Search, Information Retrieval
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Search, Information Retrieval Events Today
Join in-person Search, Information Retrieval events happening right now
GenAI UK #18 Agentic AI & GPU Optimisation - Nearform/Tessl
Hello and welcome to the next GenAI UK Meetup #18.
This event brings together engineers, practitioners, builders, and leaders working across cloud-native platforms, open-source ecosystems, Gen AI, Data and Agentic AI.
Our meetups are friendly, welcoming, and community-driven; everyone is welcome, whether you’re experienced or just curious.
This session will include practitioner talks, demos, Q&A, and time for networking with like-minded peers. Food and refreshments will be provided for in-person events where a host venue is supporting.
We are delighted to host this event in **London** on the **10th of March** with [Nearform ](https://nearform.com/)and [Tessl](https://tessl.io/)
**Speakers and Sessions:**
Speaker: Luke Philips-Sheard, Engineering Manager, Vercel
Session: Luke will break down GPU performance optimisation and AI sandboxing. Drawing on experience in finance and high-growth environments, he’ll explore how to manage GPU resources, isolate workloads, and prevent performance bottlenecks in real systems.
Speaker: Jack Foxabbott, Founding Member of Technical Staff, Stealth Startup
Session: Jack will dive into Neural Kernel Search and the evolution of custom CUDA for non-standard architectures. A practical look at how low-level optimisation unlocks performance gains that frameworks alone can’t deliver.
**Agenda (GMT /UK ):**
* 18:00: Welcome and refreshments
* 18:30: Introduction
* 18:35: Speaker 1
* 19:10: Break
* 19:20: Speaker 2
* 19:55: Close and Networking
**Get Involved:**
We are always keen to hear from:
• Speakers — case studies, engineering deep dives, lessons learned, open-source talks
• Hosts — organisations able to provide space for future meetups
• Sponsors — support with refreshments, marketing, or accessibility
If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please get in touch with **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)via LinkedIn.
You can find our YouTube Channel **[here](https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityStackHQ)[.](https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityStackHQ)**
This community forms part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)**[ ](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)and follows the Community Stack [Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct) and[ Privacy Policy](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy) to ensure a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees. By registering for this event, you agree to these terms.
GenAI UK #18 Agentic AI & GPU Optimisation - Nearform/Tessl
Hello and welcome to the next GenAI UK Meetup #18.
This event brings together engineers, practitioners, builders, and leaders working across cloud-native platforms, open-source ecosystems, Gen AI, Data and Agentic AI.
Our meetups are friendly, welcoming, and community-driven; everyone is welcome, whether you’re experienced or just curious.
This session will include practitioner talks, demos, Q&A, and time for networking with like-minded peers. Food and refreshments will be provided for in-person events where a host venue is supporting.
We are delighted to host this event in **London** on the **10th of March** with [Nearform ](https://nearform.com/)and [Tessl](https://tessl.io/)
**Speakers and Sessions:**
Speaker: Luke Philips-Sheard, Engineering Manager, Vercel
Session: Luke will break down GPU performance optimisation and AI sandboxing. Drawing on experience in finance and high-growth environments, he’ll explore how to manage GPU resources, isolate workloads, and prevent performance bottlenecks in real systems.
Speaker: Jack Foxabbott, Founding Member of Technical Staff, Stealth Startup
Session: Jack will dive into Neural Kernel Search and the evolution of custom CUDA for non-standard architectures. A practical look at how low-level optimisation unlocks performance gains that frameworks alone can’t deliver.
**Agenda (GMT /UK ):**
* 18:00: Welcome and refreshments
* 18:30: Introduction
* 18:35: Speaker 1
* 19:10: Break
* 19:20: Speaker 2
* 19:55: Close and Networking
**Get Involved:**
We are always keen to hear from:
• Speakers — case studies, engineering deep dives, lessons learned, open-source talks
• Hosts — organisations able to provide space for future meetups
• Sponsors — support with refreshments, marketing, or accessibility
If you would like to speak, sponsor, or host a future event, please get in touch with **[Ethan Sumner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethansumner404/)via LinkedIn.
