Social Impact of Technology

Established in 1853, **The Duke of Wellington** is Melbourne’s oldest licensed pub. Join us on the all-weather rooftop for after work socialising. 📍Location: Rooftop, 146 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Opposite The Forum. A short walk from Fed Square. Most people come along by themselves so don't worry if you don't know any of the other members. Come along for relaxed socialising and making new friends in a change of scenery. New people are always welcome. We have all been the new person at some point in time. How often do we have events? Weekly! Join us at a different bar/pub each week to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. This is a regular weekly group for socialising and unwinding for the weekend. Events are also on: Meet New People, Make Real Friends [https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/](https://www.meetup.com/casual-catchups-and-cool-connections/) Bartopia [https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/](https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/) Bartopia [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/) Follow us on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/](https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/)

Practice speaking/leadership at SmashSpeak. Less formalities and technicalities, just speaking! Suits beginners to confident Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, **Purple Room** (End of corridor) More to come...

Get ready for a night full of rhythm, passion, and Latin vibes at Pachanga Bar Melbourne! 💃🕺 Join us every Thursday for our Bachata & Salsa Social Night — the perfect midweek escape to dance, learn, and connect with amazing people. ✨ What to expect: * 🕣 8:30 PM – Free Bachata Class (Perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to improve their moves) * 💃 9:30 PM till Midnight – Social Dance Party with the best Bachata, Salsa & Latin hits * 🍸 Free Entry * 📍 Pachanga Bar – 95 Queen Street, Melbourne CBD No partner or experience needed — just bring your best energy and a big smile! Enjoy delicious cocktails, meet friendly people, and let the Latin beats take over the dance floor.

To celebrate ***International Women’s Day***, we’re bringing our community together for a special evening featuring two inspiring women in tech. This event is all about sharing experiences, learning from real journeys, and creating space for honest conversations about building a career in cloud and technology. Whether you’re just starting out, making a transition, or already deep in the industry, you’ll find stories, insights, and perspectives that resonate. **And some exciting news** — thanks to our friends from [Programmable](https://www.programmable.tech/), attendees on the day will get a chance to win a ticket to the Programmable conference (valued at $449!). Expect practical lessons, personal reflections, and the kind of discussions that remind us why community matters. See you then! **Topics** **1\. One Platform\, Infinite Connections** An API Platform is not simply a layer for routing traffic; it is an operating model for how organisations design, secure, and monetise digital capabilities. This session opens by defining what an enterprise API Platform looks like in practical terms and why it’s becoming a core part of modern engineering and business strategy. Using a real implementation as context, the discussion examines how Apigee enables structured governance, streamlined developer onboarding, intelligent traffic control, and deep observability. It also addresses how the platform supports emerging AI, LLM, and MCP patterns, outlining its security architecture in production environments and demonstrating how APIs can be bundled into consumable products to create commercial value. Particular attention is given to advanced protection strategies for managing both conventional API workloads and AI-driven traffic. Attendees will leave with a concrete, experience-backed framework for turning an API platform into a measurable driver of innovation, resilience, and revenue. **About the speaker** Neha is an Engineering Manager at MYOB, leading the API Platform capability. With nearly two decades of experience in the IT industry, she has built deep expertise across cloud infrastructure, platform engineering, and large-scale technology transformations. **2\. Stateful Secrets in a Stateless World: Navigating the Azure Serverless Landscape** Serverless is more than just a buzzword; it represents a fundamental shift from managing infrastructure to focusing entirely on code. In this session, we’ll begin by comparing serverless with traditional server-based models to unpack the true differences in cost, maintenance, and scalability. From there, we’ll walk through a real-world application architecture to see how Azure Functions can be used to solve practical engineering problems that conventional servers often struggle to handle efficiently. Drawing on lessons learned from hands-on experience, we’ll also explore common pitfalls, optimisation strategies, and cost-saving techniques. Whether you’re new to serverless or already working with cloud-native systems, this talk will leave you with a clearer, more practical blueprint for designing and building modern applications. **About the speaker** Archana is a Master’s in Data Science candidate with a foundation in Computer Science and Engineering. She brings hands-on experience from her background as a Full Stack Developer, where she focused on building web applications powered by Azure serverless backends. By blending her software engineering roots with her current work in data science, Archana designs cloud-native solutions that are both scalable and data-driven. She is passionate about sharing practical lessons and helping the community understand how to effectively bridge the gap between web development and serverless technology. **Agenda** 5:30pm – Food and networking 6:00pm – Presentation 1 6:40pm – Presentation 2 7:20pm – Networking Thanks to our sponsors: [HAL systems](https://www.halsystems.com.au/), [Mantel](https://mantelgroup.com.au/) and [REA group](https://www.rea-group.com/)! Join us for an evening of learning, conversations, and great company!

