Technology

**Judging the judge: Fixing conversational agent evaluation** *with Akshay Anand, Tech Principal, Thoughtworks* Why do so many LLM and GenAI pilots stall before they ever hit production? The secret often lies in the evaluation process. In this talk, we will break down how to design evaluation frameworks that turn experimental systems into reliable, production-ready tools. We’ll explore why standard, off-the-shelf evaluation tools often fall short and how you can combine them with the right strategy to ship trustworthy outcomes. **What you’ll learn** * **What to evaluate**: Task quality, grounding/retrieval, safety, robustness, and cost/latency. * **How to evaluate**: Datasets + scenarios, rubrics/judges, metrics, and human review where it matters. * **Tooling Strategy**: When existing tools work and where you need customization. * **Operationalization**: How to operationalize evaluations for production readiness **About the speaker** **Akshay Anand** is a Tech Principal at Thoughtworks, where he leads high-value enterprise Data & AI platforms that deliver nationwide impact. He has architected various AI and GenAI solutions from strategy to production rollout and turning complex data into product ready capabilities. He is deeply passionate about trustworthy AI by design — systems that are secure, transparent, and responsible. **Agenda** 6:45 pm Registration and networking 7:00 pm Judging the Judge: Fixing Conversational Agent Evaluation by Akshay Anand 7:40 pm Q&A and networking **Event Details** 📅 Date: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 🕡 Time: 6:45 - 8:15pm 📍Venue: 18 Cross Street, #12-01 18 Cross, Singapore 048423 **🍕** Food and beverages will be provided **To join us, simply click "Attend" here on Meetup.** We hope to see you there!

**Many professionals are curious about AI, but are unsure how it applies to their daily work.** **This meetup is a casual session for anyone interested in exploring how AI can support professional work.** **We will discuss practical ideas, share experiences, and explore how AI may help with tasks such as writing, analysis, research, and decision-making.** **The session will include a short introduction, a few practical demonstrations, and open discussion.** **Whether you are new to AI or already experimenting with it, you are welcome to join.**

Have you ever wondered what happens after you write your program and hit "Build"? Welcome to the new group dedicated to Compiler Engineering so we can discuss language design, static analysis, VMs, and code generation. Topics related to hardware architecture and FPGA are also welcomed! **Join us for the first session where I will cover:** * The vision for this group. * A crash course on how to start learning compiler dev (including top book recommendations). * An open networking session for showcasing projects and finding collaborators. **Who is this for?** * Anyone building DSLs or new languages. * Anyone curious about low-level systems and programming * Anyone hiring for compiler/toolchain roles (come pitch your jobs!). This isn't a lecture—it's a conversation. Come share your projects and get motivated! This group is not super serious, so if you want to just yap about how bad is the new C++ standard you can find some listeners here. See you!

**\*Subject: Join Me at the Next BNI Chapter Meeting!\*** Hi, I hope this message finds you well. I would like to extend a special invitation to you to join me at our upcoming BNI Chapter meeting. It's an event I'm excited about, and I believe you'll find it both valuable and enjoyable. BNI (Business Network International) has been a game-changer for my business, helping me connect with like-minded professionals, expand my network, and generate quality referrals. I believe that you, too, could benefit from being a part of our dynamic BNI Chapter. At the meeting, you'll have the opportunity to: * Network with fellow professionals from various industries. * Share information about your business and what types of referrals you are seeking. * Learn more about the power of referral marketing and how it can boost your business. * Discover the success stories of other BNI members. This meeting is a great chance for you to see firsthand BNI's incredible potential and how it can help you grow your business. I will be there to introduce you to fellow members and guide you through the process. Date: 9 May 2024 Time:7.30 am to 10.00 am Fee: $58 Venue: Chui Huay Lim Club 190 Keng Lee Road #04-01 Singapore 308409 Dress Code: Business Attire If you can make it, please RSVP by 8 May at 4.00 pm so we can ensure your spot at the meeting. [https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/9-may-24-bni-synergy-weekly-networking-meeting-tickets-885471006617?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/9-may-24-bni-synergy-weekly-networking-meeting-tickets-885471006617?aff=oddtdtcreator) I genuinely believe that your presence at this meeting can significantly impact your business and professional network. If you have any questions or need further information, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'm looking forward to seeing you at the BNI Chapter meeting and introducing you to this fantastic group of business professionals. Together, we can take our businesses to new heights. Best regards, P/S: For more information about BNI, click here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTLWbaIKJuw&t=5s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTLWbaIKJuw&t=5s) To find out more about BNI Synergy, click here [www.bnisynergy.sg](http://www.bnisynergy.sg) If you have any questions, please feel free to WhatsApp me at 98394575 or Email soononn@kashacademy.com

