Network Engineering

AI is no longer a future concept — it's being engineered into production systems today. We're rebuilding a practitioner-led space where Melbourne's AI engineering community connects, learns, and ships better work together. After a year away, we're back – and bigger in focus. Same community, sharper lens: the *engineering* of building AI systems that survive contact with production. Our first event back is themed "Building AI That Ships." Two talks from local practitioners, then time to mingle with the people working on the same problems you are. **Who is this for** AI engineers · software engineers shipping LLM features · ML engineers and data scientists · product managers building AI products · technical leaders. **Important Note** After clicking "Attend" on this meetup, you'll also need to register through this [link](https://invites.envoy.com/group-invite/8UV8AVxbXWNFdtTq/exceeded) to gain access to the venue! **Run time** * **5:30 – 6:00** — Doors open · food + drinks · networking * **6:00 – 6:10** — Welcome * **6:10 – 6:30** — Talk 1: Designing the Harness around AI agents * **6:30 – 6:50** — Talk 2: AI for Future of Engineering * **7:00 – 7:30** — Panel Discussion: The Engineering Day in AI Era * **7:30 – 7:50** — Open networking * **7:50 – 8:00** — Wrap up See you there! 🙌

We've spent the last few years measuring and celebrating AI adoption as if it were one thing - when really it's a deeply personal journey, and no two of us are on quite the same one. How it lands depends on where you're starting from, on how you think you'll be seen and measured for using it, and on what it's quietly doing to the craft you love. Drawing not just on recent research and my own study, but on living it and talking with many others on the same path, this talk weaves those layers together. You'll leave with a clearer sense of your own journey, and that you have far more control over this technology's effectiveness than you might realise. However you're feeling about all of this, you're not doing it wrong. **Agenda (time in Melbourne/AEST)** * 5:30pm Networking * 6:00pm Welcome * 6:05pm Main Presentation * 6:35pm Q&A * 7:00pm Networking * 7:30pm Close **This will be a HYBRID event:** **Zoom link -** will be posted 1hr before event starts. **Our Speaker** **Annie Vella** Annie Vella is a Distinguished Engineer at Westpac New Zealand, where she focuses on AI adoption, governing agentic systems at scale, and transforming the software development lifecycle. With over 20 years of experience across startups, scale-ups, and large enterprises in four countries, she has spent two decades on both sides of the engineer/manager pendulum — and actively encourages others to do the same. Having fallen in love with computers when she got her first Commodore 64 at age six, Annie has cared deeply about the craft ever since. That curiosity led to a Master's of Engineering exploring how professional software engineers experience the impact of AI coding assistants. Through her writing and speaking, Annie's aim is to help engineers and leaders find joy and pride in the work ahead.

**Welcome to our Tuesday Social + Language Exchange Meetup 🌍** We meet weekly at **Fathers Office QV-249 Little lonsdale st (Melbourne CBD).** We ask that you **purchase a drink at the bar** or **pay $3.5 at entry** to support the venue. *** ### 💬 Find your people (New!) Looking to practice a specific language? Post in the discussion using: * **#LearnSpanish** * **#LearnEnglish** * **#TeachEnglish** * **#LearnJapanese** * etc. 👉 This helps others find you faster and makes it easier to connect. *** ### 📲 Join our WhatsApp Community Stay connected before and after the event, meet people, and find language partners: 👉 **Join here:** [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Bi7FlhHP91e0eP7MfdeWcZ) *** ### ⏰ What to expect We consistently have **100–120 attendees** every Thursday (across multiple Meetup groups). People arrive at different times — **best time to come is between 6PM and 9PM.** Come solo or with friends — most people come alone and join conversations naturally. *** ### 🌏 Who attends? A mix of: * Native & non-native English speakers * International students * Backpackers & working holiday travellers * Professionals & expats * Local Australians You’ll meet people from: Europe, China, Japan, Korea, Latin America, and more. *** ### 🗣️ Why join? 👉 A relaxed, social way to practice English 👉 Meet people from around the world 👉 No pressure, no structure — just conversations *** ### 🍕 FREE DRINKS & FOOD FOR FRIENDLY VOLUNTEERS! We’re looking for **friendly volunteers** to help welcome newcomers and keep the vibe social. 👉 You’ll get: * Free drinks (beer/soft drink) * Food (pizza, wedges, etc.) * A fun team to hang out with No experience needed — many of our volunteers are **first-timers too**. Interested? 👉 [www.Linguas.au/Volunteer](www.Linguas.au/Volunteer) *** 📲 **More info:** [https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU](https://instagram.com/Linguas.AU) or **@Linguas.AU**