Welcome to Pachanga Nights – Melbourne’s Latin Party Spot! 🎉 If you love Latin music, good vibes, and meeting fun people — this is your group! Pachanga Bar is the heart of Melbourne’s Latin nightlife, bringing together locals and internationals every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for unforgettable nights of reggaeton, salsa, bachata, and Latin hits. Join us to dance, socialize, and enjoy delicious cocktails, mojitos, and Latin energy in the city center. Whether you come alone or with friends, you’ll always find a warm and friendly community waiting for you. 📍 Location: 95 Queen Street, Melbourne CBD 🎶 Music: Latin, Reggaeton, Salsa, Bachata & Global Beats 🍹 Drinks: Mojitos, Margaritas, Latin Cocktails & Signature Shots 🕺 Events: Weekly parties, themed nights & special celebrations Follow us on Instagram for updates: @pachangaau Come experience the true Latin vibe of Melbourne — every night is a Pachanga! 💃🔥

This supportive program invites men to come together in a safe and respectful space to share experiences, explore challenges, and reflect on what matters most in their lives. Participants are welcome to bring a topic of their own or simply speak about what’s happening for them in the moment. Guided discussion topics may include navigating masculinity, communication styles, understanding personal needs and the needs of others, building resilience, connecting with emotions, and clarifying values—along with other issues that commonly impact men in relationships and daily life. When a topic is raised, participants are encouraged to explore how it relates to their own experiences, offering insights and reflections in a way that supports learning and growth. The facilitator participates alongside the group, modeling respectful sharing, open discussion, and thoughtful reflection, ensuring that everyone feels heard and empowered to engage at their own pace.

For our March meetup we are excited to host Darryl Wright who will demonstrate how you really can deliver 3 yr projects in 3 months using Value Stream Mapping and Flow Efficiency. Find out what other organisations are doing to slash the time it takes them to deliver value, and how you can do it too. This talk explores: 1\. What is Value Stream Mapping \(VSM\)\, and Flow Efficiency ? 2\. What does VSM reveal about how most organisations deliver value today ? 3\. The big lightbulb moment: can 3 yr projects really be delivered in 3 months? \(hint: yes\!\) 4\. Where to from here ? \(and can I use AI to help with all of this ?\) And then, as we always highly encourage participation to embed what we learnt, we'll give the method a go ourselves with Darryl's expert guidance. **Meet your Speaker - Darryl Wright, Value Delivery Advisor and Trainer at Organa** *The only constant in life is change.* Darryl comes from a strong commercial and delivery background borne from two decades of experience in traditional IT project and program management and running IT businesses. This led him on a journey to find more successful and humane ways of working, becoming an Enterprise Agile coach and trainer. He is now a passionate champion of changing the way the world works. His guiding vision is to assist organisations to become great places to work that have happy, effective staff who create brilliant products and services that their customers love.

**English for Beginners (A1–B2): Casual Speaking Meetup** （※Mainly for people in their late teens to 20s） • You understand English… but can’t reply? • You studied for years… but still can’t speak? • You feel nervous speaking English? You’re not alone You just need a place to try This meetup is for beginners who want to actually SPEAK. ✨ Small group (4–10 people) ✨ Friendly & relaxed atmosphere ⸻ **✨ What makes this different?** We don’t just chat randomly. Everyone gets a chance to speak! • Level-based groups (A1–B2) • Pair conversations (10 min each) • New partner every round • Simple question sheets No one is left out :) ⸻ **No pressure, no judgement** Mistakes are OK ‍♂️ Speak slowly, use gestures or a translator You WILL speak — even a little! And you might actually enjoy it ⸻ **How it works (1 hour)** • Short intro • 3 rounds of pair conversations • Free chat at the end Speak a little or a lot — both are okay! ⸻ **Who is it for?** • English learners (A1–B2) • International students / working holiday • Anyone who feels shy speaking English • Young adults (around 18–30) ⸻ **About the host** Hi, I’m Yuki I also struggled to speak English before. So I created this space where beginners can feel safe and try. ⸻ **When & Where** Saturday 11:00–12:00 — Meeting Room 1 - Library at The Dock **Free (just buy a drink)** ⸻ ✨ Just come, try, and enjoy! See you there :)

