Operations Management

Welcome back for 2026. We're kicking off with a talk by [Caitlin Blackwell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-blackwell-8328a623/), Head of Product from Seek who'll share real life stories of getting a product live with AI and the learnings along the way. Caitlin Blackwell is a Head of Product for SEEK across APAC where she leads a team of PM across the homepage feed, search and job pages to help candidates get great jobs and drive high quality placements for hirers. She has worked in a range of ecommerce and SaaS companies as well as being at SEEK for a long time. She resides on a farm on the famous Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia where a large garden, a dog and 100 acres of bush keep her busy. **Our amazing sponsors are Easygo** Bio: [Easygo](https://www.linkedin.com/company/easygo-au/?originalSubdomain=au) is the Australian powerhouse behind the world’s biggest online casino, as well as pioneering a creator-first online streaming platform with over 50 million users. Fuelled by an ambitious mission, our culture of collaboration invites industry visionaries, innovators, and disrupters to drive the future of entertainment forward.

[iHarvest Coworking Sunshine](https://iharvestcoworking.com.au/) is holding a free open day this Friday so local start-ups, entrepreneurs and small business operators can experience what co-working in our professional and contemporary office suite is all about. Come see for yourself! **Date:** Friday 27 February 2026 **Time:** 9:00am - 5:00pm **Where:** [iHarvest Coworking - L4/301 Hampshire Rd, Sunshine VIC 3020](https://share.google/k7JuK4BTXM6igsfPk) Light refreshments provided.

### **The Vibe** Are you curious about AI and automation, or are you already building complex workflows in **n8n**? Join us for a casual, after-work gathering in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. This is an "open floor" event—no rigid slides or formal pitches. Just a group of locals grabbing a drink and talking about how we use n8n to reclaim our time and supercharge our businesses. ### **Who This Is For** * **The Curious/Newbie:** If you’ve heard of n8n but haven't started yet, come see what’s possible. No question is too basic! * **The Pro/Builder:** Share your latest "Agentic" workflows, swap tips on self-hosting, or help troubleshoot a tricky expression. * **The Business Owner:** See how Melbourne SMEs are using automation

Welcome to 2026!! We need a second speaker please - if you are doing anything cool let us know Melbourne(at)serverless.org.au and we can get you on the agenda! Even for a future month if you are not quite ready yet. THANKS TO MANTEL GROUP for sponsoring the location & refreshments again! Thanks also to PROGRAMMABLE - we have tickets to give away for people who attend the meetup this month! Please get in touch ASAP if you would like to talk at a future event, send us an email at Melbourne(at)serverless.org.au for more info! First time speakers are more than welcome and we can provide you assistance if you need with your presentation beforehand. Please reach out Melbourne(at)serverless.org.au. It can be a regular talk, lightning talk, demo, workshop, whatever is your thing our community will love it - as long as it is serverless related! Venue: MANTEL GROUP, Level 2, 452 Flinders St. Melbourne Look for the signs! 📅 Agenda 📅 5:30 PM - Doors Open! 6:00 PM - Welcome from the organizers / housekeeping 6:05 PM - **"Build vs Buy - how LLMs are shifting the scales" - By Liam Johnston, Lead Consultant, V2 AI** This talk examines how LLMs are fundamentally changing the build vs buy calculus. Through a real project - a crossword generator using AI for clues and algorithms for word-fitting across 300k words - we'll explore why projects that were impossible side quests two years ago are now weekend builds. 6:35 PM - Pizza & Networking 7:00 PM - **"Middle age serverless – Step Function maturation" by Warwick Wilson from the Department of Transport and Planning.** Warwick will share some updates on his AWS Step Functions in spatial data distribution systems which he presented a couple of years back. It looks very interesting! 7:30 PM - Networking and finish the Pizza! 8:00 PM - Door Close, see you next time!

Excited to announce our new ADVANCED openplay session during the week at KCARC! 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 Intermediate 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 $$]]** $21 card payment will be processed on the day via square reader (EFTPOS). **[[WHEN]]** The stadium is booked from 6:30 PM-9:30 PM weekly, every Thursday. However, feel free to come early and stretch as the Community 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.

Come along and mingle with other developers, hear about GitHub, and get excited for all the amazing things happening this year. Food will be provided, and there will be SWAG (including some limited edition lunar new year merch), so get excited! Agenda: 5.30pm - Arrival 5.40pm - Welcome 5.45pm - Mini talk: Creating fun with WhatsApp 5.55pm - Talk: Natural Voice Conversations with AI Agents - ChatMTB and Cora 7pm onwards - Food, networking, drinks, and SWAG There will be a door prize for this event, so make sure you come along. Thank you to our generous sponsors Versent (venue) and Twilio (food) for their support.

