to learn in the first place. We all went to school, yet isn’t it odd that no one taught us how to study? The information presented at this meetup can help anyone improve others or his own ability to learn. It is a practical tool that parents and teachers alike can use to enhance a child's study performance. You’ll learn the barriers that lie between your own or a child's education. And you will very quickly learn how to overcome them. This technology will enable you or a child to pursue any subject with skill and confidence. Teachers who have "hard to handle/distributive " or slow learners in class will absolutely love the amazing turn around most often seen in improved behaviour and student performance in class. If you or your child has difficulties at school (or learning new things at work or online) than this meetup is important to you. If you can not make it to our meetup than contact the organizer and arrange it to suit your time. This technology can if one was to live far away be taught online. (extension course) You may offcourse also opt to have this technology taught to your own child by experienced volunteeer staff or learn about this yourself and transfer this knowledge to those you want to have better grades. Yes it is possible to improve anyone's study performance. All it takes is just 5 steps. See you at this meetup. Pam

Come for the exercise, stay for the connection. Soma is Sanskrit for sacred and intoxicating ritual drink. Soma Stretch is where we stretch ourselves and our souls. We become intoxicated by nature as we drink in the breath of life. Accessible yoga, easy music, connection, a little dance and coffee with new friends at the end. You don't have to be a yoga expert, you just need to be happy around nature and good people ! Location: The Queen Victoria Gardens on St Kilda Rd, next to the M Pavilion Time: 9.30am-10.30am BYO yoga mat, warm exercise clothes (it can be a little crisp) and a bottle of water.

Smashing! Try something new Thursday Interactive workshop - Learn and practice secrets to improving your voice. Serious about improving your leadership - **Why mess, come to the best** Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs? Just one member's thoughts, "The fun/laughs factor is definitely a point of difference. We keep it moving with high standards so it’s a nice balance. Too strict makes it tense and boring, too loose and we can lose the energy/commercial feel. SmashSpeak's vibe's in the sweet spot." **Free parking** close: O'Connell and Cobden streets **IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close when the show starts** “Proudly Australian" – Free-flowing teamwork, greater good focus, sharing the stage, etc Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, Purple Room (End of corridor) More to come...

🚀 **Build Your Own CNCF Observability Stack: Hands-On Workshop** Join us for a practical, end-to-end workshop where you’ll build a modern observability stack from the ground up using industry-standard CNCF tooling. In this session, you will learn to set up metrics with Prometheus, visualize and analyze data with Grafana, instrument your application using OpenTelemetry, and implement distributed tracing with Jaeger. You’ll also apply best practices for collecting, managing, and interpreting telemetry data. This is a fully hands-on session, so come ready to build, break, and learn. By the end, you’ll have a working observability stack and a clear understanding of how to instrument and monitor your own applications in real-world environments. 🛠️ No prior observability experience required, but basic familiarity with containers or cloud-native concepts will help. **A laptop is required to participate.**

\*\*\*\*NEW SESSION!!\*\*\*\* Welcome to Melbourne Volleyball Academy. 🤗 **[[WHAT]]** This session is specifically for games only (no training). There will be a cap of 18 players, allowing for 3 teams of 6. Games will be played to 15 points, with a cap at 18 points. These games are intended to be played at a high-intermediate(BB)/advanced(A) level. Please see an explanation of skill levels on our website here: [https://melbournevolleyballacademy.com.au/skill-levels-explained](https://melbournevolleyballacademy.com.au/skill-levels-explained) **[[WHO]]** The session is intended for ADVANCED players. Players should be able to: * Have strong fundamentals for all volleyball techniques * Serve receive a majority of serves well & serve over the net consistently * Basic understanding of 5-1, and 6-2 systems (we do not play a pass middle 4-2 system in this session) * Have an understanding of base defense * Know all/most volleyball rules Players that are not of the intermediate(BB)/advanced(A) level will be asked to leave as we want to ensure that all players have an enjoyable time playing. **[[HOW MUCH $$]]** $12 card payment will be processed on the day via square reader (EFTPOS). **[[WHEN]]** The stadium is booked from 12:30 PM-2:15 PM weekly, every Saturday. However, feel free to come early and stretch as the Recreation Centre is open earlier. Last minute dropouts and no shows will have a zero-tolerance policy going forward. All players are expected to update their RSVP at least 24 hours in advanced if they are unable to attend. This applies to players on the going list and the waitlist. **[[OTHER DETAILS]]** Only those on the “going” list are permitted to play. If you are on the waitlist, or not registered at all, you will not be permitted into the gymnasium.