***Vibe out with your tribe, out. (No coding experience required or expected!)*** Join us for **Vibe Code & Chill: October Edition** on Sunday, October 5th, 2025. This isn’t your average meetup: no stuffy panels, no boring lectures. We’re here to vibe, imbibe, and make progress on our *projects-de-jour*: from AI experiments to Web3 hacks, AR side projects, or just messing around with next-gen tools. ***New to the crew?*** Expect a warm welcome and friendly face to greet you before introducing you around and helping you find your people. We keep it friendly, fun, and inclusive and with free snacks and drinks, you’re covered. Bring your laptop and your best coding mojo. **What to expect:** * **Chill coding & collaboration:** Bring your laptop and your current coding project. Find a spot in our comfortable booths or at tables with fellow coders. This is a space for hands-on work, casual discussions on the latest gizmos, and helping each other out. * **Free refreshments:** Stay fueled and hydrated with non-alcoholic drinks and a selection of snacks provided by the club. The pub has a great range of meals and drinks if you're looking for something more. * **Headphone-free zone (official hours):** You can code in your own world at home! We have a no-headphone policy for the first hour of the meetup. * **Flexible timing:** You're welcome to arrive early and get started before the official event kicks off at 2PM. and you're welcome to stay and vibe on as long as you like. No sweat if you can't stay the whole time, just pop in and join the fun for as long as you can! Come ready to laugh, learn, and grow with a community that's excited by design, tech, and innovation. This is your chance to make new friends, share ideas, and be inspired by fellow driven and generous minds.

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss how to live the good life. Ilya will be leading this session. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion: **Happiness: a trap?** 1\. Is being happy the same thing as having a Good Life? 2\. If you could be plugged into a "happiness machine" that gave you nothing but blissful experiences, would you do it? 3\. Is happiness the right goal\, or a side effect of living well? 4\. Can a Good Life include significant amounts of suffering\, if that suffering is meaningful? **Meaning and purpose** 5\. Can a life be good if it is lived pursuing whatever we want in the moment, without a long-term goal or overarching personal narrative? 6\. What makes a given pursuit ‘purposeful’? 7\. Does the fact that we die make life more or less meaningful? 8\. Is the meaning of life to give life meaning? **Being authentic and agentic** 9\. How much of our life and identity is a performance for others and society? Does this inhibit living the Good Life? 10\. Is it important to feel in control of our lives and exercising a high degree of personal agency, rather than following some kind of social script? 11\. Would you feel most fulfilled if you were able to live in a way that is ‘true to yourself’ (without high regard for the expectations of others)? **Keepin’ busy** 12\. Should a Good Life be easy? 13\. Could pure leisure \(no work\, no struggle\) comprise a Good Life? 14\. Does "meaningful" activity have to be productive\, or can hobbies and pursuing individual interests be at the centre of a Good Life? 15\. Are some kinds of leisure inherently more conducive to the Good Life than others (eg. watching Netflix vs reading Dostoevsky) **What about other people?** 16\. Are certain kinds of relationships a mandatory ingredient for a Good Life? 17\. Does having children provide a path to fulfilment and meaning? 18\. Does performing some kind of sacrifice \(time\, effort\, money etc\.\) for the benefit of the community or future generations help us feel that we are living the Good Life? Hope to see you there!

📚 #InPursuit is a book club for entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds who know personal growth fuels business growth. **See a lot of RSPVPs and wonder how it works? We'll break up into groups of 6-8 to share our insights, then swap groups after 30-45min so you can maximise learning from everybody!** *Note: this even is not organised by or affiliated with The State Library of Victoria* **That's what #InPursuit is all about** It’s not a traditional book club, it’s a space for people who are actively designing a better life through the pursuit of business, creativity, and personal growth. This event is for anyone #InPursuit of better business, life and relationships. Instead of reading the same book, we each come prepared to share one powerful insight from something we’ve read in the past 3-months. Anything non-fiction that’s moved us forward. Whether it’s a mindset shift, a productivity system, a new philosophy, or just a truth that punched us in the gut. This is a place to unpack it together and hear what others are learning too. We’re not just here to *read*. We’re here to *integrate*. Because when we grow, our business and our lives grow too. **🔍 Why Join? You'll leave with:** * 5–10 fresh insights from books you may never have picked up * Deeper awareness of how others think, lead, and evolve * New connections with people walking a similar path toward purpose, results, and impact This isn’t a lecture. It’s a room full of people building themselves while they build the thing. **📖 How It Works** First time? No pressure to share, just come curious. We'll break up into groups of 6-8 and share our insights, then swap groups so you can maximise the learning! Returning? Bring one idea you’ve read about in the last 3-months and be ready to speak on: 1. What did you learn? 2. How did it shift your perspective about the world or yourself? 3. How has it changed the way you show up or behave? We keep it structured, but flexible. After sharing, we open up to Q&A, personal stories, challenges, and deep dives. Some of the best insights come from the conversations *after* the share. **🧠 Who This Is For** * Entrepreneurs or side-hustlers finding their footing * Business owners, and doers building toward better * Curious minds who love ideas but care more about action * People tired of shallow conversations and hungry for growth If you’re working on something—or becoming someone—this space is for you. It’s a practice ground for people who want to grow forward. We’re all #InPursuit of mastery, momentum, and the kind of success that starts from within. **Map on how to get there** We're in the Create Quarter on the ground level (back right of the Quad as you enter from Swanson St). We'll likely be on a long table together. https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/SLV-EnglishMap_Jan25.pdf *If there is no room at a table I'll post on the event page that we'll be going to Mr. Tulk Cafe, which is on the corner of the library at Swanson St and La Trobe St.*