You can find our YouTube Channel **[here](https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityStackHQ)[.](https://www.youtube.com/@CommunityStackHQ)**
This community forms part of the **[Community Stack ecosystem](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)**[ ](https://www.meetup.com/pro/generative-ai-uk-community/)and follows the Community Stack [Code of Conduct](https://www.communitystack.io/code-of-conduct) and[ Privacy Policy](https://www.communitystack.io/privacy-policy) to ensure a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all attendees. By registering for this event, you agree to these terms.
When nothing happens: Bayesian approaches to testing for "no effect"
**When nothing happens: Bayesian approaches to testing for "no effect"**
We are delighted to have Mircea Zloteanu for the first Bayesian Mixer of 2026, please register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bayesianmixer/2066946
**Abstract:** Non-significant p-values do not constitute evidence for the absence of an effect, yet researchers often wish to make claims about “no difference.” Often this will lead to publications that make incorrect statements (i.e., claim no difference when the data is just uncertain) or even deter researchers from pursuing specific hypotheses or publish their work.
This talk presents Bayesian alternatives for evaluating null results. First, I demonstrate Bayes Equivalence Tests for interval (composite) hypotheses. Second, I illustrate the default Bayesian t-test method relying on model comparison (using the JZS Bayes factor), showing how routine analyses can quantify evidence for or against a point null. Third, I introduce posterior-based equivalence testing using the Region of Practical Equivalence (ROPE) via bayestestR. Together, these approaches provide principled tools for publishing credible null findings.
**Bio:** Mircea Zloteanu is a Lecturer in Psychology and Criminology at King’s College London, where his focus is on Research Methods and Statistics. He received his PhD in Experimental Psychology from University College London and has previously held posts at UCL, Teesside University, and Kingston University. His recent work focuses on meta-research, statistical methodology, and improving research practice, with particular emphasis on Bayesian methods, equivalence testing, and transparent reporting. Mircea is actively involved in the open science movement as UK Reproducibility Network Local Co-Lead and a member of ReproducibiliTea, promoting reproducible, rigorous, and cumulative psychological science.
Stripe London developer meetup - March 2026 (In Person)
**Join us on March 10th for the Stripe London developer meetup. This is an in-person event for anyone building with Stripe. An evening focused on Stripe user experiences, product insights, best practices, and community.**
🍕🍺 **Perks**
Food, drink provided!
**🎫 Tickets**
There is a hard limit for RSVP :) Wait list will be operating on Meetup.
**📍Location**
The event is hosted at Stripe's London offices near Liverpool St station.
**🕚 Rough timings**
* 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm: Doors open with refreshments
* 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Talks and Q&A
* 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm: Drinks, food, and networking
**📣 Talks**
1\. An Engine for End\-to\-End Payments: Reconciliation\, Idempotency\, and Consistency \- **Patrick Nwakeze, Senior Mobile Engineer at UniTaskr**
2. **Anna Spysz Developer Advocate, Stripe**
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with the Stripe community.
You must bring a government issued photo ID.
[Stripe developer code of conduct.](https://stripe.com/legal/developer-code-of-conduct)g
Inside the AI stack: Vercel agents & GPU optimisation
This edition of Future Form explores two parts of the modern AI stack. Vercel’s agent infrastructure, including the new Sandbox and what’s on the roadmap. And how to optimise code to run more efficiently on custom CUDA kernels.
**Luke Philips-Sheard**, **Engineering Manager,** **Vercel**
Luke will break down Vercel’s new Sandbox and how it enables secure, isolated environments for running AI workloads and agent-driven tasks. Drawing on experience in finance and high-growth environments, he’ll explore how sandboxing helps manage untrusted code, contain risk, and safely run agents against real systems.
**Jack Foxabbott, Founding Member of Technical Staff, Stealth Startup**
Jack will dive into Neural Kernel Search and the evolution of custom CUDA for non-standard architectures. A practical look at how low-level optimisation unlocks performance gains that frameworks alone can’t deliver.
If you’re building AI systems that need to run fast, reliably, and at scale, this one’s for you.
**Bonus:** pizza, drinks, and practical peer-to-peer AI insights.
Fear - Spiritual Discussion Programme Radio Show
Greetings All,
The Spiritual Discussion Programme on BLESS RADIO 1 is on today from 6pm to 8pm UK time.
The topic is "Fear”
To listen visit www.blessradio1.com
CLICK THE PLAY BUTTON ON THE ZENO VIDEO SCREEN ON TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER
Alternatively you can listen on zeno.fm/radio/blessradio1
[Please note this link has changed from the previous address]
We are also live streaming on YouTube.