## **What every property investor needs to know about the changes happening to negative gearing, capital gains tax and trust taxation — BEFORE the rules change.** The Federal Budget contained several major proposals that could significantly impact how Australians invest in property. Changes have been proposed to: * Negative gearing * Capital gains tax * Discretionary trusts For many investors, these structures form the foundation of their wealth creation strategy. But how would these changes actually work? Who could be affected? What opportunities still exist? And what should investors be thinking about now? At our [Melbourne meetup](https://events.resultsmentoring.com/meetup-vic.html?utm_source=meetup&utm_campaign=drn), **tax specialist Brent McCartney** will break down the proposed changes and explain what they could mean for property investors, developers, renovators and business owners. **What you'll learn...** **Negative Gearing Changes** **Discover:** ✓ What the Government has announced ✓ Which properties may be protected under grandfathering provisions ✓ How the proposed rules could affect future purchases ✓ The implications for investors buying established versus new properties **Capital Gains Tax Changes** **Learn:** ✓ How the current 50% CGT discount could change ✓ The proposed inflation-indexed alternative ✓ What the changes could mean for future property profits ✓ How transitional rules may apply to existing properties **Trust taxation Changes** **Understand:** ✓ The proposed 30% minimum tax on discretionary trusts ✓ Why the Government says the changes are necessary ✓ How family trusts may be affected ✓ Potential restructuring opportunities available during the transition period ✓ Real-world examples illustrating the potential financial impact **[RSVP now to attend FREE in-person or via Zoom](https://events.resultsmentoring.com/meetup-vic.html?utm_source=meetup&utm_campaign=drn)** **Why This Matters** Many investors spend years building portfolios based on rules that can change with a single Budget announcement. The investors who understand the implications early have more options, more time to plan and greater confidence when making future decisions. This session is not about politics. It's about understanding the proposed changes and making informed investment decisions. The proposed Budget changes could have significant implications for how Australians invest, structure and grow their wealth through property. Whether you own one investment property or a large portfolio, this is an opportunity to understand the potential impact before important decisions need to be made. **Important:** If you plan to attend, please click the RSVP link below and register. This helps us manage venue numbers and ensures you receive event reminders. **[RSVP now to attend FREE in-person or via Zoom](https://events.resultsmentoring.com/meetup-vic.html?utm_source=meetup&utm_campaign=drn)** **FAQ's** **-> Can I bring someone else along?** Yes, you are welcome to bring anyone who is interested in property investing, renovating, developing - it's all about learning and networking with like-minded investors. Please ask them to RSVP so that we know how many people are coming. **-> What are you selling?** Nothing, these meetups are all about learning and networking with like-minded people. **-> What are my Parking options?** There is plenty of parking in the street. We look forward to seeing you there. Best regards, – Tony **PS** You can attend in person or online by **[clicking here](https://events.resultsmentoring.com/meetup-vic.html?utm_source=meetup&utm_campaign=drn)**

Hi Radiant Ladies, Get ready for a beautiful lunch at one of Melbourne’s most charming locations! We’re heading to Max on Hardware Lane — a gorgeous spot tucked away in one of Melbourne’s most iconic laneways, known for its wonderful atmosphere and delicious food. Hardware Lane is simply magical — lined with character, great energy, and that unmistakable Melbourne charm. The perfect setting for great food and even better company! Come along and enjoy a relaxed, lovely lunch with your favourite ladies. 💛 Lyn 🌸

Please reserve your spot at bit.ly/bnitickets - do not RSVP here on MeetUp. Please mention Jerry invited you. BNI Momentum are a motivated group of business owners and business professionals who meet weekly to refer business to each other. (ordinarily we meet in Brighton, Bayside Melbourne). And now more than ever you can't afford to be losing connections you would have normally made face to face. BNI has embraced online networking, so come and join us! BNI is business as usual, but currently we are meeting online, and already our meetings still have the same amazing buzz with loads of Referrals, business and 1:1 meetings go ahead every week. Please arrive online by 10.15am (but from 10am) so you have plenty of time network and before our meeting officially starts at 10.30am. You will be emailed the weekly online link from the BNI Momentum Visitor Host team. So look out for an email from bnimomentumvisitorhosts@gmail.com - or please email that address if you have not received something by the Monday night before your chosen event date. Come along and network with people who want to refer you business. Learn the system, get some business education, hear from our weekly speakers. If you want to grow your business through referrals in a system guaranteed to work, then come along and see why BNI is the World's most successful networking organisation.

