Microsoft
Meet other local people interested in Microsoft: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Microsoft group.
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Largest Microsoft groups
Newest Microsoft groups
Brisbane Microsoft 365 Adoption Users Group
40 Members
Revenite-Bytes Webinar (Your Modern Data Platform Experts)
50 Members
BizApps Connect
379 Members
DUG Meetup: Australia East Coast - D365, Power Platform & AI
190 Members
Adelaide Microsoft 365 User Group
394 Members
Brisbane Microsoft Copilot Users Group
137 Members
Frequently Asked Questions
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Microsoft Events Today
Join in-person Microsoft events happening right now
GDG Melbourne March Coding Night!
Hack night is now known as Coding Night!!
Let's get together and share what we are working on!
This is a combined GDG Melbourne/Flutter Melbourne/CocoaHeads coding night. Members of all three groups will be attending. So only select to ATTEND on one of these groups event pages (not all of them) !
Coding Night is all about everyone learning, collaborating, sharing tips, tricks and very few (if any) presentations.
Bring your laptop and a project you are working on or need help with, you can even bring your resume to get advice!
Everyone is welcome to our all-ages alcohol-free event. Hosted in a professional environment to allow you to work on your project. Get help from industry experts who are on hand to help you out.
Make sure you have your IDE (e.g. Android Studio) of choice already downloaded and installed and something you want to learn or work on.
Doors open at 5:45 PM at our host the Mantel Group, Level 2/452 Flinders St Melbourne. Message via Meetup or Slack if you are arriving after 6:00 as the lifts won't let you up. The event will wrap up at 8:30.
This is an in-person only event. If you have any accessibility requirements please reach out via the Meetup or Slack to the organiser group to discuss and we will do our best to help you out.
Agenda
---
Hosted By
Katie Barnett, GDE Android / GDG Organiser
Katie is passionate about all things Android. She has taken on a wide variety of challenging projects including in the live event, media and travel space. Her favourite thing is to see someone having a delightful experience using something she has worked on. Katie is very active in the development community, she is a Google Developer Expert for Android, one of the organisers of GDG Melbourne and is a Women Techmakers Ambassador. She frequently runs events, speaks on technical and non-technical topics and enjoys writing blog posts to share her experience with others. Katie is based in Melbourne, Australia but loves to travel the world and outside of tech she enjoys boardgaming and attempting to finish many craft projects.
Suesi Tran, Senior Flutter Developer
Google Developer Expert in Dart, Flutter & Firebase, Women Techmaker Melbourne ambassador, GDG Melbourne & Flutter Melbourne co-organiser.
In short: Flutter is love, and mobile is life.
Poornima Sivakumar, GDG Organiser
Lovee Jain, GDG Organiser
Lovee is a Software Engineer at Prezzee, a GDG Melbourne Organiser and also a Women Techmakers Ambassador. A tech inquisitive philomath, she loves problem solving and solution design. She has worked at a city council where she developed a lot of useful system integrations and while at Prezzee she develops and works on multiple gift card solutions to cater the B2B2C market.
Zach Jensz, GDG Organiser
Passionate about the web, seamless UX and accessibility. I love attending meetups, find me and come say hi!
Ujjawal Raj, GDG Organiser
Bramley Turner-Jones, GDG Organiser
Yuba Raj (UV) Panta, GDG Cloud Organiser
Kartik Arora, Android Engineer
Google Developer Expert in Android
Android Engineer @ Bilue
Carolyn Ai Chi Wong,
Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-melbourne-presents-gdg-melbourne-march-coding-night-1/.
Raja Yoga - Online Course
This course, facilitated by Wendy Dixon, explores the concepts and exercises in Wallace Slater’s book *A Simplified Course of Raja Yoga*, which follows the Yoga Sutras or Aphorisms of Patanjali.
We meet online every Wednesday night and follow the 10-lesson structure created by Slater, allowing a month for each lesson. We will thoroughly explore each step, with time for discussion and practice.