Hear 4 expert talks, take the mic for an AI / hardware demo or announcement, and connect over pizza & drinks. **Important: Please grab your** **[FREE Eventbrite ticket](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/physical-ai-meetup-tickets-1988533123101?aff=oddtdtcreator) here** **to attend. Registration is required, and tickets will be checked at the door.** A special thanks to the **University of Melbourne** for hosting us, in collaboration with the **Melbourne University Electrical Engineering Club (MUEEC)** — a student-run club enriching the student experience through social events, professional development, and industry networking that connects engineering students with peers and professionals. Pizza and drinks for this session are kindly provided by **Advantech** — a global leader in IoT intelligent systems and embedded platforms, with the corporate vision of **“Enabling an Intelligent Planet.”** Take the mic at our **Community Open Mic**! Bring your demo, prototype, or announcement — whether it is AI, hardware, robotics, embedded systems, sensing, or edge computing. All welcome. *** ## Agenda ### 5:30 – 6:00 pm \| Check\-in\, Welcome & Introduction Hear a short welcome from the event hosts and an introduction to the Physical AI Meetup community. *** ### 6:00 – 6:20 pm \| Talk 1 –Integrating External Conditioning into Large Pretrained Deep Learning Models **Overview:** Off-the-shelf AI models are impressively capable — until they are used in highly specific real-world domains. A model trained on broad internet-scale data may struggle with cancer biopsy analysis, flood prediction, recognising unfamiliar objects, or following complex multi-step instructions. In this talk, Dr Sachith Seneviratne argues that the answer is not simply to retrain models from scratch or add more data. Instead, he introduces the idea of **external conditioning**: injecting domain knowledge into large pretrained models at the right point, with minimal engineering overhead. Drawing on recent work across medicine, climate, safety-critical AI, and creative tools, Sachith will show how external knowledge can help pretrained models become more reliable, efficient, and useful in real applications. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for making large AI models work in their own engineering and applied AI contexts.world systems. **Speaker:** **Dr Sachith Seneviratne, University of Melbourne** **Bio:** Dr Sachith Seneviratne is a Research Fellow in AI at the University of Melbourne. He brings over a decade of AI research experience alongside four years of applied consulting work for organisations including NASA and Harvard University. His research centres on representation learning, applied AI, and the efficiency of deep learning systems. His work asks how large AI models can be made to operate reliably in specific real-world domains — from clinical pathology and flood emergency response to cybersecurity and urban design — without sacrificing the generality that makes them powerful. His research has appeared at leading venues including CVPR, ICCV, and AAAI. Sachith has developed AI tools for earthquake prediction, malware detection, wearable health monitoring, and automated urban design generation. His PhD from Monash University investigated the automation of machine learning itself, including generating parallelised inference algorithms directly from model specifications. As a consultant, he has advised global organisations on deploying machine learning in production, with a focus on building systems that are efficient, robust, and grounded in domain knowledge. *** ### 6:20 – 6:40 pm \| Talk 2 – Harnessing Intelligence from the Source: Living Biological Neurons as a Material for Physical AI **Overview:** What happens when intelligence is no longer built only in silicon? In this talk, Dr Brett J. Kagan will explore the frontier of biological computing and synthetic biological intelligence, where living neural systems are integrated with hardware and software to create new forms of adaptive computation. Drawing on Cortical Labs’ work with neurons on a chip, closed-loop learning systems, and the CL-1 platform, Brett will discuss how biological neural systems can learn, adapt, and interact with their environment — and what this could mean for the future of AI, robotics, embodied intelligence, and physical AI. **Speaker:** **Dr Brett J. Kagan, Chief Scientific Officer / Chief Operations Officer, Cortical Labs** **Bio:** Dr Brett J. Kagan is the Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Operations Officer at Cortical Labs, a multidisciplinary deep-tech startup integrating hardware, software, and synthetic biology to explore how intelligence can be harnessed from neurons on a chip. Dr Kagan has a PhD in neuroscience focusing on stem cell therapy and completed post-doctoral work in bioinformatics and regenerative medicine. His recent work includes developing the first real-time closed-loop demonstration of in-vitro intelligence in a simplified Pong-game environment, along with work to better test and understand these systems. He has led the scientific development of the first commercialisable device for harnessing the information processing capabilities of biological neurons, called the CL-1. He also explores the neurocomputational, philosophical, and ethical implications of this emerging technology. ### 6:40 – 7:00 pm \| Pizza & Networking Enjoy pizza, drinks, and time to connect with other attendees. *** ### 7:00 – 7:20 pm \| Talk 3 – Physical AI in Practice: Connecting Edge Intelligence to Industrial Outcomes **Overview:** Physical AI becomes truly valuable when intelligence can be deployed close to machines, sensors, factories, and real industrial operations. In this talk, Susie Chen will share how edge AI, industrial IoT, and data-driven decision-making are being applied in real manufacturing and industrial environments. She will discuss how organisations can connect intelligent edge systems to practical outcomes, including operational efficiency, automation, smarter monitoring, and improved decision-making. The session will provide an industry perspective on how Physical AI moves from concept to deployment — and how edge intelligence can help bridge the gap between AI innovation and measurable business value. **Speaker:** **Chen Susie** **Bio:** Susie Chen is the EIoT Head of Sales at Advantech Australia, specialising in edge AI and smart manufacturing. With global experience across Taiwan, Brazil, and Australia, she helps organisations transform industrial operations through AI-driven IoT and data-powered decision-making. ### 7:20 – 7:40 pm \| Talk 4 – Why AGI Needs a Body: The Case for Proprioceptive Data in Embodied Intelligence **Overview:** Vision-based AI has transformed perception, but real-world intelligence requires more than seeing. For robots and embodied systems to operate reliably in the physical world, they need access to ground-truth data about movement, force, position, and physical interaction. In this talk, Anantyash Dixit will argue that proprioceptive data — the body’s sense of movement and position — is a missing ingredient in the path toward embodied intelligence. He will discuss why specialised sensing hardware is needed to capture this data, how human movement datasets can support robotic deployment, and why physical AI may require a deeper connection between hardware, biomechanics, and intelligence. Drawing from Melbourne Bionics’ work across wearable sensing, athlete performance analytics, and robotics datasets, this talk will explore how real-world proprioceptive data could shape the next generation of embodied AI systems. **Speaker:** **Anantyash Dixit, Founding Engineer, Melbourne Bionics** **Bio:** Anantyash Dixit is a Founding Engineer at Melbourne Bionics, a medtech startup where he leads the full hardware pipeline, including electronics design, embedded systems, and sensor integration. Melbourne Bionics is developing three connected products: **Ares**, a calf sensor sleeve that captures real-time proprioceptive data from elite athletes; **Athena**, an analytics platform that turns that data into actionable insights for coaches and medical staff; and **Richter**, a robotics platform that uses the same dataset as a proprietary benchmark for humanoid robot locomotion. Anantyash’s background spans FPGA and RTL design, embedded firmware, PCB layout, EMI/EMC verification, wearable biosignals, and medical device development. He holds a degree in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering from Monash University, where he was awarded the International Excellence Scholarship and served as President of the Society of Monash Electrical Engineers. Beyond hardware, he thinks deeply about the ethics of AI, the implications of physical intelligence, and what embodied systems mean for humanity’s long-term trajectory. *** ### 7:40 – 8:00 pm \| Community Open Mic Take the mic and share with the group — from hardware demos and embedded prototypes to quick AI-at-the-edge announcements, project showcases, calls for collaboration, and more. *** ### Wrap-up & Social Any further Q&As and chats will happen here. **Last reminder:** Please make sure to register on Eventbrite for your free ticket — it is required for entry.