Goto [www.YouTube.com](https://www.youtube.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwWjhrNU5kZ3FiWlFKcWVVVXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6ece5RqVM1SXANz30l6szCVQY-2cv67si6OWQxtMSPNnmJsOZBTl47GGA1SQ_aem_9B5RFmZKLeVHG_QJhe83Bw)
Search for “Blessradio1 Grail Message Fear"
After the show, you can also listen to the recording of the show on YOU TUBE (as above).
Hope you can listen tonight and join in.
PLEASE Call /Text / WhatApp us with your questions or comments on +44 7939 641 958.
OR
Message us on Bless Chat box on [www.blessradio1.com](http://www.blessradio1.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2fGBcwr_zqUzBvp1UNYPsReHJqU4HJqhn3rg3XZGIk-3b5QHFKoJQolAs_aem_ONWb__d3tcI4BshpKmv6ag)
Regards,
Saad Farooqi
Fresha Data Meetup: Data Rocks, Latency Drops
Join us on March 10th from **6:00pm** for a Data Streaming meetup hosted by **[Fresha](https://www.fresha.com/)**!
📍**Venue:**
**Fresha**
The Tower, 207 Old Street
London, EC1V 9NR
7th Floor
**PLEASE bring your PHOTO ID and REGISTER with your First and Last Name, Email. Thanks!**
**DOORS CLOSE AT 7PM FOR SECURITY.**
🗓 **Agenda:**
* 6:00pm – 6:30pm: Food/Drinks and Networking
* 6:30pm - 7:00pm: Jesús Gómez-Escalonilla Guijarro, Data Engineer @ Fresha
* 7:00pm - 7:30pm: Pranam Codur, Senior Solutions Engineer @ Confluent
* 7:30pm - 8:00pm: Sreeram Machavaram C, Principal Architect @ Cognizant
* 8:00pm - 9:00pm: Q&A Networking
💡**Speaker One:**
Jesús Gómez-Escalonilla Guijarro, Data Engineer @ Fresha
**Title of Talk:**
Optimizing StarRocks Query Performance: Lost in JSON, Found by Northstar
**Abstract:**
StarRocks is fast, but understanding slow queries at scale is hard when plans are massive JSON. We built Northstar at Fresha to turn plans and execution metrics into a visual view you can reason about quickly. Through production case studies that reflect our real workloads, we'll show the bottlenecks Northstar exposed (scans, joins, skew, modelling) and how it made tuning faster and more systematic.
**Bio:**
Jesús Gómez-Escalonilla Guijarro is a Data Engineer at Fresha, where he focuses on building scalable and performant analytical data systems. He has been part of Fresha’s data team for several years, first as an Analytics Engineer and now in his current role, helping shape how data is modelled, analysed, and optimised across the organisation. Passionate about making complex systems understandable and efficient, Jesús enjoys tackling performance bottlenecks and sharing learnings with the wider data engineering community.
💡**Speaker Two:**
Pranam Codur, Senior Solutions Engineer @ Confluent
**Title of Talk:**
From Data Mess to Data Streaming Platform
**Abstract:**
Most organizations want realtime data but are held back by brittle integrations, batch ETL, and siloed warehouses.
In this session, we’ll walk through the Confluent Data Streaming Platform (DSP), which is built on Apache Kafka® and Apache Flink®, and a reference architecture you can use to ship governed, reusable real-time data products that power applications, analytics, and AI workloads.
Attendees will leave with practical patterns to modernize existing Kafka and batch pipelines while maintaining security, lineage, and compliance.
💡**Speaker Three:**
Sreeram Machavaram C, Principal Architect @ Cognizant
**Title of Talk:**
From "Data Rich and Information Poor" utility To "Event-driven, Real-time intelligent" operations
**Abstract:**
Utilities are massive and complex. Whether it’s water, gas, or rail, they operate treatment works, pumping stations, compressor sites, signalling systems, and vast networks that span cities and regions. Keeping these services running safely and continuously means collecting and interpreting data from highly distributed sites and their connected networks in real time. This machine data — from PLCs, sensors, third-party devices, and operational systems — reflects the physical world: pumps starting, valves opening, pressure fluctuating, trains moving, gas flows changing. But raw telemetry is noisy, inconsistent, and deeply technical. SCADA and other OT systems are often siloed and reactive. Engineering signals are hard for IT to interpret, leaving organisations unable to combine OT data with IT-based analytics and intelligence in real time.