Each session contains material on one or more of the eight limbs of yoga, so named by Patanjali - self-restraint (yama), self-discipline (niyama), posture (āsana), control of breath (prānayāma), control of the sense (pratyāhāra), concentration (dhāranā), meditation (dhyāna) and contemplation (samādhi).
Additional material is sourced from I. K. Taimni, Swami Vivekananda, H. P. Blavatsky and contemporary Raja Yoga books.
We begin and close each session with sitting meditations.
**This is an ongoing course that you can join at any time.**
**COURSE LINK**
Please click on this link to join: [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86376822389](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86376822389)
Meeting ID: 863 7682 2389
Passcode: 251130
**Admission by Donation:** A suggested donation of $5 or more per session assists Blavatsky Lodge to continue to offer online Theosophical courses.
Please donate via PayPal here: [https://tinyurl.com/blavatskylodgedonation](https://tinyurl.com/blavatskylodgedonation) or email info@tssydney.org.au for other payment options.
The course is run by **Wendy Dixon**, a National Lecturer for the Theosophical Society in Australia. She has been a member of the Theosophical Society for over 53 years, attending the youth group for at least 4 years prior to joining the TS at the age of 16 years. The works of Blavatsky, Hodson, Krishnamurti, Taimni, Besant, Leadbeater and the Dalai Lama are the cornerstone of her ever-continuing studies.
Data driven decision making for fantasy basketball
Integral to the modern data scientists toolkit is understanding how to turn data into decisions. A core part of this is thinking about the end stage of your analysis pipeline, and how the communication and visualisation of your results will factor into decision making.
But it's not just enough to deliver a solution. Part of successfully supporting end-user decisions comes from co-design. That means thinking about end user needs and how your end-users will engage with your solution.
This talk explores both of these issues using fantasy basketball statistics. So come along if you have a love of data and data-driven decision making. Also come along if you are fan of sports analytics or forecasting.
Trainscendence Comedy Club - Stand-Up (in a rooftop train)
**Trainscendence Comedy Club - Comedy.. on a Rooftop... in a Train**
Come join us for a night of laughter at **Trainscendence**! Each show so far has sold out!!
Have you ever been to a stand-up comedy show in a train carriage in the sky? oh, you have? nice..
Our comedy club features hilarious stand-up comedians ready to tickle your funny bone. Get ready for a night of non-stop jokes and good times.
Trainscendence Comedy Club in the newest and most unique Comedy Club in the Melbourne scene, this burgeoning new venue will have you lost in curiousity and imagination. Come along and have a drink at the bar or hang out in the trainscendental lounge while you wait for your show!
Grab your tickets now and get ready to laugh until your sides hurt!
Only $10
[Book tickets here](https://momence.com/l/b8h1b9D2)
Welcome to the next 2026 AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup!
Hi Architects,
Welcome to our next AWS Melbourne Well-Architected User Group Meetup for 2026, including more exceptional speakers and topics! :-D
At each meetup we covered off various pillars in detail, best-practices and insights from industry leaders that specialise in the Well-Architected Framework.
And giving away drones, of course. Lots of drones.
We’ll be updating throughout the month with more speakers and our speakers so far this month include:
* **Andrew Goifeld, Co-founder, Resilera**
**“Truly Well-Architected Reliability, the agentic way”**
What is the boundary between effort and cost of reliability? Andrew will discuss how in the future, using chatbot with LLM inference will be too expensive. We will demonstrate current and future approaches to reliability on AWS.
* **Saurabh jain, TOTHENEW**
**Driving Cloud Cost Efficiency with a Phased FinOps Approach**
This session explores how organizations can systematically reduce cloud waste and improve cost efficiency. It highlights common cost pitfalls, actionable optimization strategies, and real-world case studies demonstrating how architectural improvements and governance can deliver significant cloud savings.
