Design Groups Melbourne

Lead With Impact Through Powerful Facilitation

Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn how to design and run workshops that actually move teams forward. Going beyond the standard retro and sticky notes, & drawing on real examples from hundreds of workshops plus grounded in coaching and facilitation practice, we'll cover everything from setting the right goals, to a practical toolkit to design your next workshop with intent, to tips for the messy real-world stuff like handling conflict, getting people to engage, and keeping energy up when things go sideways. You'll leave with practical techniques you can use straight away, tools to help teams go from discussion to real decisions, and more confidence being the person running the room. **Our speaker** [Aseel Hamarneh](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aseelhamarneh/) is a Product lead with over 15 years’ experience in tech, working multiple organisations and countries. Over that time, she has seen a consistent pattern: teams collaborate constantly and run regular workshops and retros, yet often leave potential on the table because facilitation is treated as a format rather than a leadership skill. She has designed and led organisation-wide workshops, large-scale training programs, and numerous strategy and ideation sessions. Her focus is not on running meetings, but on using facilitation to drive alignment, generate stronger ideas, and support meaningful decisions during change and complexity. Drawing on formal facilitation training and executive coaching accreditation, Aseel approaches facilitation as a capability that shapes how teams think and collaborate. Across diverse organisational contexts, she has seen the same principle hold: strong facilitation unlocks the full potential of collective thinking. **Our hosts**: [NV AI Learning Centre](https://www.naturalvelocity.ai/) Directions Natural Velocity Head Office is located on Level One, 9 Star Cres Docklands (inside The District Docklands) next to Melbourne College of Hair and Beauty. By tram: We're at the last stop on tram routes 70 & 86 (free tram zone). Exit the FRONT of the tram, cross the road and enter the left-hand side District Docklands entrance, up the escalator near Penny Specialty Coffee, take a left over the bridge and we're next to Melbourne College of Hair & Beauty By Rideshare: Enter ‘Natural Velocity’ into your App and a driver will drop you off outside The District Docklands entrance. enter the left-hand side District Docklands entrance, up the escalator near Penny Specialty Coffee, take a left over the bridge and we're next to Melbourne College of Hair & Beauty By Car: Park in “the District Docklands East Carpark” above Woolies. From your car exit level one, walk past H&M towards Star Cres, turn left take a right over the bridge and we're next to Melbourne College of Hair & Beauty. NV can discount parking down to $7. By Motorbike/bicycle: Plenty of two wheel parking is available along Docklands Drive Our sponsor: [Pendo](https://www.pendo.io/why-pendo/) Pendo’s mission is to elevate the world’s experience with software. Built on trillions of behavioural data points, Pendo’s product intelligence platform helps companies understand how people and agents use their products and ensure every digital experience delivers real value. And through our Mind the Product and customer communities, we provide education, events, and training to support product and digital leaders everywhere. Pendo is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, with 10 global offices. Learn more at [pendo.io](http://pendo.io/).

Product Smells: Clues That Your Product System Isn't Working as It Should

After a 2 year hiatus ProductTank Melbourne is back!! Join us in person at the TeamForm offices in the CBD for the latest in practical insights, great discussions and interesting people. **Product Smells: Clues That Your Product System Isn't Working as It Should** Perfectly reasonable habits we encounter in our day-to-day product work can be clues that something deeper is wrong in the system around you. Are your colleagues a little too concerned with what the director thinks? Have your engineers stopped arguing with you? Is your Q2 plan all locked up nice and neat? This talk looks at those product smells: what they reveal, their root cause, and what you can do when you spot them. **Speaker: Jack Rust** Jack Rust is a Senior Product Manager at SEEK. Before moving into product, he worked as a software engineer — and before that, at a deli. He's interested in products that help people get their jobs done, the systems that help product managers build them, and why some systems make that work so hard. Jack is uncomfortable networking, so he speaks at meetups and conferences in the hope that the networking will happen to him instead. **When & Where** 5:30pm doors open, 6pm start TeamForm — Level 6, 278 Collins St (entrance next to Flight Centre, near Flinders Street Station) **On the night** 5:30 pm - Doors open with pizza provided by our hosts TeamForm 6:00 – 7:00pm: talk + discussion 7:00 – 8:00pm: networking, Come along, bring a friend and/or colleague, and come ready with a product smell of your own — you might just get it workshopped live.