The result: fragmented visibility, alarm fatigue, and reactive decision-making. A Unified Namespace (UNS) and event-driven stream processing provides a solution. Using MQTT to publish operational events, Kafka as the enterprise backbone, and Flink for scalable stream processing, raw telemetry is filtered, contextualized, and transformed into meaningful, business-ready events. The outcome is IT-OT convergence in action — turning reactive, siloed systems into event-driven, real-time intelligent operations Intended to give a high-level approach and architecture around IO-OT convergence using UNS, Event Driven and Stream processing in modern intelligent utilities.
**Bio:**
Sreeram Machavaram C is hands-on practitioner specialising in utility solutions across IT-OT convergence, real-time data architectures, and stream processing. He works in a team that designs and builds event-driven systems that bridge operational technology (OT) and enterprise IT, enabling utilities to transform raw telemetry into actionable intelligence.
\*\*\*
If you are interested in hosting/speaking at a meetup, please email community@confluent.io
Search, Information Retrieval Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Grafana & Friends London - March edition
Join us for Grafana talks mixed with snacks and community conversations!
Schedule
18:00-18:30
Welcome, snacks, drinks and networking
18:30-19:00
**From Service to Line Number: Getting Started with Continuous Profiling** by Christian Simon, Principal Engineer at Grafana
Logs, metrics, and traces tell you which service is slow or expensive. Profiles tell you which code path - down to the line number. With profiling now part of OpenTelemetry, and the eBPF profiler requiring zero instrumentation, there's never been a better time to add this missing piece to your observability stack.
1\. Value of Continuous Profiling
2\. How do you set up continuous profiling \(Pyroscope \+ OTel eBPF profiler\)
3\. Deriving insights from Profiles using Grafana Assistant
4\. Demo
19:00-19:40 **My Cool Grafana Dashboard Show and Tell - Lightning Talks**
**Lightning talks:**
**1\. What if Your Career Had Metrics?**
**Roxana Turc, Software Engineer at BNY**, will show how she used Grafana to build a **career dashboard—tracking learning, work, and growth**, and why seeing her progress this way changed how she thinks about development.
**2\. Using Grafana for Visualising IoT Air Quality Sensor Data** by John Sinha, Lead Technical Business Analyst
IoT air quality sensors produce noisy, high-resolution time series data, but how you visualise it determines what you actually see. This lightning talk walks through a Grafana dashboard designed to **present environmental data clearly, covering time and value scaling choices, linear vs. log views, and practical denoising techniques.** See how small visualisation decisions can dramatically change the story your sensor data tells.
3. **How I discovered pigeons sabotaging my project with Kafka and Grafana** \- by Hugh Evans\, Developer Advocate at Aiven
Learn how how a lightweight Kafka + Grafana observability stack helped Hugh **catch his avian adversaries** and iterate on a hobby project **without enterprise-scale complexity or costs**.
Meetup #9
Hi Everyone,
We’re thrilled to announce that Meet-Up #9, the first one for 2026, is now confirmed for Thursday, 12th March! 🎉
Join us at our London HQ, 100 Liverpool Street, for an evening packed full of insightful talks, great conversations and plenty of opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals. We'll confirm the speakers next week!
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper meet-up without pizza and refreshments to keep the energy high all night! 🍕🥤
🕕 Doors open for networking at 18:00
🎤 The first talk kicks off at 18:30
🚪 Wrapping up at 20:30
Scalable AI Sales Systems and Organic Growth Strategy for Business Owners
***In partnership with MentorX***
A practical, hands-on session for founders and business owners who want to transform unpredictable sales into **clear, scalable systems powered by AI, automation, and repeatable organic growth**.
No hype. No complicated funnels.
Just structured thinking that helps your business generate consistent opportunities — even when you’re not actively selling.
## Why Attend?
Most businesses don’t actually have a sales problem.
They have a **system problem**.
This focused session is designed for decision-makers who want:
* Predictable lead generation
* Reduced founder dependency
* Scalable processes that work in real life, not just on slides
Clear frameworks. Real execution.