**Looking to meet new people in Singapore or reconnect with the Coffee & Cravings community?** Join us for a relaxed evening of drinks, conversation, and making new connections. Whether you’ve been part of the group before, you’re new to Singapore, or you simply feel like joining a casual social evening, you’re very welcome. *** ## **Event Details** **Location:** Spectre **Day:** Tuesday **Time:** 7:00 PM onwards **Special for our group:** $10 highballs *** ## **About This Meetup** Coffee & Cravings has been around for more than a decade. In the past, the events were always simple — gather at a café or restaurant, share food or drinks, and meet people from all sorts of backgrounds. Over the years we’ve had members from retail, F&B, tech, finance, law, creative industries and entrepreneurship. Many people actually made lasting friendships and professional connections through these casual meetups. We haven’t organised as many events in recent years, and the Meetup landscape has changed quite a bit as well. Our subscription is also coming up for renewal in April, so before deciding what to do next, I thought it would be nice to bring the group together again and see if there’s still interest in keeping the community active. *** ## **The Venue** For this meetup we’ll be gathering at **Spectre**, a bar owned by a friend who has kindly offered the space for us to use as our meetup hangout. The bar is actually wrapping up its lease at the end of the month, so this is also a nice opportunity to enjoy the space before it disappears. It’s comfortable, can fit quite a number of people, and works well as a place to chat and meet new faces. The bar will be offering **$10 highballs for the group**, and you’re welcome to order other drinks from the regular menu if you prefer. Since the space won’t be around much longer, I’m hoping to host **a few Coffee & Cravings meetups there before it closes**, so hopefully this can also help kickstart the group again. *** If you’ve been part of the group before, it would be lovely to see you again. If you’re new, come by and say hello. And as a small side note — if anyone feels strongly about keeping the group going and would like to help support the Meetup subscription so we can continue organising events like this, feel free to reach out privately. ***

Midweek Recharge is a private, closed-door evening designed for those who feel stretched by long workdays and constant noise and are simply looking for a gentle pause. This experience brings together guided art creation, grounding moments, and a shared dinner in a calm, intimate setting. No art background is required. You won’t be taught how to “draw properly,” and there is no pressure to perform or explain. The focus is on process, presence, and personal expression. Through a carefully guided art session and a relaxed meal, participants are invited to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and enjoy meaningful moments quietly or in shared conversation. You will leave the evening with: \* A sense of calm and clarity \* A personal artwork that reflects where you are right now \* A lighter mind, without needing to have the “right words” This is not a class, a therapy session, or a networking event. It is simply an evening to breathe, create, and be.

**ANNOUNCEMENT – Registration via this [link](https://go.gov.sg/cyberstackmeet-reg) only.** * Seats are on a first-come, first-served basis. * For admission into our event space, please register beforehand via GovEntry only. * Please present the QR code within your registration confirmation email upon check-in at our event space. **About this Meetup** As we navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape, staying ahead of emerging threats requires a collaborative approach to building resilient and secure environments. This session first explores the core pillars of modern security, from threat modelling fundamentals to the practicalities of risk assessments. Next, we examine the tenets of defensive cybersecurity, positioning incident response as the frontline for operational resilience. Beyond technical measures, the discussion will cover data governance for securing sensitive information and outline approaches to build and grow a resilient cybersecurity workforce. Whether you are looking to refine your technical skills or enhance your security framework, this STACK Meetup offers practical approaches ready for implementation. **[Secure your spot and stay ahead of the breach](https://go.gov.sg/cyberstackmeet-reg)**! **Programme** 6:55pm: Opening Announcements 7:00pm: Data Governance and Protection to Secure Your Organisation's Sensitive PII and Valuable Enterprise Information By Raf Zainal, Account Executive, BeyondTrust 7:10pm: At the Core: Navigating Broken Processes & Business Stakeholders in Risk Assessments By Tyler Tang, Director, CISO Office, softScheck 7:20pm: Introduction to Practical Threat Modelling Practice By Desmond Cher, Assistant Director, Cybersecurity Engineering, GovTech 7:30pm: Building a Resilient Cybersecurity Workforce By Glen Wee, Sales Manager APAC, CyberproAI 7:40pm: Growing the Pool of Cybersecurity Practitioners By Tan Kiang Khiang, Founder/CEO, counterShell Pte Ltd and Adjunct Trainer 7:50pm: Digital Firefighting: Making Incident Response the First Line of Business Defense By Victor Tan, Managing Director Singapore, Blackpanda 8:00pm: Closing & Networking 8:30pm: End of STACK Meetup Click **[here](https://go.gov.sg/cyberstackmeet-reg)\*** to sign up! \*Registration will be accepted via GovEntry only.