Wednesday @Tao Dumpling - Happy Hour 6 pm (BYO) & Dumpling Time 6:30 pm

AI Workflows for Lean Product Teams

Lean product teams don't have the luxury of dedicated AI specialists or months to experiment. They need practical ways to move faster without adding headcount or complexity. Hosted by Leading the Product and generously supported by Stone & Chalk at their Melbourne CBD headquarters, this evening brings together speakers for a candid panel discussion. Speakers: * [Emily Mason](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilymason2/): VP of Product @ The Martec * [Josh Centner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcentner/): Head of Product - Platform, Reliability, DX and Quality @ Netwealth * [Vijayan Seenisamy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayan-seenisamy/): Author of The Pilot Trap, Enterprise AI Delivery * [Mark Oliver](https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdavidoliver/): General Manager of Professional Services @ Brainmates This session brings together a panel of product leaders and practitioners who've been in the trenches, integrating AI into their day-to-day workflows. Expect candid discussion on topics like: * Where AI genuinely accelerates discovery, delivery, and decision-making, and where it doesn't * Tools and workflows lean teams are using to punch above their weight * The organisational and cultural shifts needed to make AI adoption stick * Common pitfalls, false starts, and lessons learned the hard way * How to balance speed with quality when your team is small Whether you're just starting to experiment with AI in your product process or looking to sharpen an existing workflow, you'll leave with practical insights you can apply immediately, straight from teams who've done the work. Following the panel discussion, we'll open things up for audience Q&A before continuing the conversation over drinks and networking with Melbourne's Product community. **Evening timeline** 5.30pm – 6.15pm: Arrive, grab a drink, and connect 6.15pm – 7pm: Panel discussion and audience Q&A 7pm – 7.30pm: Networking, conversation, and connection A huge shoutout to [Stone & Chalk](https://www.stoneandchalk.com.au/ "https://www.stoneandchalk.com.au/") for their gracious hosting, venue and collaboration with Leading the Product. Stone & Chalk is a purpose-driven not-for-profit and Australia's largest and longest-running innovation community. It brings together top talent to build future-shaping technologies and helps founders and ventures grow faster. Positioned as a catalyst and convenor in the innovation space, it's a trusted super-connector and leader connecting innovators and companies to accelerate business growth. We'll have light food and drinks covered, all we ask is that you bring your curiosity, your questions, and your perspective. Reserve your spot today.

October Adventure Game

Melbourne CocoaHeads No. 200

Our **200th** monthly presentation night, on the second Thursday of the month from 6:30pm! 200 events is not a small number! A big thanks to our community for supporting and attending the events these past 19 years. We won't be celebrating too much on the 200th though — we'll save the big party for our **20th anniversary**, next year. Thanks to Mantel Group for hosting us again this month. If you're coming in person we're there with food and drinks from 6pm. We will be live streaming the presentations as usual from 6:30pm at [http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live](http://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/live) \-\-\- **Agenda** \| 6:00pm \| Food \+ Networking \| \| 6:30pm \| Event begins\. Introductions \| \| 6:40pm \| Amy Delves — Evaluations of chat interactions \| \| 7:15pm \| Jane Idelson — Communicating errors back to the user: how and why \| \| 7:55pm \| Wrap up \+ social time at a nearby venue \| \* All times except the start are approximate. Presentation order will be confirmed on the night. \-\-\-\- We are always looking for speakers and believe everyone has an interesting talk hiding inside themselves. If you are interested in letting that talk out at a future event you can get in touch on the website [https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks](https://www.melbournecocoaheads.com/talks) or on Slack.

Sketching at Bundoora Homestead

Hey Guys, For this event, we'll be sketching at Bundoora Homestead. A Queen Anne Federation styled, heritage home built in 1900 on Wurundjeri grounds by John Matthews and Vincent Smith. The property had previously served as a family home and repatriation facility before being refurbished as a public gallery in 2001. **Meetup Details:** We'll be meeting at the centre entrance at **11:00am** before making our way to the Cafe (adjacent to the exhibition entrance.) I've booked a table for 11 people. You guys can chill, draw, have something to eat/drink, and soak in the view of the Mansion gardens before viewing the exhibition upstairs. Or if you want, do it the other way around. *If you're looking to eat something substantial, I highly recommend having lunch beforehand as the cafe only serves light refreshments* **Public Transport and Parking:** **Route 86 tram** You can get off either at **Mt Cooper Dr** or **Greenwood Dr** to get to the homestead. **Mt Cooper Dr** (quicker route in my opinion) * Turn **Right onto Mt Cooper Dr** * Turn **Left at Boadle Rd** * Turn **Right on JV Smith Street (no through Road)** * **Walk Right on Snake Gully Dr** till you see a **wooden gate**, the main entrance is accessible from there. **Greenwood Dr:** * Turn Right onto Greenwood Dr and continue straight down the pathway near the cricket grounds till you see the homestead. **Parking:** * Parking is located directly in front of the venue and it's free :) Looking forward to meeting you guys there :)

React Meetup - Kogan HQ - October 2026!