* **Mystery Speaker**
**From hype to disappointment to light at the end of the tunnel; An Agentic AI Journey**
In this case study talk, we'll go through all the highs and lows of architecting and building AI Agents using all your favourite tools and what we discovered along the way.
This month's menu will include:
* Pizzas
* Beer: Nastro Azzurro
* Wine: Big and red 🤤
NB: Please check in up the stairs from the ground floor to the Mezzanine Level.
So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm **SHARP** start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-)
Coding Night - iOS, visionOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS, Android - Everyone Welcome
**Details - Coding Night!**
Bring your laptop and your iOS, visionOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS project to the combined CocoaHeads & Android GDG coding night.
Everyone is welcome to our all-ages alcohol-free event. Hosted in a professional environment to allow you to work on your project. Get help from industry experts who are on hand to help you out.
• What we'll do:
We'll help you setup up Xcode and start your first project.
We'll help answer your questions re how to get to the next phase of your project.
• What to bring:
Your laptop, a copy of Xcode, a project you'd like to hack on.
Before arrival, make sure you're grabbing a fresh copy of Xcode from the Mac App Store (Apple Menu then App Store then search for Xcode, Install. Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12)
Doors open at 5:45 PM at our host the Mantel Group, Level 2/452 Flinders St Melbourne. Message via Meetup or Slack if you are arriving after 6:00 as the lifts won't let you up. The hack night will wrap up at 8:30.
IN PERSON! Apache Kafka® x Apache Flink® x Apache Iceberg® Meetup - Mar 2026
Hello everyone! Join us for an Apache Kafka® x Apache Flink® x Apache Iceberg® meetup on **Mar 18th from 5:30PM**, hosted by intelia in Melbourne!
The address, agenda, and speaker information can be found below. See you there!
**Venue**:
intelia
L3, 31 Queen St, Melbourne 3000
IMPORTANT:
Please note that for security purposes, all attendees are required to sign in at the lobby to get into the building.
\*\*\*
**Agenda:**
* 5:30pm: Doors open
* 5:30pm - 6:00pm: Pizza, Drinks, and Networking
* 6:00pm - 6:30pm: Olena Kutsenko, Staff Developer Advocate, Confluent
* 6:30pm - 7:00pm: Paras Sitoula, Technical Lead, Tabcorp
* 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Additional Networking
\*\*\*
**Speaker:**
Olena Kutsenko, Staff Developer Advocate, Confluent
**Talk:**
Keeping data private in real-time pipelines
**Abstract:**
We all love real-time data — clicks, payments, rides, messages — but most of it comes with a catch: it contains personal information we're not supposed to leak, such as names, emails, locations, or even small clues that can identify someone. The challenge: how do we keep streaming data useful and safe at the same time? In this talk, we'll explore practical ways to protect privacy in streaming systems using Apache Kafka, Apache Flink, and Apache Iceberg. We'll cover: - simple tricks like masking and tokenizing PII; - why "anonymous" data often isn't anonymous (the re-identification problem); - techniques like bucketing, k-anonymity, and adding noise; - how to balance privacy with data utility (too much hiding makes data useless). Along the way, we'll look at real-world stories: from public data leaks to surprising deanonymization attacks, and show live demos of pipelines that anonymize data before it's written to storage. If you've ever wondered how to build privacy-aware pipelines, this talk will give you practical patterns you can use right away.
**Bio:**
Olena is a Staff Developer Advocate at Confluent and a recognized expert in data streaming and analytics. With two decades of experience in software engineering, she has built mission-critical applications, led high-performing teams, and driven large-scale technology adoption at industry leaders like Nokia, HERE Technologies, AWS, and Aiven.
A passionate advocate for real-time data processing and AI-driven applications, Olena empowers developers and organizations to use the power of streaming data. She is an AWS Community Builder, a dedicated mentor, and a volunteer instructor at a nonprofit tech school, helping to shape the next generation of engineers.
As an international speaker and thought leader, Olena regularly presents at top global conferences, sharing deep technical insights and hands-on expertise. Whether through her talks, workshops, or content, she is committed to making complex technologies accessible and inspiring innovation in the developer community.
