Professional Networking

Meetup Event organizers wanted. If you have something to help people in this group that you want to invite them to step up as event organizer. Contact me via meetup and let me know what you have in mind organizing how often and where.

**Struggling with study or learning? You’re not alone.** This meetup suits people at all levels of study skill. Too many children, teenagers, and adults find studying difficult—not because they lack ability, but because they were never taught **how to learn**. This meetup introduces the basics of **Study Technology**—a practical, proven approach that shows how learning really works and how to overcome common study barriers. It applies to children, teens (and parents), teachers, and adults alike. You’ll discover simple, effective methods to improve understanding, confidence, and performance—whether at school, work, or online. Teachers and parents often see rapid improvements in both behaviour and results. Yes, it *is* possible to improve study performance—in just **five easy steps**. If you can’t attend in person, online options are available. **Join us and learn how to study effectively—once and for all.** See you at the meetup, **Pam** When learning clicks, confidence follows.

We meet at the Essendon Bowls club, 50 Raleigh St, Essendon VIC 3040. Toastmasters is an opportunity to refine the various aspects of public speaking and a very encouraging environment to experience growth.

Join us at Eltham Leisure Centre for a FREE fun-filled Walking Football Mixed Gender Session, brought to you by Walking Football 4 Health Victoria. This event is designed for anyone looking for a low impact sport to stay active, be part of a welcoming community, and most importantly have fun. Our friendly host, Paul, will be there to introduce you to walking football, ensuring a safe and engaging experience. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage in sports, socialise, and promote a healthy lifestyle in a welcoming community environment. There is no cost for this program. Sign up now and be a part of this exciting Walking Football Session. If you wish to contact the organiser, Mick directly, you can do so on: 0430 163 550 Email: info@wf4hvictoria.org.au Website: [Walking Football | Walking Soccer | Walking Football 4 Health](https://wf4hvictoria.org.au/) Facebook: [Walking Football 4 Health Victoria Group | Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/groups/wf4healthvictoria)

NuCalm is a patented, drug-free neuroscience technology designed to rapidly reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and aid recovery by shifting the body from a "fight-or-flight" state to a deeply relaxed parasympathetic state within minutes. [https://stamina.xosialx.com/nucalm.html](https://stamina.xosialx.com/nucalm.html) It uses neuroacoustic software, a biosignal processing disc, and light-blocking eye masks to guide brain waves from active beta states down to alpha/theta (relaxation/meditation) levels NuCalm uses a patented, clinically proven pitch and frequency matrix with non-linear oscillating algorithms to safely present your brain with precise signals, prompting what is known as a frequency-following response. Your brain synchronizes with the incoming NuCalm signals helping you naturally and effortlessly manage your state of mind by speeding up or slowing down your brain wave frequencies. NuCalm has mapped all of your brain wave frequency zones and created products to safely and predictably guide you to whatever mental state you desire. The amazing thing is, NuCalm is all-natural and works every time you use it within minutes. The best thing to do now is to watch the video on the website and download the NuCalm app. All you need is a headset and eye mask. This app purchase is covered with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get started today and FEEL the difference even 15 minutes can make. WATCH THE VIDEO ON THE WEBSITE. [https://stamina.xosialx.com/nucalm.html](https://stamina.xosialx.com/nucalm.html)

**🎤 Elevate Your Communication & Leadership at Mighty Docklands Toastmasters!** Ready to level up your confidence, leadership skills, and public speaking prowess? Welcome to Mighty Docklands Toastmasters, where your journey to self-improvement begins! 🌟 What to Expect: * **Expert Toastmasters Guidance**: Our sessions follow the proven Toastmasters framework, ensuring you receive the best possible support and mentorship. * **Warm and Welcoming Atmosphere:** Immerse yourself in a friendly and vibrant environment, surrounded by like-minded individuals on their own journey of self-improvement. * **Diverse community:** Connect with 15-20 like-minded people at every meeting. Come and experience it for yourself! We welcome guests and newcomers alike, eager to meet anyone interested in advancing their public speaking and leadership abilities. 📅 **We meet every 1st, 3rd & 5th Monday of each month from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.** ***Please come by 6:15 pm, for a prompt 6:30 pm start. Visitors will not be allowed in after 6:30 pm due to access-controlled doors.*** ✉️ Please email **docklandstoastmasters@gmail.com** for more information. Attending any Toastmasters meeting as a guest is free, however membership to Toastmasters International is a paid activity, details of membership fee etc will be shared over email post attendance. 📍**Find us at the Community Hub:** The Community Hub at the Dock is the building **next** to the Library. There will be a signage at the access contolled front door. Head down towards the library and then head past the park on the left. Entrance is from the street side. [Front of building](https://imgur.com/a/ugh5ay3)