The discussion topic for this meetup will be identity and whether or not history is a necessary condition for consciousness as Dretske proposed. James

**Register now to attend! =>** [https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-06-29](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-06-29) **<=** **Latest promotions** discovered by our community! * **30%** OFF **[Kubernetes](https://lf.ksug.ai/)** Sitewide - Code: **30K8SUG** * **20%** OFF **[FinOps](https://ksug.ai/finops/?ref=meetup)** Certs Code: **KSAI_20** * Missed **65%** 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 in-person at at AWS Melbourne office! 🎉 We're actively seeking more awesome K8s and AI topic speakers! 👉 [https://sessionize.com/ksug-au](https://sessionize.com/ksug-au) **Workshop Overview [Hands-on Workshop]** Join us for the Agentic Platform Engineering Experience (APEX) — an adaptive, instructor-led, choose-your-own-adventure workshop where you and an AI tutor explore Amazon EKS through the lens of agentic platform engineering. Using Claude Code and AWS DevOps Agent as a co-pilot alongside purpose-built APEX Skills, you will design, build, and operate Amazon EKS clusters with AI-guided assistance that adapts to your experience level and goals. **Who Should Attend** This workshop is designed for platform engineers, DevOps engineers, solutions architects, and developers who want practical, hands-on experience combining AI agents with Kubernetes platform engineering. **What Matters to You** * **Immediate Applicability:** Deploy and operate EKS clusters using the same patterns and tools you will use in production — no toy examples. * **Reduced Operational Risk:** Understand and enforce critical safety rules that prevent NodeCreationFailure and pod creation blocks. * **Faster Time-to-Value:** Use AI-assisted infrastructure generation to scaffold complete, production-ready Terraform projects in minutes, not days. * **Security & Compliance:** Harden cluster security posture with guided remediation and constraint patches for air-gapped, proxy, and compliance environments. * **Cost Optimization:** Identify and implement compute cost savings through AI-driven operational reviews — applied to your real cluster. * **Career Growth:** Gain hands-on experience combining AI agents with Kubernetes — a rapidly growing skill set for modern platform engineers. **Environment prepared for you by AWS** * AWS account pre-configured at no cost * EKS cluster already deployed & ready * Claude Code workspace provisioned * APEX Skills included — no local setup required **Pre-requisites:** Foundation knowledge about Kubernetes. Attend this self-paced digital course if you are not familiar with Kubernetes Home - [AWS Skill Builder](https://skillbuilder.aws/learn/X5RBBUKERD/the-amazon-eks-cluster/FJVEUUZGEK?parentId=393YRXJZWC) **IMPORTANT: Please bring your own laptop and government ID.** **[Register Now](https://konfhub.com/ksug-au-2026-06-29)** Seats are limited. Register now to secure your spot and accelerate your kubernetes platform engineering with AI. **Speakers** **Frank Fan** Principal Solution Architect, Containers, AWS **Nirmal Rajan** Senior Technical Account Manager, AWS **Don George** Senior Technical Account Manager, AWS **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)** 🔥 [github.com/ksug-ai](https://github.com/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.