\-\-\-\-\-
**Speaker:**
Paras Sitoula, Technical Lead, Tabcorp
**Talk:**
Building an AI Agent on Kafka — Architectural Realities Beyond the Demo
**Abstract:**
Large Language Models make it deceptively easy to build an “AI agent”: consume an event, call a model, produce a decision. But when this pattern is introduced into a high-throughput streaming system built on Apache Kafka, the architectural assumptions begin to shift.
Kafka is optimized for predictable scaling, low latency, and deterministic event processing. LLM-based agents, by contrast, introduce seconds-level latency, per-call cost, rate limits, and non-deterministic outputs. What appears straightforward in a demo can quickly create consumer lag, cost escalation, replay inconsistencies, and new operational failure modes in production.
In this session, we will:
* Build a simple event-driven AI agent on Kafka
* Examine the architectural tension between streaming systems and LLM workloads
* Explore the impact of latency, cost-per-event, backpressure, and rate limiting
* Discuss how non-determinism affects replay and auditability
* Present practical design patterns to isolate and control AI workloads in streaming environments
Rather than focusing on prompt engineering, this talk takes a systems-design perspective. It is aimed at engineers and architects who are experimenting with AI in real-time platforms and want to understand the production trade-offs before deploying at scale.
**Bio**
Paras is a seasoned software/date engineer with significant experience in developing and optimizing realtime scalable systems. At Tabcorp, Paras leads a high-performing team, developing and optimizing real-time transaction monitoring systems utilizing technologies like Apache Kafka and Neo4j. With a robust background in both real-time and batch data processing, Paras has extensive experience across various platforms and tools, including AWS, Databricks, and Spark, which he leverages to deliver high-performance data solutions.
\*\*\*
If you would like to speak or host our next event please let us know! community@[confluent.io](http://confluent.io/)
Microsoft Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
What even is 'Impact'? A workshop on the real-world consequences of your org
What the #%\*@ is impact?
In a world where corporations are judged on their social impact nations unite over goals for environmental sustainability and happiness is considered as a rival metric for a country’s GDP– organisations need to measure the impact their organisation has on the real-world, not just their own bottom line.
But what even IS impact? Is it important for companies that don’t have social or environmental goals? How do you measure it?
This workshop will first introduce the concept of Impact, followed by a dive into how it’s defined and measured around the world in a dozen different domains and ultimately how we might apply it to produce products that pack a punch.
**Our facilitator**
[JJ Monester](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jjmonester/) works as an Associate Product Manager for the non-profit news media company, The Conversation International, a company which democratises knowledge by bridging the gap between academic research and the general public. Having worked on products where providing evidence of Impact to customers is fundamental, he has gone deep into the complex and nuanced world of understanding what frameworks attempt to achieve.
Grokking organisational impact is an area of learning JJ could get lost in, and possibly already has :-). As an area that he is spending time on in his day to day, yet still feeling like he’s a beginner, he’s very much looking forward to sharing what’s he learning and getting deeper into the concepts alongside you all. Let’s have fun together.
Our wonderful sponsors;
[Revity](https://www.linkedin.com/company/revity-group/):
Revity helps startups, scaleups and established organisations deliver product-led quality software outcomes. We partner with businesses to build high-performing teams, uplift engineering capability, and deliver product outcomes that last beyond the project.From applied AI and mobile apps to global expansion and customer lifecycle platforms, we focus on practical, scalable solutions that drive business value.At Revity, we don’t just deliver projects, we empower teams to learn by doing, so organisations grow stronger with every engagement.
[Amplitude](https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplitude-analytics/):
We help companies build better products\. \| We help companies unlock the power of their products\.
• Join the team: [http://amplitude.com/careers](http://amplitude.com/careers)
• Join the community: [http://community.amplitude.com](http://community.amplitude.com/)
• Join our user groups: [https://community.amplitude.com/p/groups](https://community.amplitude.com/p/groups)
JUGGER - soft-combat foam weapons, free to try!