## What You’ll Receive (Free) 🎁
* **200+ ready-to-use sales and automation templates**
* **Business Owner Habit Tracker (Excel)** to build consistency and execution
* **Practical frameworks** you can immediately adapt to your own business
You won’t leave with just ideas — you’ll leave with **months of direction**.
## What We’ll Cover 📌
Three short, implementation-focused sessions:
* **Systemising sales in the AI era**: Move from random outreach to structured, measurable pipelines.
* **Reducing founder dependency through automation**: So growth continues without constant manual effort.
* **Designing repeatable, scalable sales processes**: Workflows your current — and future — team can actually follow.
* **Designing Organic Growth Systems with SEO in the AI Era**: How to turn search visibility, AI, and structured content into a repeatable engine for sustainable business growth.
## Networking & Atmosphere 🤝
Between sessions, you’ll connect with other business owners in a **relaxed, informal environment**.
Complimentary drinks and light refreshments include:
* Red & white wine
* Prosecco
* Bottled beer
* Soft drinks
* Olives, nuts, and crisps
Comfortable, focused, and built for real conversations.
## Final Note
This meetup is a **clear thinking space for founders who want scalable sales and sustainable organic growth** — without burnout or unnecessary complexity.
If you’re ready to build systems that grow your business quietly in the background,
this room is for you.
Seektag King's Cross 🏃 Sneaky Hide and Seek! 👀 Get fit, make friends! ❤️
Seektag is a **sneaky outdoor spy game** that's like **competitive hide and seek! 🏃** The goal is to **spot other players without getting seen** (+5pts) and to tag checkpoints (+3pts) 👀
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
Watch the **Player Tutorial Video** to learn how to play! https://youtu.be/zuxzIOce8DA
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
**📍 LOCATION/HOW TO FIND 📍**
Meet at the Red Bridge over the river in the Coal Drops area 5mins walk north of Kings Cross train station. Look for the bright pink vest!
Map: **[https://maps.app.goo.gl/ExQ6Bkwe7S4sAGGq8](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ExQ6Bkwe7S4sAGGq8)**
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
**Play with a friend or go solo!** Games last 10mins and we usually play about 6 games in total. There are lots of ways to play – some people like to run around, while others like to **be more sneaky!**
If you like hilarious situations, outdoor fitness, social times, group activities, games, adventures, sports or new ways to exercise, **you will love Seektag!** It's also a fantastic way to **make friends for life!** ❤️
Our Gameplay Meetups are **100% FREE** and open to everyone (kids are allowed if accompanied by an adult). We are LGBTQ+ friendly and encourage everyone to be who you are - **we love you for you!**
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
**📱 Get the PlayCulture App:** You'll be using the 100% free PlayCulture app to play at our meetups. Get it here: **[www.playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app)** (and if you're feeling creative, start designing your avatar!)
**❤️ Support PlayCulture!** If you are loving our free gameplay meetups please consider supporting us on Patreon! **[patreon.com/playculture](https://www.patreon.com/playculture)** or drop us a one-off donation **[playculture.com/donate](https://www.playculture.com/donate.php)**
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
**REVIEWS**
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Fun, engaging and intense, my new favourite workout!* \- Adrien
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*The extremely welcoming and wholesome vibes, the beyond awesome people that you could connect with immediately, I could let out my inner kid again* \- AnonymousLemur
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Seektag means feeling like a kid again!* \- Stefan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*I had so much fun! Definitely a very welcoming environment with lots of great people. It was a great way to unwind/de-stress - AnonymousGoat*
\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
**🚀 WHAT HAPPENS AT OUR MEETUPS? 🚀**
Your friendly game leader will explain the rules and hand out your numbered vests, then we'll play some games! Games last 10 minutes, with about 5 minutes of social time in-between to laugh about who saw who and who didn’t! At the end of the meetup we get food and hang out until the owls are hooting
**⚡ HOW DOES THE GAME WORK? ⚡**
Every player wears a vest with a number on the front and back. Players open the PlayCulture App ([playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app)) and if you spot another player, put their number into the App. You can also tag zones for extra points. At the end you will see a leaderboard showing everyone’s scores
**🎈 CAN I BRING MY FRIEND? 🎈**
Absolutely! If you want you can stick together and play as a ninja team! Just select extra tickets if you are bringing someone with you
**🥾 WHAT TO BRING** 🌊
\- Smartphone with mobile data\, fully charged battery and PlayCulture App installed \([playculture.com/app](https://www.playculture.com/app))
\- Comfy shoes
\- Bottle of water
**🛍️ WHAT NOT TO BRING 🎒**
Please try not to bring a bag/backpack as we don't have anywhere to store bags. If possible try not to wear your hair down/long or wear a hoodie, as this could obscure the number on your back
**📜 RULES 📜**
Seektag takes place in public spaces, so please remember these rules:
\- Non\-players always have priority
\- Safety first: don’t do anything to endanger yourself or anyone else
\- Don’t run around blind corners or across roads\, no risk\-taking\!