Hello everyone! Join us for an Apache Kafka® meetup on **June 24th from 5:30pm**, hosted by Ippon in Melbourne! The address, agenda, and speaker information can be found below. See you there! **📍Venue**: Ippon Australia Collab Hub Level 8, 607 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 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 - 6:45pm: Usman Khan, Technical Support Engineer, Confluent * 6:45pm - 7:30pm: Additional Q&A & Networking \*\*\* 💡 Speaker: Usman Khan, Technical Support Engineer, Confluent Talk: Kafka Connect On-Prem Troubleshooting Playbook Abstract: When a Kafka Connect sink stops writing, the failure can be hiding in one of several layers, Database, the connector config, the Connect worker, the schema, or the topic itself. In this session, Usman walks through a live Oracle JDBC Sink troubleshooting demo built on the kafka-docker-playground, showing a repeatable classify → fix → verify approach. We cover how to check connector and task state via the REST API and internal Kafka topics, navigate worker logs efficiently, use the Connect admin logging API for dynamic trace logging without restarts, Grafana metrics, manipulate sink offsets for replay. Bio: Usman Khan is a Technical Support Engineer on Confluent's Global Support team, based in Melbourne and covering the APAC region. He specialises in Kafka Connect, working daily with engineering teams to diagnose and resolve connector and framework issues across both on-premises deployments and Confluent Cloud. \*\*\* ***DISCLAIMER*** BY ATTENDING THIS EVENT IN PERSON, you acknowledge that risk includes possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases including COVID-19, and accept responsibility for this, if it occurs. NOTE: We are unable to cater for any attendees under the age of 18. \*\*\* If you would like to speak or host our next event please let us know! community@[confluent.io](http://confluent.io/)

Dear STAG members, We are back with **🚀STAG In-Person Meetup!** **Topic: Calculating the Savings with AI-Assisted Performance Testing Using LoadMagic and JMeter** Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way performance testing is performed, but how much time and cost can it actually save? Join us for an engaging and practical session with **[Renard Vardy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/renard-vardy/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/renard-vardy/)as we explore how AI-assisted automation can dramatically reduce the effort and technical complexity involved in creating and maintaining JMeter performance test scripts. In this session, Renard will demonstrate how **LoadMagic** can automatically correlate a JMeter script, showcasing how AI-assisted scripting can simplify and accelerate this process through a live demonstration. 📅 **Date:** Wednesday, 24 June 2026 🕕 **Event** **Time:** 5.30 PM - 7.30 PM 🕕 **Speaker** **Time:** 6 PM - 7 PM 📍 **Format:** **In-Person Meetup** 📍**Venue**: Level 3, 271 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 **Thanks to our Event Sponsor : [Easygo](https://easygo.io/)** 287 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 ***Food & drinks will be provided.*** 🤝 **Networking** before and after the event. Join us from **5:30 PM** for pre-event networking and stay after the session until approximately **7:30 PM** to connect with fellow testing professionals. **About the Speaker – Renard Vardy** Renard Vardy is a highly experienced Software Quality and Performance Testing specialist with more than 25 years of industry experience helping organisations improve the reliability, scalability, and performance of critical software systems. Throughout his career, he has worked across government, enterprise, and large-scale digital transformation programs, with a strong focus on Performance Engineering, Test Automation, and emerging AI-driven testing practices. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/renard-vardy/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/renard-vardy/) If you need any further info, please email at [stag@test-fast.com.](http://stag@test-fast.com./) Join [STAG mailing list](https://test-fast.com/community/stag/membership-for-stag) to not miss any notification & also join the [STAG premium membership](https://test-fast.com/community/stag/premium-membership-for-stag-members) today and unlock a world of exclusive benefits designed to propel your career in software test automation to new heights. [Sign up now](https://test-fast.com/community/stag/premium-membership-for-stag-members) and take advantage! Also, join us on: [Subscribe STAG on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRu6aED3NQbkBW5SxfAF_Lg) (for recordings) [Follow STAG LinkedIn Page](https://bit.ly/3x4mWog) [STAG LinkedIn Group](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6967675/) STAG [WhatsApp channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VagLSlQDTkKBtPYfCi1W) We look forward to seeing you there and making this event a memorable and valuable experience for everyone. **Why Attend?** * **Networking Opportunities**: Meet and interact with like-minded professionals in the software test automation field. * **Knowledge Sharing**: Engage in insightful discussions and share your experiences and challenges. * **Collaboration**: Discover potential collaborations and partnerships within the community. Thanks & Regards, **STAG** *{Empowering Test Automation}*

**AI-Assisted Vulnerability Research: Building a Binary Audit Agent - kdz** Vulnerability research on closed-source binaries is slow, specialist work. It means pulling an executable into a disassembler, recovering its structure by hand, tracing attacker-controlled data flows, and proving that suspicious code fragments are reachable and exploitable. What if an AI agent could help drive that entire pipeline? This talk walks through my attempt to design such an agent using a custom Claude Code plugin (very much a work in progress and a learning opportunity for me). The agent orchestrates a workflow that follows a target end to end: QA'ing the decompilation, sweeping for dangerous code, reasoning over the code to build a whole-binary flow map that traces attacker-controlled input through to dangerous operations, and then attempting to craft and verify a payload that actually triggers the bug. **Location** Room 080.02.002 at RMIT (Building 80) - 445 Swanston St, Melbourne **Discord** [Discord Invite](https://discord.gg/2qcaxce8Mw) [Discord Event Info](https://discord.com/events/1347056412529791047/1477841544907325591)