It's Jugger time! Get on down to Hawthorn for fun, sun, exercise, and silly shenanigans
* ✅ Free to attend
* ⚔️ Jugger Equipment is supplied
* 🍜 Post-training social lunch - all welcome
* ➡️ [Find us on Discord](https://discord.gg/WHnMyk56Cu)
Jugger is an exciting, mixed-gender soft combat sport. Two teams use a selection of padded foam spars to tag opponents as they aim to put the jugg (the game ball) into their opponent's goal.
**Watch Jugger being played in [this excellent short demo video](https://vimeo.com/28592980).**
Jugger Melbourne training sessions include both full games of jugger, as well as a variety of training drills designed to promote **teamwork, communication, exercise, health and fitness, and teach core game skills.**
After training we head across to Glenferrie Rd for lunch and socializing, which you are welcome (and encouraged!) to join.
**🏃♀️➡️ New Player Info / Who Can Join**
New players are always welcome! Our experienced coaches will teach you basics to get you and and swinging in no time Jugger is easy to pickup the basics while deep to master.
We have a minimum age policy of 16 years (please note, anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian), but other than that we welcome anyone of all fitness levels. Jugger is a great way to keep active, and a fun way to meet new people in a friendly and inclusive community!
**👟 How to Join a Session and What to Bring**
Joining is simple - just show up! RSVPing on Meetup or Discord is a big help as it helps us plan around expected numbers. You are also welcome to bring along any interested friends and family.
**⚔️ Jugger equipment is supplied.** We have a collection of gear to loan out to new players.
Bring a water bottle (there is a tap nearby), sunscreen, and wear comfortable clothes and shoes for running around in - and that you don't mind getting a bit dirty!
Recommend but not required items include: sunglasses, football boots, kneepads, and gloves if you have them. You don't need any of these to get started, but you may find you want them if you become a regular.
**✅ Are there any costs are involved?**
Our training sessions are **free to attend** as often as you like, we are essentially just a group of friends that meet for training and socializing on the weekend.
The Australian Jugger League has a voluntary annual membership that helps to support the sport (including maintaining equipment and paying for Meetup), and we encourage people to join once they become a regular attendee or begin attending tournaments. However there's no obligation so spend any money when you're first trying it out or just attending casually.
**➡️ External Links**
We organise our regular players through our Discord group and their attendance is not often represented in the Meetup attendance numbers (we use Meetup to reach out to new people).
Events are also (though less regularly) posted to Facebook, while event photos and videos are shared on our Instagram.
* [Join our Discord](https://discord.gg/WHnMyk56Cu)
* [Jugger Melbourne on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/JuggerMelbourne)
* [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jugger_melbourne/)
* [Australian Jugger League website](https://www.jugger.au/)
\*\* See you on Sunday \*\*
Readings in Applied Theosophy
Join us every first and third Saturday of the month to learn about Theosophical principles and how we may apply them to our lives.
From its inception in 1875, the Theosophical Society encouraged study of the Ageless Wisdom to discover enduring religious Truth and to make Brotherhood a living reality in the world.
*“For real Theosophy IS ALTRUISM, and we cannot repeat it too often. It is brotherly love, mutual help, unswerving devotion to Truth.”*
HP Blavatsky, Our Cycle and The Next, 1889.
*The mission of the Theosophical Society is to serve humanity by cultivating an ever-deepening understanding and realization of the Ageless Wisdom, spiritual Self-transformation and the Unity of all life.*
Resolution passed by the General Council of The Theosophical Society in 1924.
According to these principles, a theosophic life is not just theoretical, but must also be practical, indeed must be a life of service. Amid the noise and conflict of the modern world, what might be our role, as individuals and as a Theosophical Society?
Through a range of books and Theosophical pamphlets, we will look to both exoteric, widespread social principles and to more esoteric, spiritual principles for discussion and guidance.