**"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/MovUsNFg-qk 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/) \*\*\* 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)

Doing Great Work Isn’t Enough Grinding away quietly won't get you the leadership impact you deserve, we're going to talk about what to do instead. We'll break down how influence actually works: it's not just about authority or French & Raven power plays. It's mapping your allies and advocates, boosting visibility without the cringe, and taking those "do hard things" steps like leading meetings or connecting with tricky stakeholders. **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. **In person attendees -** head up straight up to level 2 via the lift and a volunteer will greet you at the office entrance **Our Speaker** **Gretchen Scott** Gretchen Scott is CEO of Kaleida, helping organisations grow high-performing, inclusive tech teams. A former Cloudflare Community Manager and Linc.sh COO, she specialises in leadership development, influence, and career growth. Gretchen is a regular speaker and emcee across Australia’s tech community.

**🍽 Deep Dive Lunch: What action would you take if you had more courage?** Most people have an idea of what they’d do if they had more courage. This lunch is a chance to explore that in a relaxed, small-group setting, across business, career, and life. Not theoretical. Not “one day”. Right now. 🔄 **Format** • Arrival + order food • First discussion round • Table rotation • Final reflections + wrap 💬 **How it works** We’ll break into small groups of 6–8 people per table. Each table will have a few guided prompts to help the conversation go deeper without forcing it. Then, you'll explore the topic together, sharing perspectives, experiences, and current situations. Halfway through, we rotate tables so you meet a new group and continue the conversation from a different angle. 🧭 **Ground rules, this is important** To keep the conversations valuable if you catch yourself or anyone doing the below. Call it out, don't stay silent. • Ask, "do you want my perspective on the topic?" before giving unscolicited advice • Listen completely before responding: ask "have you said all you want about to about that?" • No one person should speak more than 20% of the time • No pitching or selling: this is not the place for that • What’s shared stays in the group - Chatham House rules! This is about understanding and reflection, not impressing anyone. 👀 **Who this is for** • People building something, or thinking about it • Those open to honest, reflective conversation • Anyone who knows they might be holding back somewhere You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to think about it. **🔥Future Lunch Topics Coming Up...** 1. Deep Dive Lunch: Is taking action in 2026 wasted given global uncertaintity? 2. Deep Dive Lunch: What are you doing that feels productive but isn’t actually moving the needle? 3. Deep Dive Lunch: If you had to start 2026 again, what would you do differently? 4. Deep Dive Lunch: What’s the next uncomfortable step you know you should take?