Is your identity truly yours? Your parents handed you a name before you could speak. Society assigned you roles before you could choose them. TV & Internet sold you an identity built from expectations and manufactured desires. But what if this entire construction of "me" is the primary obstacle to spiritual awakening? **What You'll Discover:** * The manufacturing process behind "me". Once you see the mechanics, you cannot unsee them. * The maintenance cost of this "me"—Fear, Doubt, Anxiety, Depression * The conformity trap. **How to break Free** This session reveals that real freedom begins when you understand the entire mechanism. Not by replacing one identity with another, but by recognising that what you are is vaster than any identity. **Why It Matters** The cost of maintaining your prison increases every year you inhabit it. It also keeps feeding a dysfunctional society. **Schedule** * Talk by Rajiv followed by open Q&A * Guided Meditation * Spiritual networking to connect with others. **About Rajiv** Rajiv dedicated years of his life seeking enlightenment. His pursuit for truth, reality, emptiness and self-discovery took him through the profound depths of mysticism. He meditated 14 hours a day, stayed with monks, lived in the Himalayan caves, learned from wise sages and researched every major spiritual system, including Zen, Non Duality, Yoga, Buddhism etc. Then one momentous morning in 2005, he experienced his first shift into higher states of consciousness, an inner spiritual awakening. This was followed by days of infinite ecstasy and bliss. Finally, the years of seeking culminated and he realized his own true nature. He now shares his deep insights to help seekers progress on the path of awakening & meditation. His approach is secular, based on personal experience. You can read about his spiritual journey here- [https://innerspiritualawakening.com/rajiv-agarwal/my-journey/](https://innerspiritualawakening.com/rajiv-agarwal/my-journey/) **Venue** Kathleen Syme Library 251 Faraday Street , Carlton, VIC We will be in Multipurpose Room 1 We may take some photos to capture the moment. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let the organiser know at any time. This event is free and open to all adult seekers (18+). For inquiries please email Manpreet- mysteriousmk@yahoo.com

After some great discussions using these cards, we just had to continue! "It isn't easy to get into a good conversation. Many of our best ones seem to have happened by chance. Far from it - we believe a great conversation always starts with someone asking a great question.” The School of Life's "Philosophical Questions For Curious Minds" cards contain questions designed to get a group of people into entertaining and meaningful conversations. This is a casual, social and fun event where we share our thoughts and experiences with a group. **Topics covered**: * Is there a God * What is the meaning of life? * What is real? * What is a society? Questions vary depending on the day and the table, based on the cards chosen by the audience. Please arrive hungry and thirsty so we can maintain a good relationship with the venue and continue hosting our events. \*\*\* Meaningful Discussions events take place in 11 countries and this will be our 151st event in Melbourne! :) Please be try to arrive on time if you can. This event will allow a thoughtful, respectful and engaging discussion. So if you're looking for open-minded, friendly and intelligent people, you've come to the right place!

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

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

**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)

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

Is your business taking more of your time than you would like? [Rob Young](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cinci-robyoung/) principal at [Stage 3 Group](https://www.linkedin.com/company/stage-3-group/), hosts this workshop series and is the author of Stage 3 Success. * Provides a framework and a playbook for leaders of emerging businesses * Reviews business management tools and techniques for scaling and maturing a business * How to recognize and leverage stories hidden in financial statements * How to implement financial and operational controls and use leading indicators to spot trouble before it occurs * How to manage your time for maximum effect * How to deal with nonperforming employees * How to create standard operating procedures throughout your organization Four sessions will include two hours of content and an optional 90-minute hands-on lab. Reserve your spot via this link: https://clintonvilleba.com/calendar/#!event/2026/3/20/chaos-to-clarity-to-control ($200 for non-CABA members.)

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.