Introduction to Theosophy - Online Course
Presented By Wendy Dixon of the Sydney Blavatsky Lodge
**ONLINE COURSE:**
Introduction to Theosophy runs yearly for 10 months from 5th February to 19th November on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month.
Our core text is Theosophy: An Introductory Study Course, 4th Edition by John Algeo.
It can be downloaded for free from the URL:
[https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf)](https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf))
Additional material is provided with slides that are shared after each class via Mailchimp emails.
The sessions are all run with questions answered throughout. While it is preferable to attend the whole year, participants are welcome to join at any time - everything is run in monthly modules.
**PROGRAM**
**February:** What is Theosophy - Fundamental Concepts of Theosophy
**March:** Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World/Universal Brotherhood - History of TS/Brotherhood
and the Path
**April:** Human Beings and Our Bodies (Etheric, Astral, Mental, Causal)
**May:** Life after Death - Withdrawal from the Bodies and Devachan
**June:** Reincarnation
**July:** Karma
**August:** The Power of Thought/The Question of Evil - Understanding how we continue to create the world around us
**September:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part One - Evolution, 3 waves of Evolution, Individualisation
**October:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part Two - Human Evolution, Seven Rays
**November:** The Rise and Fall of Civilisations - Root Races
**COURSE LINK**
Please click on this link to join:
[https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054)
Meeting ID: 883 2972 7054
Passcode: 840346
Admission by Donation: A suggested donation of $5 or more per session assists Blavatsky Lodge to offer online Theosophical courses.
Please donate via PayPal here:
[https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses](https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses) or email [info@tssydney.org.au](mailto:info@tssydney.org.au)
for other payment options.
Speaking & Leadership - Workshop - FAST FUN LEARNING
Smashing! Try something new Thursday
Interactive workshop - Become the charismatic leader
Serious about improving your leadership - **Why mess, come to the best**
Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs?
Passion!!!
1\. Fast\-paced\, energized and exciting meets
2\. We practice **bold, confident** and **dynamic** leadership!
3. **Everyone talks** multiple times during super-interactive workshops every meet - Plus the chance to speak on the big stage for those that are keen
4. **FAST LEARNING**
**Free parking** close-by: O'Connell and Cobden streets
**IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close when the show starts**
“Proudly Australian" – Free-flowing leadership & teamwork
Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market)
Level 1, Purple Room (End of corridor)
More to come...
Thoughtstorm® Session Topic: Intl Day of Happiness, Yarraville
Would you like to enhance your creativity, confidence and increase your awareness? We’d love you to join us to Thoughtstorm® the topic International Day of Happiness in the warm, friendly environment of the Yarraville Community Centre.
How Thoughtstorm came about
Thoughtstorm is a technique developed from a seed of speculation: are there more effective (rational, cooperative, compassionate) ways of thinking? Methods whose long-term consequences will not lead to oblivion. This is the genesis of Thoughtstorm.
What is it?
For anyone with an interest in leadership, deeper conversations or creative problem solving, something much more than a group discussion occurs. What is experienced in Thoughtstorm is a forgotten sensory ability - mind-linking. An evolution in human thinking and learning.
The direction moves from a narrow range of possibility into discovering corecepts, when individual minds merge into a much more powerful collective awareness and experience a deeper, more compassionate comprehension of reality. Corecepts trigger intuitive recognition and agreement by the group, a ‘Why, of course!’ reaction.
New insights guaranteed!
Because this process taps into abilities already present in the human mind and into aggregates of consciousness straining to express themselves, very little practice is required.
Would you like to see and understand things in a way that is new for all of us? Would you like to develop your consciousness and your creative intelligence? Would you like to be inspired to create positive change?
Then come and join us to Thoughtstorm together.
If it’s your first time to Thoughtstorm, please RSVP early to give plenty of time to arrange a brief prep call on Zoom to go over the Thoughtstorm procedures so we can all get started on time together.