## **Play, Test & Shape the Future: Dev & Draft** Join us at **Dev & Draft**, an afternoon dedicated to raw creativity and hands-on playtesting. This isn't a polished corporate expo—it’s a space where indie developers and tech builders showcase their "Work in Progress" (WIP) projects, and they need **you** to play them. ### **The Mission** Behind every great game or app is a mountain of "janky" prototypes and unfinished builds. We are bringing these early-stage projects out of the lab and into your hands. Your role is simple: **Play, break things, and give honest feedback.** *** ### **Event Details** * **Date:** Saturday, 21 March 2026 * **Time:** 1:00 PM – 10:00 PM * **Location:** SQ Collective x Gen AI Labs, 65 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore *** ### **Why You Should Attend** * **First Look:** Be the first to play indie games and test new software before they hit the market. * **Direct Impact:** Talk directly to the creators. Your feedback helps them decide what to fix, keep, or scrap. ### **What Else To Expect** Dev & Draft is part of Fireplace's ideass fest. * **Cross-Domain Innovation:** Beyond gaming, explore "Ideas Fest"—a showcase of early-stage tech in SaaS, AI,and Health/Wellness. * **Networking:** Connect with a diverse community of builders, designers, and tech enthusiasts in a casual, high-energy environment.

**\*\*\* Please register at** https://shorturl.at/tbmH6 **\*\*\*** **Super-Individual Secret Club (SISC): Quantum Computing & AI Chapter** 📅 20 March 26 (Fri) 🕗 7pm to 10pm 📍 Register to see Address 🔗 https://shorturl.at/tbmH6 ​We’ll explore how quantum computing and AI intersect — AI as a powerful engine for discovery, optimization, and autonomous decision-making, and quantum computing as a potential leap in computational power that could reshape what AI can solve. Are we entering an era of quantum-enhanced intelligence and radically new forms of computation? **​Expect demos, discussion, and ideas worth stealing.** **Register now! 🚀 →** https://shorturl.at/tbmH6

**What if the most valuable thing you could do is stop and think?** Join experts, founders, and curious humans for 90 minutes of real conversation over dinner. No easy answers. Just better questions. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **AI tools promise to help us think faster, decide better, and stay ahead.** ​However, as more of our writing, planning, and even remembering becomes assisted, what parts of thinking are we outsourcing - at what point does AI stop helping, and start hindering us from thinking? What might that be doing to us, and the next generation? \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Note: This is a ticketed dinner gathering. For tickets, please click [here](https://luma.com/zpglm538) or head to: lu.ma/socrates**

Ready to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and discover how AI can revolutionize your wellness business—live and in person? Join us for this exclusive live meetup where we bring together forward-thinking business owners, wellness advocates, and digital entrepreneurs. You’ll learn how to use AI tools to simplify your marketing, boost your online presence, and grow your income—all while promoting better health and balance in your life and business. Picture a vibrant room filled with positive energy, powerful insights, and real collaboration opportunities. You’ll walk away with practical AI strategies, valuable connections and an inspired vision for building a wellness brand that truly works for *you*. Don’t miss this in-person opportunity to learn, network and elevate your wellness business. RSVP now to secure your seat—spaces are limited for this live meetup!