**Social Pickleball - All Levels Welcome!** \*\* [Instagram: @rmit_pickleball](https://www.instagram.com/rmit_pickleball/) [WhatsApp: RMIT Pickleball Club](https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7VE0NcThWWIgLnnJBVQBq)\*\* \*\* Paddles and balls provided! Beginner friendly - simply show up and we’ll teach you the basics \*\* Grab a paddle, play pickleball, and meet new people! \*\* Who is it for?\*\* * Members of public and RMIT students * Complete beginners * Intermediate players * Advanced players (up to DUPR 4.5 expected) **✅ How to join?** 1. **Become a club member** [at the RMIT Store](https://store.rmit.edu.au/pages/club/pickleball) (one-off payment) 2. **RSVP** on Meetup to join the session 3. When marked as **“Going”**, pay for the session: **\- Payment link** is in the **comment section below** (posted 1-3 days before) \- Use your RMIT Store account with a club membership \(from step 1\) 4. Can’t attend? Update your RSVP to “Not Going” **⏳ Priority on waitlist** 1. Clear Meetup profile with name and photo 2. RMIT students 3. Regular attendees \*\* On the day\*\* * New players, please **introduce yourself to the host** * New players wanting a **rules intro**, please arrive on-time and ask a host * Have your **emailed ticket receipt ready** \- it will be checked on the day \*\* Cancellations and Refunds\*\* * No refunds for change of mind, non-attendance, or no-shows * Refunds only if the event is cancelled (weather or court availability) * Credit for a later session may be offered by agreement in case of event cancellation * Pay only when we share the payment link in Meetup - using old links is at your own risk Whether you are new to pickleball or a regular player, this is a great way to get some games in and connect with the community. Come solo or bring a friend - everyone is welcome! \*\* Spots are limited, so RSVP early! \*\*

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

**TBA**

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**

**TBA**

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).