Ever wondered how humanity would respond to an asteroid heading for Earth? Or how the world might react to first contact with aliens? Welcome to **The Thought Experiment** — a new kind of meetup where we explore big *“What if…?”* scenarios in a fun but thoughtful way. Each session, we’ll pick one scenario (from global crises to wild sci-fi situations) and work together to imagine solutions, strategies, and possibilities. This is for **curious minds of all kinds** — students, professionals, creatives, or anyone who enjoys thinking differently. Some people might bring research, others just bring imagination. Either way, we’ll brainstorm together and see where the discussion takes us. [Thought Experiment Site](https://thoughtexperiment.au/) **We ask everyone to Buy a drink at the venue** **You Need to have Conversational English.** **This is a 3PM start event.** **Format:** * Quick intro to the scenario * Small-group discussions * Share back with the group * Wrap up + (optional) post-discussion drinks For our first meetup, we’ll introduce the format, get to know each other, and jump into a scenario together. ***Story Arc: Cosmic Dread*** Keywords: *Generational Ship, Nature* **Scenario: Remember Me** The launch was flawless. The systems are stable. The mission is progressing. The crew remains calm. All readings align with the original departure data. After months in deep space, nothing appears out of place. Except for one detail. Every star we pass looks strangely familiar. Saturday 3–5 PM Oxford Scholar. A small group. Big imagination. No right answers. Just curiosity, debate and fun.

**Join your local guides on the best pub crawl in Melbourne!** Meet at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, and explore the best, most well-known venues with people from all over the world. With **4 free 'welcome shots'** upon entry to each bar followed by exclusive drink deals at each, you'll see just why Melbourne is known as the nightlife capital of Australia! Experience a range of Melbourne's most famous bars & pubs throughout the night, with **free entry** for all, and reduced entry/recommendations at the end of the event to keep your night going strong! Play games, **win prizes** and mingle with locals, travelers & everything in between on the most sought-after event in Melbourne! * **4 FREE SHOTS** * **4 BARS ALL WITH FREE SKIP-THE-LINE ENTRY** * **PLENTY OF GAMES AND PRIZES TO BE WON** * **UNLIMITED MEMORIES & CHANCES TO MAKE FRIENDS IN THE CULTURAL CAPITAL OF AUSTRALIA!** Starting at 5:30PM at WAX Music Lounge on 250 Flinders St, you will receive your skip-the-line wristband, free welcome shot and mingle with other attendees before we introduce our games and prizes to be won throughout the evening. We then mix it up weekly, visiting some of Melbourne's most iconic and well-known bars with your pub crawl crew who have lived and breathed the city for most of their lives. **Make sure to lock in your spot ASAP as tickets often sell out!**

## *Practising Extroversion the Neurodivergent Way* ## 🌟 From **Small Talk → Real Talk** Do you want to be more social but without forcing yourself to be loud, performative, or overwhelmed? Do you want to feel confident starting conversations in groups or crowds… **and** know how to gently take them somewhere meaningful when the moment is right? This session is a **practice lab** for exactly that. *** ## 💬 **What This Session Is About** Many neurodivergent people actually enjoy connection, but struggle with the *starting*, the *spontaneity*, and the *surface-level phase* of conversations. This workshop helps you practise: * starting light, surface-level conversations * building courage to speak to new people * rotating through conversations with ease * and learning how (and when) to guide a chat from small talk into something more engaging and meaningful All while **honouring your nervous system**, your need for processing time, and your personal boundaries. You don’t need to become a “social butterfly” …but you *can* become socially confident, relaxed, and deeply appreciated for who you are. *** ## 🧠 **Why Surface Talk Matters (Yes, Really)** Small talk isn’t the enemy, it’s the *bridge*. Weather, study, work, hobbies… these are entry points. When you know how to use them skillfully, they become doorways into richer conversation. We’ll practise how to: * respond with curiosity instead of pressure * notice which threads are worth pulling * ask follow-up questions that invite meaning * and sense when someone is open to going deeper The *right* people will appreciate this often more than you expect. ✨ *** ## 🔄 **How the Session Runs** The session is structured, flexible, and supportive: * Short teaching segments (clear, simple, practical) * 20-minute practice blocks with different drills * Quick rotations so you experience variety and spontaneity * Optional participation, nothing is compulsory * Live feedback and adaptation based on how the group is feeling * Space for pauses, grounding, and regulation as needed You’ll practise both: * **starting conversations**, and * **deepening them gently and appropriately** *** ## 🌱 **What You’ll Practise** * Initiating conversations without overthinking * Being socially present without masking * Bridging from surface topics into meaning * Sharing a little more of yourself, safely and wisely * Reading social energy and pacing yourself * Honouring when you need space, silence, or rest *** ## 👋 **A Note From the Facilitator** I’m an autistic, neurodivergent coach and this was once *extremely hard* for me. Through years of lived experience, recruitment work, interviewing, dating, friendship-building, and formal coaching training, I’ve learned how to make social connection **a skill and habit**, not a vague personality quirk that people can't replicate. This session is about practising that skill together, so it becomes something your body knows how to do — not something you have to force. *** ## 📝 **Before & After** You’ll be invited (optionally) to share: * what feels hardest about socialising in groups * where surface-level conversations tend to stall * what you want more confidence with And at the end, you’ll be invited to give feedback so future sessions can be shaped around what you actually need.