Hey all, please join us for our May Edition of the Melbourne Data Eng meetup. Join us for an engaging session filled with exciting discussions and networking opportunities. Don't miss out—RSVP to secure your spot. Please reach out if you'd like to host us! 🎉 🏠 Location: Stone & Chalk Melbourne 🍕 Catering: Cloud Shuttle 😊 💬 Join our Slack Group here: [Data Engineers Slack Channel](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd09iTwpNulQH0b1BdslM1RzgImOGlX4WgOx6_rzvmVANwGmw/viewform) **Schedule:** \- 5\.30pm: Doors Open \- 6\.00pm: Announcements and Welcome \- 6\.10pm: 1st Talk \- 6\.40pm: 2nd Talk \- 7\.10pm: Networking \- 7\.30pm: Doors Close **Speakers:** 🎤 **Erfan Hesami, Senior Data Enigneer/Architect @ Airmaster** **Talk:** Building an AI-Powered Data Catalouge with OpenMetadata **Summary:** Ever ask an AI tool a question about your data and get a confident but wrong answer? You’re not alone. This usually happens because the AI is missing context. LLMs are only as good as the information you give them. Without a strong metadata layer, even the best models don’t really understand your data. In this session, we’ll show how you can fix that. I’ll walk through how OpenMetadata, MCP (Model Context Protocol), and its AI SDK work together to give AI the context it needs to understand your data, not just query it. Through a live demo based on a real project, you’ll see how to connect an AI agent to your metadata so it can search tables, follow data lineage, and answer questions with real understanding. We’ll also show how the AI SDK helps you go beyond chat, building agents and workflows that can take action on your data, not just talk about it. **Bio:** I am a Senior Data Engineer/Architect. I started my career as a Data Analyst, then moved into Analytics Engineering, and now focuses on building data platforms and systems. I have worked with companies such as Allianz, Xero, AFL, and Airmaster, helping teams better use their data. I enjoy sharing what I learn about data engineering and AI through simple, practical content on my Substack, Pipeline to Insights, helping others grow in their careers. 🎤 **Peter Hanssens, Founder & Principal AI Enablement Engineer @ Cloud Shuttle** **Talk:** The AI Gateway: Your Organisation's Most Underrated Data Source **Summary:** Every AI request your organisation makes generates a structured event: timestamp, user ID, model, tokens, cost, latency, cache hit, tool calls. Most teams are discarding all of it. This talk is about building the data engineering layer around your AI Gateway — turning it from a routing proxy into a competitive analytics asset. I'll cover the schema you get for free, the five DE problems you have to solve (schema normalisation, pricing enrichment, prompt/response storage tiers, org attribution, volume at scale), the dimensional model that makes it queryable, and what you can answer once the pipeline runs. Three deep dives: prompt version A/B testing at production scale, cache effectiveness analytics, and agent tool call observability. **Bio:** Peter is the founder of Cloud Shuttle, a Sydney-based data and AI engineering consultancy, and the founder of DataEngBytes - ANZ's largest data engineering community conference. He works at the intersection of data engineering and production AI: LLMOps, AI gateways, evaluation pipelines, and the infrastructure that makes AI measurable. If you'd like to **present** at future meetups, please submit your talk [here](https://dataengbytes.com/forms/meetup-talk)! Remember to bring along some great questions! See you all there...

**We're bringing you a new series in 2026: *Depth, Discovery and Discussion*.** Girls Who Boss Melbourne is creating a space for real talk, shared wisdom and genuine connection — and you’re invited. This new series is all about coming together as a community to explore meaningful topics in a way that feels safe, intentional and refreshingly honest. This month's theme? **Ambition** — think deep discussions about tips and tricks, what keeps us motivated, and the conflicts we have to work through in order to find balance. This isn’t a speech, seminar or expert-led workshop. It’s a guided conversation shaped by all of us. Girls Who Boss will bring a set of thoughtful prompts and questions to spark dialogue, but the insight will come from the stories, perspectives and lived experiences we each bring to the table. Expect a day of: ✨ Deep chats without the pressure ✨ Discovery through shared perspectives ✨ Discussion that feels grounding, supportive and fun ✨ Connecting with women who want to grow, reflect and boss up together Whether you come with something on your mind or simply want to listen and connect, this is a space for curiosity, vulnerability and community-led learning. Come join the conversation — we can’t wait to dive deeper with you.