**"TechWalking" - Networking + Walking** Are you a tech professional looking to network beyond the screen? Look no further than my upcoming #TechWalking event! ‍ Join us for a refreshing walk around the scenic Albert Park Lake. It’s the perfect chance to connect with industry peers while getting in some steps! I know many of you have been tuning in to my online events, but we've never had the opportunity to meet in person. Let's change that! Check out the video from the last event: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/b4skv1sF-vY We'll kick things off at **10 am sharp** at the Albert Park Fitness Station. Please, don't be late! We're hitting the trail around the lake as soon as we gather. And trust me, you won't want to miss it – unless you're up for a bit of a sprint to catch up! (we're going anti-clockwise) This event is pet and kid-friendly, as long as your little ones and furry friends can manage a 5 km walk, they're more than welcome to join. Looking forward to meeting you all in real life! Join the TechWalking group on LinkedIn! [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/) **TechWalking Community page: [https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/](https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/)** \*\*\* Follow me on LinkedIn for more information: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/) Just moved to Australia? Grab your FREE guide to land your tech job! [https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/](https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/) Subscribe to YouTube Channel: [https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia](https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia)

**Event Confirmation Form!** ➡️ We kindly request you fill out this **event confirmation form** to confirm your attendance for the event and your dietary requirements - [https://forms.gle/5P1kfDSRtbtKze9AA](https://forms.gle/5P1kfDSRtbtKze9AA) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ## **What's On? 👀** **Speaker:** James Bannan **Title:** Zero-Friction DevSecOps: Automated Code Signing Done Right **Abstract:** Software supply chain attacks aren’t hypothetical anymore; they’re depressingly regular headlines. Yet many teams still treat code signing as an afterthought: painful to set up, difficult to automate, and even harder to make developer-friendly. This session shows that it doesn’t have to be that way. In this deeply technical, demo-driven talk, we’ll walk through how to implement automated artifact code signing using SigStore and Smallstep PKI, integrated directly into GitHub Actions. You’ll see how to transform code signing from a security bottleneck into a frictionless part of your CI/CD pipeline; one that developers barely notice, but auditors and CISOs absolutely love. ## **Location** 📍 Atlassian Melbourne Queens & Collins Building, Level 20, 100 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 ## **Agenda ⏰** * 5:30 - Food is served * 6:15 - Session start * 7:30 - Post-event networking \-\-\- Note: Please complete the event confirmation form: [https://forms.gle/5P1kfDSRtbtKze9AA](https://forms.gle/5P1kfDSRtbtKze9AA)

Free monthly networking for Columbus business owners. Real conversations, real connections, no forced formats. Space is limited. RSVP now. Most owners leave networking events with a stack of business cards and no plan. The best leads quietly slip through the cracks. Networking Night is a monthly meetup for Columbus business owners who want to build real local relationships, not just trade contact info. Every kind of local business welcome. No pitch round, no pressure, no awkward speed-networking. **This month** We are focused on referral relationships. Walk in with a clear idea of who refers people like you. Walk out having met a few owners whose work fits next to yours. **What to expect** Doors open at 6 PM. You get real conversation with other local owners, time to actually connect, and a short marketing lesson woven in. The room is reserved through 7:30 PM. **Who this is for** Any local business owner who wants to grow through relationships, not just paid ads. Service businesses, retail, home services, professional services, online owners building local presence, anyone serious about being part of the Columbus business community. **Not the right fit if** You are here to pitch the room or recruit for an MLM. **Details** * Last Thursday of every month * 6:00 to 7:30 PM * COhatch Easton * Free to attend, RSVP required, space is limited **About the host** Rita Suzanne is a local marketing strategist and the founder of Local Marketing Method. She runs Visibility is Profitability, the membership where local owners build the system that keeps their phone ringing, including tracking the referral relationships built in rooms like this one. Learn more at learnlocalmarketing.com. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-marketing-networking-night-tickets-1988510112275)