\- Smile and enjoy\!
**❤️ MORE INFORMATION 🤔**
We're very happy to answer any questions you may have, just message us on Meetup, or email [info@playculture.com](http://info@playculture.com/), or visit [www.playculture.com](http://www.playculture.com/)
**📷 PHOTOGRAPHY 🎥**
Please note that we may film or take photos at our events, either for promotion or for our YouTube channel. By attending our events you agree to feature
**📢 REMEMBER 📢**
These events are free-to-attend social meetups organised by passionate people. You are responsible for yourself and for your own safety. By attending you are agreeing to our terms (available here: [playculture.com/disclaimer](https://www.playculture.com/disclaimer)) Take care out there in the big wide world, and let us know if anything is troubling you **❤️**
Allies of Women in Data & AI - SPECIAL EVENT
## Allies of Women in Data & AI
A panel discussion spotlighting women’s careers in data & AI.
**📍 Venue:** [Datatonic](https://datatonic.com/) HQ
**🎙️ Panellists:**
* [Hazal Muhtar (Wise)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hazalmuhtar/)
* [Laura Lewis (Monzo)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralewisuk/)
* [Josie Williams (Global)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/josiewilliams/)
* [Lina Mikolajczyk (Venatus)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/linajczyk/)
**🎤 Compere:** [Adam Dathi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dathi-384a4329/)
Event & Afterparty Sponsor: [Meltano](https://meltano.com/)
This event centres the real career journeys of women working in data and AI — from breaking in, to navigating challenges, to stepping into leadership.
Through an open, honest panel discussion, our speakers will share:
* The realities of building a career in data & AI
* Barriers they’ve faced (and how they’ve worked around them)
* Practical advice for women aspiring to senior and leadership roles
The panel will be followed by an audience Q&A and relaxed, meaningful networking with women in data & AI and the allies who support them.
***
### Why this event exists
Despite progress, women are still underrepresented in data & AI leadership.
This event is about visibility, learning from lived experience, and creating space for better conversations.
Delivered in collaboration with [Stacked Pathways](https://cognifysearch.com/stackedpathways/), a free mentoring initiative for women working in Data & AI, organised by [Cognify](https://cognifysearch.com/).
***
**Who should attend**
* Women working in (or moving into) data & AI
* Allies who want to listen, learn, and actively support change
Product is... prompt AND context engineering
Product Is… is BACK! After a break since April last year, we're excited to return in 2026 with lots of really interesting new themes and discussions to be had.
Let's start with one.
Here's the thing: you've been learning to write better prompts. But what if the prompt is the easy bit? What if context is where all the real work lives - and what if product people are the only ones who know how to do it properly?
Will Chan, Senior Product Manager at Risk Ledger and organiser of the AI Signals meetup, will lead us through why context engineering might be the most important skill you're not thinking about.
This event will be at Synechron's office on the seventh floor, 95 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NA. A massive thank you to Synechron for providing the venue.
Doors open at 6:30 PM, we kick off at 7:00 PM, and wrap up by 8:30 PM. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Come ready for proper discussion, new connections, and ideas worth thinking about.
\-\-\- THE THEME \- PRODUCT IS\.\.\. PROMPT AND CONTEXT ENGINEERING \-\-\-
For product managers, designers, and researchers, context is everything. Context is the currency that sets product people apart from other disciplines like development or commercial teams. Product professionals need to understand the widest range of contexts - from users to business to implementation.
As AI tools become embedded in our work, something interesting is emerging. To create effective prompts, context has to be injected accurately. But here's where things get fascinating - you may need to create prompts to create context to create prompts. It's turtles all the way down.