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[Link to book](https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/women-in-leadership-melbourne-circle-may-meet-up-tickets-1988618716112?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile) Welcome to the **Women in Leadership Melbourne Circle - May 2026 Meet Up**! Join us on **Thursday, 21 May 2026** at **18:00** at **The Bank on Collins** for an evening of networking, inspiration, and empowerment. Connect with like-minded women in leadership roles, share experiences, and learn from each other. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your network and support other women in their leadership journey. Timing is stated as 5:50pm to allow time for arrival, settling in and ordering drinks before we get started. **Topic for May**: Goal setting and taking courageous steps. **Details on the Women In Leadership Melbourne Circle** A circle for women who are ambitious, looking to unlock their gargantuan collective leadership skills, empower their network, learn from peers, and grow together. Space for those unlocking their power towards being more conscious, and self-aware and are actively investing time and energy to grow themselves and unleash their true potential. This circle can bring transformative leadership into organizations and your everyday life to lead with purpose, empowerment, and inspiration which will result in collective and sustainable growth. Together, we are better The Women in Leadership Melbourne's mission is to align like-minded ambitious leaders by asking the right questions, sharing tools, networking, facilitating dialogues that ask the questions, and kickstarting the right conversations to create positive changes. **Community Impact** $10 donation - All proceeds from every ticket will be donated to SisterWorks Inc., helping migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeker women in Melbourne. This event is hosted by Shobana Sahajananan Menon, founder of Women in Leadership Melbourne - LeanIn Circle. Please register for your attendance through the link: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/women-in-leadership-melbourne-circle-may-meet-up-tickets-1988618716112?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

**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.*

Get ready to connect, collaborate, and grow your community at the ***Smashing Your Sales Goals (SYSG) Spring Meet-N-Greet!*** *Smash Nation*— a vibrant and welcoming community for creative consultants, social innovators, professional service providers, entrepreneur support professionals, and the small business ecosystem builders —invites you to join in welcoming the Spring 2026 Cohort of dedicated business owners ready to take their venture to the next level. Join ***SYSG*** cohort members, trainers, sponsors, and partners for an engaging and interactive networking experience. This isn't just another meet-and-greet; it's a dynamic opportunity to gather, strengthen relationships, and actively brainstorm business development opportunities in a relaxed and supportive environment. Come ready to: * ***Connect*** with key players and potential collaborators in the small business community. * ***Share*** your successes, challenges, and insights with peers. * ***Brainstorm*** innovative strategies for sales and business growth. * ***Discover*** new partnerships and future partners. Let's amplify our collective impact and smash those sales goals together! **Who Should Attend:** Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025 Cohort Members, Spring 2026 Cohort members, Trainers, Facilitators, Program Sponsors, Future Sponsors, Velocity Applicants, and Program Partners. **When**: Tuesday, May 26, 2926 **Where**: Warner Wood Park and Pavilion [4747 Central College Road, Columbus, OH 43081](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Warner+Woods+Park+%26+Pavilion/@40.0999435,-82.8601323,839m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x88385f0025d4381b:0xc15eb51285691f4f!8m2!3d40.1002108!4d-82.8612015!16s%2Fg%2F11wb2pg50g?authuser=0&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAwNS4yIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) **Time**: 4pm-6pm [To Officially Register Go To --> https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/form/W0CGLL8jvz4EkLNK5jav?notrack=true) Meet ***Smashing Your Sales Goals*** expert trainers, sales coaches, community supporters and partners. Learn more about upcoming SYSG events, trainings coaching opportunities to help take your business from surviving to thriving today! This event is FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC!

Couldn't make Knowledge? Or want to debrief the dancing robots or Autonomous Workforce? Join us for a Knowledge '26 recap, insights sharing, a couple rounds of golf, and fun at Topgolf. As always, drinks and food will be provided. More details to come — mark your calendar, RSVP, and save your spot today!

Free monthly Lunch + Learn for Columbus business owners. Practical local marketing strategies and real connections. Space is limited so RSVP Marketing Monday Lunch + Learn is a free monthly event for local business owners in Columbus who want practical marketing strategies and real connections with other business owners in their market. Each month covers one actionable local marketing topic. You will leave with one thing you can put to work the same week. This is not a pitch fest. It is a focused conversation with people who are serious about building their local visibility and growing their business. Register here: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marketing-monday-lunch-learn-tickets-1988509765237](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/marketing-monday-lunch-learn-tickets-1988509765237)

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!

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!