Most people still use AI like a search box: type one question, get one answer, repeat. But the next step is AI agents: systems that can take a goal, break it into steps, use tools, remember context, and produce useful work for a human to review. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll demystify what AI agents actually are — without hype or jargon. We’ll walk through practical examples of how agents can help with research, planning, writing, coding, operations, and personal productivity. We’ll cover: * What makes an AI “agent” instead of just a chatbot * How agents break tasks into steps * Where agents are genuinely useful today * Where they fail, hallucinate, or need human review * How to design simple AI workflows for your own work * A live demo of an AI agent-style workflow from start to finish No coding experience required. This is for anyone who wants to understand where AI tools are going and how to use them more effectively right now. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

**PLEASE BUY TICKETS THROUGH EVENTBRITE. RSVP THROUGH MEETUP IS NOT A TICKET PURCHASE CONFIRMATION.** Strive welcomes you to 'General Business Networking', Columbus' hottest networking event! We are set in the perfect central location in Downtown for all to join. Are you interested in business? Want to elevate your career? Meet Consultants, Analysts of all types, Bankers, Software Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and more who are active in the space or are eager to get started. **\*\*This will be a multi-vertical event\*\*** **There will be professionals with backgrounds in the arts, finance, tech, real estate, healthcare, and more. Come with an open mind, and leave with connections that wouldn't be possible otherwise!** Pack some business cards and come with an open mind! Meet your future business partners, employers, coworkers, investors, and friends. You don't want to miss this opportunity to expand your network and create a brighter future. We will have a space for our event to check-in. The event will go from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (feel free to come at any point in this timeframe). Name tags will be provided. Business casual dress code. Job fair attire. **Remember, it's not who you know, it's who you meet tomorrow!** We look forward to meeting you at the event! Sincerely, Strive Networking Team *Refund requests are permitted up to 24 hours after purchase, so long as we are not within 48 hours before the event start time. Refunds will be made in full and repaid to your method of payment. Note that we are unable to reimburse PayPal fees.* *Disclaimer: By attending Strive Networking events you agree to photos/videos taken during the event being used to promote future events.*

**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 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** *Customize the IDE: Building Extensions for Visual Studio Code* Visual Studio Code is one of the most widely used development environments today, and much of its flexibility comes from its extension ecosystem. Extensions allow developers to customize the editor with new features, integrations, and workflow improvements tailored to their needs. In this session, we’ll cover what extensions are and the different types available, including full extensions written in TypeScript or JavaScript, along with lighter-weight extensions such as color themes, language packs, language support, code snippets, and keymaps. We’ll also look at practical reasons a developer might create an extension, from automating repetitive tasks to adding custom tooling. The session includes a hands-on walkthrough of creating a new extension, testing it locally, and understanding the basic project structure. We’ll close with a brief overview of how extensions are packaged and published to the Visual Studio Marketplace and other distribution options. **YouTube Link** TBD

**💫 Cape Coral Singles Night — Speed Dating Over Zoom** Spend an evening meeting Cape Coral singles face to face on Zoom, matched by age and personality before you arrive. **What to expect:** - Register and take a short personality quiz - Jump on Zoom when the event starts - Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds - Get your mutual matches by email afterward **Pick the age range that fits you:** → **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Cape%20Coral&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0) > Important: RSVP is not the same as registering. Use your age link below and complete the quiz to secure a place. Limited capacity. Your next great conversation is one click away. 🌷

**🌷 Meet Port St. Lucie Singles Tonight — Zoom Speed Dating** No apps, no awkward bios. Just live one-on-one Zoom chats with Port St. Lucie singles picked for you. **What to expect:** - Register and take a short personality quiz - Jump on Zoom when the event starts - Meet singles in guided one-on-one rounds - Get your mutual matches by email afterward **Find your bracket and grab a seat:** → **Ages 18-32** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=18-32&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 30-46** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=30-46&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 40-58** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=40-58&face_v=8.0) → **Ages 55+** — [Register here](https://theliveround.com/product?productId=573&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Port%20St.%20Lucie&groupurlname=manga-k-drama-foodie-language-feast-network&ar=55+&face_v=8.0) > Heads up: an RSVP here does not hold your seat. Register through your age link and finish the quiz. Spots are capped. Register, relax, and let the night do the work. 😊