**Agenda:**
6.30pm - Arrive, meet and greet, read over Thoughtstorm instructions
6.45pm - Begin the Thoughtstorm
7.45pm - Finish
When you RSVP we will be in touch with the details.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Thoughtstorm® is a registered trademark of Star's Edge, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hck4G#0x14 - Cloudy with a Chance of Orbit-Hack: Securing Critical Space
### Hck4G#0x14 – Cloudy with a Chance Orbit-Hack: Securing Critical Space
**Monthly Global Cybercrime Impact Report - 3rd Edition**
#### **🌍 A cybersecurity meetup for the community, by the community**
Hck4G is a not-for-profit organisation focused on disrupting the human impact of cybercrime through awareness, intervention, education, victim support and diversion.
Our monthly meetups create ethical pathways, build real-world cybersecurity capability, and strengthen defender communities that understand context, not just tools.
For Meetup #0x14, we deliver the **3rd edition of the Monthly Global Cybercrime Impact Report**, followed by a deep-dive into one of the fastest-emerging risk domains: **space cybersecurity**.
**Online & In-person Registration Link:** https://events.humanitix.com/hck4g-0x14-cloudy-with-a-chance-of-orbit-hack-securing-critical-space
### **About the Session**
**What happens when cyber risk leaves Earth’s atmosphere?**
As space infrastructure becomes increasingly embedded in civilian life, defence capability, agriculture, telecommunications and navigation, the security stakes are rising rapidly.
In this session, **Peter Lake** explores the growing cyber risk landscape across space systems and critical infrastructure, examining both **civilian and military perspectives**.
The talk will unpack how space has become **critical,** **congested and contested**, why traditional security thinking is insufficient, and what practical frameworks defenders can apply today.
The session includes a **live demonstration of critical frameworks and tools**, showcasing practical approaches emerging from Melbourne’s space innovation ecosystem.
### **This session is designed for:**
* Cybersecurity professionals expanding into critical infrastructure
* GRC practitioners working with SOCI or defence environments
* Security engineers interested in emerging threat domains
* Critical infrastructure risk and resilience professionals
* Anyone curious about the intersection of space and cybersecurity
### **What You’ll Learn**
* What constitutes **space infrastructure** and why it matters
* Why space systems are now considered **critical infrastructure**
* Key cyber threats and risk scenarios affecting space environments
* How civilian and military threat models differ
* How the **SOCI Act verticals** apply to space technology
* Introduction to the **MITRE SPARTA model for space security**
* Applying **Zero Trust principles in space environments**
* How space risk links to the **five hazards of critical infrastructure**
* Real-world disruption examples, including space weather impacts on agriculture
* Practical insights and case study **demo**
### **🛰 Key Frameworks Covered**
* SOCI Act — Space Technology vertical
* MITRE SPARTA (Space Attack Research & Tactic Analysis)
* Zero Trust (Space-adapted approach)
* CMMI / CMMC considerations
* Defence and Space Industry Program context
* Ground segment security considerations
***
### **🍕 Bonus**
Best cyber pizzas in Melbourne, courtesy of **CyLynk & BridgeLynk**.
***
### **Event Information**
**Date:** Wednesday, 18 March 2026
**Time:** 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM (AEDT)
**Location:** Building 80 RMIT University Melbourne, Level 6, Room 5
**Cost:** Free (registration required)
**Catering:** Food and drinks provided
***
### **Livestream Watch Parties**
* Ghana (WAT+2)
* Nigeria (WAT+1)
Livestream links will be shared with registered attendees **24 hours before the event**.
***
### **Speaker — Peter Lake**
Peter Lake is a lifelong space enthusiast and amateur astronomer with co-authorship on two scientific papers covering variable stars and exoplanet transit timing variations. He is the discoverer of **Asteroid (551900) Laneways**, named after Melbourne’s iconic laneway culture.
Peter brings **40 years of experience in telecommunications and data networks**. During COVID, he completed a **Master of Cyber Security at Edith Cowan University (2023)**.