The more time you spend using AI in products, the more you find yourself going back in your process. You're creating prompts for the final prompt, for the output you need to be as effective as possible. You might spend longer creating the prompt than doing the work itself.
Join us as we explore what context engineering means for product people. How do you manage context in a rapidly changing world? What does this look like in a qualitative world where product people live in the grey area? Is context engineering the right term, or is it something else entirely? These are the questions we'll be tackling together.
\-\-\- THE SPEAKER \- WILL CHAN \-\-\-
Will is a Senior Product Manager at Risk Ledger and organiser of the AI Signals meetup. With over 10 years of experience building and scaling SaaS products in regulated, data-heavy environments, Will specialises in taking complex problems and turning them into products that drive measurable outcomes.
Across legaltech, telecoms, workforce management, and retail media, Will has led discovery through delivery for AI and automation initiatives, improving adoption, containment, conversion, and operational efficiency at scale. Most recently, he's owned AI strategy and delivery for customer-facing platforms, doubling feature adoption and embedding AI safely into real workflows rather than demos or prototypes.
Alongside delivery, Will enjoys developing product talent. He's coached PMs, shaped product playbooks, and led teams through clearer discovery, prioritisation, and execution practices. Will is passionate about practical AI application and real customer impact over hype.
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- ABOUT 'PRODUCT IS\.\.\.' \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
PMs, UX & UI designers, user researchers, developers - you like to dream big when it comes to digital products… Now it's time share your perspective!
'Product is…' grounds itself in informed, knowledgeable context and healthy conversation - vital ingredients to tech success. One keynote speaker sets the tone on a theme of less travelled subject matter before all attendees add their perspective during the second half of round table-style discussion.
Don't expect standard tech meetup fare like "How to improve your CV/Portfolio for that dream job at Facebook" or "How this new framework/approach will improve your workflow" - this meetup is food for the mind, but also a place to meet like-minded big-thinkers!
We welcome everyone who works in tech - EVERYONE has a valuable perspective that we learn from.
\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- WHY WE CHARGE FOR TICKETS \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-
We do not aim to make a profit from this meetup, our goal is to create healthy and interesting conversations, meet new people and make new connections. Speakers and the organising team give up their time free of charge to ensure the events are enjoyable for all.
A small charge is required for attendance - this allows the organisation team to cover overheads, including the Meetup.com subscription, plus food and drink for the evening.
The Blueprint to Land a Data Job in the UK
Applied to 1,000+ jobs and still hearing silence?
The job search "rules" on social media are usually outdated. We’re cutting through the noise. **Nitish Galat** (BI Analyst at PredictX, ex-Google) is opening his playbook to show you exactly how to automate the boring stuff and land offers at top-tier UK firms.
**This isn’t a sit-and-listen lecture. This is a "Bring Your Laptop and Build" session.**
### What we are Covering
* **The "Auto-Pass" Blueprint (CV & Cover Letters):** Nitish breaks down the exact quantifiable achievements UK hiring managers look for in Data, Product, and BI roles. Learn how to craft a high-conversion CV and a personalized cover letter that actually gets read. Stop the "auto-reject" cycle before it starts.
* **Interview Mastery:** Learn the technical and behavioral frameworks (including a data-driven take on the **STAR method**) that Nitish used to crack interviews at Google and beyond.
* **Live Demo: The AI Job Agent:** Watch Nitish build a live, AI-powered agent that scans JDs and customizes your application in seconds.
* **The Extension Reveal:** Get exclusive access to a custom-built tool designed to speed up the tedious parts of your daily search.
### The Vibe-Coding Sprint (7:30 PM - 9:30 PM)
This is where the magic happens. We’ll break into groups of 2 or 3 to **"vibe-code"** something useful for the job search. Whether it’s a LinkedIn outreach bot, a portfolio scraper, or an automated tracker—we build it together.
**Important:** You do **not** need to be an AI expert or a pro coder. Nitish will be floating between groups to guide you. Just bring your **laptop or tablet**, an open mind, and good vibes!
### The Evening Plan
* **6:30 PM – 6:45 PM:** Arrival & Networking (Grab a spot!)