**Friday is our open co-working day.** ​People come to work on their own projects, take breaks together, and usually stay through the afternoon. It’s quiet, focused, and builder- and founder-led. ​You can arrive anytime from 10AM. Most people show up after lunch and settle in before 1.30pm. Bring your laptop. Grab any open seat. Stay as long as you like. ​At 1.30pm, we pause work briefly for a shared session called The Stage, then everyone goes back to working. ​This is how Fridays here work. **The Stage @ 1.30PM** This week is Demo Day. ​Everyone gets 5 minutes to share what they're building. ​If you're new, this is your chance to show what you're working on now. If you've presented before, come back and show how the project has changed since the last time. ​The point isn't polish. It's progress. Show the work as it is, share what's changed, and let the room see the build happening in real time. ​Sign up to demo here: [https://sq-collective.notion.site/303aae2f95ae8041827fcb04fb85c420?pvs=105](https://sq-collective.notion.site/303aae2f95ae8041827fcb04fb85c420?pvs=105) ​**Demo Day Lineup** * ​**Tanmay** \- Final Round: The iOS app that helps you crack interviews with meaningful feedback * ​**Stephan Terhorst** \- The Cognitive Exoskeleton: Designed to enhance both an individual's capability and capacity * ​**Zhu Liang** \- Lemonade: AI agent for building Roblox games * ​**Lukas Voss** \- eomer: Automatically generates business forecasts for demand\, revenue\, supply chains\, and operations using Tabular Foundation Models * ​Jeremy Soo - Topic TBC * ​Farhad - Topic TBC * ​Others - TBC ​​After the session, we go back to work.

**DISCLAIMER: NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE** Casual run of about 3.5km - 4km. Route can be lengthen if group is small. We will meet 7:00pm at BK eating house beside the zebra crossing: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ntCCoQz1UDvcKT8r9 Nearest MRT can be Clarke Quay OR Raffles Place At the moment no bag drop provided. Please do offer if you have a place for bag drop :) Warm up 15mins and start at 7.15pm latest. Running route brings us to around Fort Canning Park and back. Please note that we are running Fort Canning Park area in the night and runners must be comfortable in a dimly lit environment. We will usually end off our runs at BK Eating House for a drink / Meal. This is a group about discovering bitcoin as a savings technology. We welcome anyone who is interested in knowing more about saving in bitcoin or simply just want to join us to have a good run. We start out casual and as things get more consistent, we might do what others have been doing worldwide: https://www.bitcoinrunners.org/community/

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

OpenClaw, NemoClaw, personal assistants, 24/7 agents. What does it all mean? How does it all work and what should we know about it? Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services)

**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** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA

We're excited to launch **GitHub Copilot Dev Days**, a global in‑person community event series running **March 15 – April 30**! Let's come together as developers, grow our local community, and showcase the power of GitHub Copilot with **free, high‑quality training materials** from Microsoft + GitHub. * GitHub Copilot in VS Code * GitHub Copilot CLI … and more! * **Intro Talk (30–45 min):** GitHub Copilot + AI development * **Local Community Talk (30–45 min):** NOT ME, **[Matt Eland](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteland/)** * **Hands‑on Workshop (1 hour):** Practical exercises using GitHub Copilot * **SPECIAL GUEST** **(virtual)**: **[Andrea Griffiths](https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolombiadev/)** (Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub) ***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (AI-generated) code; this time!*** Food and drinks will be available. There will be a Pro+ Sweepstakes, and details on how to enter will be provided at the event. Microsoft will be raffling off 300 GitHub Copilot Pro+ codes at the end of Dev Days. How it works: * Attendees will enter the raffle by filling out an entry form provided at the event. * Codes will be raffled off at the end of the event series! **LOCATION:** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 **FREE PARKING:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017

The global Azure community is coming together again, and Columbus is officially on the map. On **Saturday, April 18, 2026**, the Azure Columbus Meetup is hosting our local edition of Global Azure 2026. This is a free, community-driven event packed with learning, networking, and all things Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re building modern cloud-native apps, experimenting with AI agents, deploying containers, automating infrastructure, or just beginning your Azure journey, this event is for you! **What to Expect** * Engaging technical sessions * Real-world Azure architecture & cloud-native patterns * AI, agents, automation, and modern DevOps * Food and drinks (because learning burns calories) * Time to connect with fellow engineers, architects, and cloud enthusiasts We’re lining up a strong set of speakers from the local and regional Azure community. Speaker announcements coming soon! **Who Should Attend?** * Software engineers (any language, any stack) * Cloud architects * DevOps engineers * Data professionals * AI explorers * Platform builders * Anyone who loves solving hard problems with great tools If you build, deploy, automate, scale, monitor, or optimize in Azure, you’ll feel right at home. **Why Global Azure?** Global Azure is a worldwide community event where Azure user groups host learning sessions on the same day across the globe. It’s grassroots. It’s technical. It’s practical. And it’s powered by people who genuinely love sharing what they’ve learned. And yes, it’s free to attend!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

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)