His passions include:
* Coaching cybersecurity practitioners
* Running a CTF team for people with autism via NDIS provider CRANK No-Barriers
* Designing tabletop exercises that combine space and cyber risk
* Supporting emerging leaders and startups, including work as a vCISO
Peter is a regular speaker at major industry events including **CyberCon Melbourne, BrisSec, Ballarat BSides, and the Australian Space Cyber Forum (ASCF)**.
***
### **What to Bring:**
* Laptop with internet access
* Minimum 8GB RAM
* Curiosity and a willingness to ask questions
***
### **Event Schedule**
* **5:30 – 5:40 PM:** Welcome, Intro & Networking
* **5:40 – 6:00 PM:** Networking & Cyber pizzas 🍕
* **6:00 – 6:45 PM:** Presentation
* **6:45 – 7:30 PM:** Discussions and Q&A
***
### **Thanks to our Sponsors**
[RMIT University](https://www.rmit.edu.au/) \- Worldclass certificates\, degrees\, Masters and Postgraduate programs\.
[BridgeLynk.io](http://BridgeLynk.io) \- Attack Informed Cybersecurity Services for NFP\, SMB and Enterprise
[CyLynk.com](http://CyLynk.com) \- Job\-Ready cybersecurity training led by expert coaches\.
Microsoft Events Near You
Connect with your local Microsoft community
From Web Forms to Web Components - Burton Smith
**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you.
The building address is 4450 Bridge Park
The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400
**Abstract**
Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively.
This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way.
**YouTube Link**
TBA
[GitHub Copilot Dev Days | Columbus] #10
We're excited to launch **GitHub Copilot Dev Days**, a global in‑person community event series running **March 15 – April 30**!
Let's come together as developers, grow our local community, and showcase the power of GitHub Copilot with **free, high‑quality training materials** from Microsoft + GitHub.
* GitHub Copilot in VS Code
* GitHub Copilot CLI
… and more!
* **Intro Talk (30–45 min):** GitHub Copilot + AI development
* **Local Community Talk (30–45 min):** NOT ME, **[Matt Eland](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteland/)**
* **Hands‑on Workshop (1 hour):** Practical exercises using GitHub Copilot
* **SPECIAL GUEST** **(virtual)**: **[Andrea Griffiths](https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolombiadev/)** (Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub)
***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (AI-generated) code; this time!***
Food and drinks will be available.
There will be a Pro+ Sweepstakes, and details on how to enter will be provided at the event. Microsoft will be raffling off 300 GitHub Copilot Pro+ codes at the end of Dev Days.
How it works:
* Attendees will enter the raffle by filling out an entry form provided at the event.
* Codes will be raffled off at the end of the event series!
**LOCATION:**
6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017
**FREE PARKING:**
6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017
ServiceNow's Got Talent
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.
The Clawwww
OpenClaw, NemoClaw, personal assistants, 24/7 agents. What does it all mean? How does it all work and what should we know about it?
Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus.
Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)
Using Philosophy to Cope with Current Events
So this month's prompt is more general. I think we can all agree that we are living in "unique" times that require coping skills. I think that one role and/or purpose of philosophy is to help us deal with our daily lives and our "unique" times. So, let's share our feelings and thoughts about which philosopher/philosophy we turn to in order to deal with our crazy events. Who/what helps you stay focused in your daily life and helps you sleep at night. I find that Stoicism with a little philosophical pessimism mixed in goes a long way in helping me deal with what I see as very destructive, fearful and mean spirited public policies at both the state and federal levels. Hope to see you on March 28th!
Christians in Tech - Meetup #31 @ Improving
Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you.
Our Website
[https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus)
Sponsors and Partners
* Improving (Venue Sponsor)
* Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor)
* Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

























![[GitHub Copilot Dev Days | Columbus] #10](https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/c/9/f/highres_532807327.webp?w=640)