* **6:45 PM – 7:30 PM:** The Masterclass: CV, Interview Strategy + AI Agent Live Build
* **7:30 PM – 9:00 PM:** The Sprint: Form groups & Vibe-Code your own tools
* **9:00 PM – 9:30 PM:** Show & Tell: Present your builds and share tools with the room
### What to Bring
* ✅ Your Laptop or Tablet
* ✅ A charger
* ✅ Your "can-do" attitude (Vibes are mandatory!)
**[Nitish Galat – BI Analyst & Gen AI Specialist](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitish-galat/)** Currently a BI Analyst at PredictX in London and formerly of Google, Nitish is an expert in leveraging Agentic AI to automate data workflows. Beyond his corporate role, Nitish is a dedicated educator who teaches Data Science to aspiring professionals. He is a recognized thought leader on LinkedIn and shares technical deep-dives on his YouTube channel, helping thousands build real-world AI and ML skills.
📺 [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@NitishAnalyst)
📸 [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/nitish_analyst/)
Search, Information Retrieval Events Near You
Connect with your local Search, Information Retrieval community
CBusData - Discover the Power of Window Functions
Window functions have nothing to do with the Windows operating system but provide a “window” to a result set when used in SQL queries. They are powerful, set-based methods to view data in unexpected ways. Window functions provide easy, set-based solutions to solve some common problems:
* Using running totals
* Performing operations in intervals
* Identifying data gaps and islands
* Performing aggregates without losing detail
Many people are confused by window functions and do not know how to use them properly. This session will explore window functions, how they work, and how to use them. Demonstrations with several examples will solidify how window functions can simplify queries and make them more powerful.
Data & Analytics Wednesday - Google Analytics Alternatives
**Google Analytics Alternatives**
Is it finally time to make the switch away from Google Analytics? Two-and-a-half years ago Jason Packer asked this question at Columbus Web Analytics Wednesday.
Since then: Google’s Universal Analytics has been sunset, we’ve changed our name to Columbus Data & Analytics Wednesday, and Jason has released two editions of his book “Google Analytics Alternatives”.
Fresh off the release of the 2nd edition of his book, we thought it was time to re-open this conversation. While people love to complain about it, GA’s market share has remained relatively constant (at least in the United States). Why is that? You won’t find any complaints about GA4 in this talk, but rather an overview of what’s currently available in the market and how to frame your decision-making process.
We’ll also be giving out some free copies of Jason’s book! So even if you’ve got a “GA4Lyfe” tattoo (no judgement), there’s free books to go with the free pizza and beer.
Thanks to our 2026 sponsors:
[Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro)
More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)
Rays Of Light Spiritualist Church Service
Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel.
Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger.
Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life.
Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.
TBD
**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**
TBD
**YouTube Link**
TBA
Bad Girls Book Club March 2026
**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.**
**This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.**
Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found.
As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.
From Idea to Working App in Minutes: The Agentic Development with Amazon Kiro
Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way.
In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents.
In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding.
What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy
Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025
Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs
Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving
Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows.
**Speakers Bio:**
Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale.
[https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/)
Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry.
Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/)
**THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/
**DIRECTIONS**
Franklin University
Fisher Hall
300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8
Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map.
NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct.
**Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?**
Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com
Dinner After the Movie: Dinner at FUGU SUSHI After Project Hail Mary!
A great movie deserves a great dinner! Join us after PROJECT HAIL MARY for another fun and tasty dinner at a CMG-favorite restaurant, FUGU SUSHI! RSVPs are limited for the dinner portion of this event! Here are complete details:
FUGU SUSHI: Fugu Sushi offers a truly authentic experience that keeps customers (and the Movie Group) coming back for more. They offer an extensive menu with a delightful array of options and something for everyone! From their top-rated sushi, to tasty appetizers, soups, salads, bento boxes, tempura, delicious teriyaki dishes (including chicken, shrimp, salmon, tofu, vegetable and more), and vegetarian and vegan options, you’ll be certain to find something you love!
MENU: https://www.fugusushicolumbus.com/menus
RSVP: An RSVP here means you're signed up for the DINNER portion of this event. Seating is limited. If you also plan to join for the movie, please also RSVP in the separate event listing for the movie portion of this event. For the movie, we'll meet in the theater lobby at 2:10pm for the 2:30pm SuperScreen DLX showing. Advance ticket purchase for the movie is advised. Please RSVP in both events, if you plan to attend the movie and dinner.
Look forward to seeing you there, Dan
