🥒🎾 **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! 👈**

🥒🎾 **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! 👈**

**🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks** **Not your average knock-off drinks.** Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. **💬 What to Expect** ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. **🗓 Format** **6:30pm** – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo **8:30pm** – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere 📍 **The Oxford Scholar** We take over a corner of the bar (Back Bar or Atrium), look for the crew with ideas in one hand and a drink in the other. **🎯 This is for you if** * You want more entrepreneurial people in your life * You’re building something, or want to be * You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

## Overview Join us in person to explore the newest AI tools, master prompt engineering, and dive into large language models! ## Join Us for Graduate Pathways in AI! Ready to dive into the world of AI? Come explore the latest tools, get hands-on with prompt engineering, and uncover the magic behind LLMs (Large Language Models). This is an in-person event perfect for grads looking to boost their AI game. Don't miss out on networking, learning, and having fun with fellow AI enthusiasts! **Agenda** 6:00 PM - 6:15 PM Arrival + food + networking Check-in, pizza/soft drinks, quick intros. 6:15 PM - 6:25 PM Welcome + session framing What you’ll learn, how to use the session, and how Q&A/breakouts will work. 6:25 PM - 6:45 PM The LLM landscape in 2026 (practical view) What LLMs are good at vs. not good at. Common workflows teams use (research, analysis, content, coding assistance). Tool categories (models, chat UIs, notebooks, agent frameworks, evaluation/testing). 6:45 PM - 7:05 PM Prompt engineering + agentic AI (live examples) Prompt structure you can reuse: role, task, context, constraints, examples, evaluation. How to iterate: compare outputs, check assumptions, reduce hallucinations, get citations/traceability. Agentic workflows: when an “agent” helps (multi-step tasks, tool use, memory) and when it’s overkill. 7:05 PM - 7:20 PM Breakout circles (small groups) 7:20 PM - 7:27 PM Resources + next steps Share resource pack: tool list, learning roadmap, project ideas, evaluation checklist. 7:27 PM - 7:30 PM Surprise + close Surprise reveal and thank you

Join us and work remotely together with like-minded UX folks. This is a last minute opportunity to get out at one of our favorites, [Junto](https://thejuntohotel.com/)! Plenty of seating is available in addition to a connected coffee shop and restaurant. I will be there 10-12 for sure, maybe longer. Feel free to come and go anytime during the day, and don't forget your charger and headphones!

**[No Surprise, ... YET]** Let's get together and **WORKSHOP** about Job Searching and Career Management. Here are some of the content areas we can cover - expect this to change. * Using AI effectively (search, resume). * Job Search Tooling (i.e. TopResume, Job-Squid). * Resume / LinkedIn Review * Practice Interview * Practice Elevator Pitch ***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (non-AI-generated) code!*** Food and drinks will be available. **LOCATION:** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 **FREE PARKING:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017

Join other experienced and aspiring agile coaches and professionals to: * develop and practice your coaching skills in a peer-to-peer environment * share current successes and challenges in your work environment and get support from each other * learn from each other, build better relationships and experiment with new ideas

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Excited to share that AWS Cloud Club's first meeting will take place on Thursday, February 26th at 5pm - 6pm! We’re collaborating with [Big Data & Analytics Association](https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-data-analytics-association/) to host [Alok Jha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alok-jha-42abb928/), Head of Product Management for AWS Intelligent Application Protection at Amazon Web Services, for a tech talk + Q&A on his journey in leading cutting-edge innovation in industry. If you’re interested in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, or product management, this is a session you won’t want to miss. Make sure to join our Meetup and GroupMe to stay up to date for future events and collabs!

How to be a Better Communicator Communication is everything in life Sunday, 23 February at 2pm. You are only as successful as your ability to communicate. \- What if you could confidently talk to anyone? \- What if you had the ability to calmly control every conversation? \- What if you could close that sale\, ask for that date\, make new friends\, repair problematic relationships\, get that raise\, or effortlessly express any idea with confidence? You can! The secret to success relies on your ability or inability to effectively communicate. Attend a free seminar and gain a better ability to communicate. Hosted by the Church of Scientology of Central Ohio 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH 43215 For more information, contact Rhiannon, the Event Host at 614-221-5024

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