⚛️ **We’re back! React Meetup is returning to Kogan.com HQ.** Join us for an evening of React talks, learning and connecting with Melbourne’s developer community. 📍 Kogan.com HQ, South Melbourne 📅 Wednesday, 21 October 🕕 From 6:00pm 🎤 **Got something to share? We’re also looking for speakers!** If you’ve been working on something interesting, learnt something worth sharing, or have a React topic you’d love to talk about, [sign up ](https://forms.gle/2hboWSZ1bcE1ChpD6)to give a talk. 🎟️ **Register to attend or put your hand up to speak via the Meetup page.** More details coming soon. 🚀

Heide MoMA and Sculpture Gardens - SUNDAY WALK

**Heide Museum of Modern Art & Gardens** Our Sunday Walk this week takes us back to the beautiful Heide Sculpture Gardens and Park on the banks of the Yarra River. An integral part of Heide is its Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the grounds featuring outdoor sculptures. With a long history as an artist's retreat and landscape gardens, Heide is a special place for a Sunday Walk. **Start**: Meet at Heide main entrance, off Templestowe Road, Bulleen. We'll meet at the large sculpture display outside the Gallery Shop at the entrance to MoMA. (see main picture here). Note the slightly later Start Time: **9.15 AM** **Parking:** Turn off Templestowe Rd and head for the Lower Carpark (follow signs). If this carpark is full, drive past and follow the road to Banksia Park where there's plenty of extra space, then walk back to the Kitchen. **The Walk**: We'll walk the gardens and parkland of the adjacent Banksia Park before heading back to the Kitchen Cafe for brunch. It's a slightly shorter walk than our usual (about 4 Km) but includes some hilly sections. **Toilets**: Throughout the Park and at the Kitchen area. **Coffee**: At the Heide Kitchen Cafe, where we can also enjoy brunch if you wish.

BeSocial. Coffee and New Friends!

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming “Coffee & New Friends” meetup, the perfect opportunity to unwind, enjoy a great cup of coffee, go for a walk and connect with new people in a friendly, low-pressure environment. Whether you’re looking to expand your social circle, have meaningful conversations, or simply get out of the house, this is a space where everyone is welcome. Come as you are, grab a drink, come for a walk and leave with new connections. To help you get the most out of the event, we ask that you download our app before you arrive (or upon arrival). The app will be used throughout the event for prompts, activities, and other interactive content so having it ready will ensure you can fully participate. https://apps.apple.com/au/app/besocial/id6759604739 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appetiser.besocial&hl=en Event photography and videography may take place at this event. Images and footage captured may be used in future BeSocial promotional materials. If you do not wish to appear in promotional materials, please notify Nexaro Group Pty Ltd before the event by emailing support@besocialapp.co, or let the event hosts know on the day.

Women in Cloud - Building on AWS

**📍 Please note: This event will be hosted at the AWS Melbourne office. To arrange office access, please complete this [form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPM_1FXJVi6R5VkLL6V6pfZNkNYeJyI6N39DECEJNd6G8IYQ/viewform?usp=dialog) by 12pm on 12 October. You must also bring a valid government-issued ID on the day of the event.** Join us for an evening of learning, networking, and knowledge sharing as we explore how organisations build resilient, reliable, and scalable cloud platforms on AWS. First, we will take you through **resilience in AWS**, exploring fault isolation, static stability, multi-Region architectures, and the patterns that help mission-critical workloads maintain availability through disruptions. Then we will focus on **agent design**, using AWS Bedrock AgentCore. Whether you're working in cloud, DevOps, platform engineering or simply keen to expand your knowledge of modern cloud technologies, we'd love to see you there! **Topics:** **1\. Reinforcing Resilience in the Real World with Static Stability\, Fault Isolation and Multiple Regions** At AWS, based on years of working with customers, resilience is viewed as a continuous process. In this session, we'll explore how to design with AWS fault isolation boundaries, building on the concept of static stability to achieve predictable recovery times and high availability. We'll look at how AWS Regions are designed and operated for resilience, as well as key architectural patterns that AWS services use to maintain operations through disruptions. The session will provide practical insights into foundational patterns that enable mission-critical workloads to maintain availability at scale, along with best practices, design principles, and sample architectures to help you meet your resilience requirements effectively. **About the speaker** [Anshika Gupta](https://www.linkedin.com/in/anshika-gupta-18b469148/) is a Technical Account Manager for ANZ at [AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/). **2\. Your next oncall buddy is an agent \- here's how to design it** What if your next oncall buddy could investigate incidents, gather evidence, reason about likely causes, and recommend the safest next step? In this whiteboard style session, we’ll use a familiar production incident to explore how to design an agent’s decision loop: what it should know, remember, do, and when it should stop or escalate. Along the way, we’ll map those design decisions to Amazon Bedrock AgentCore capabilities such as Runtime, Memory, Gateway, Policy, Observability, and Evaluations. The goal is not just to build a smarter agent, but to design its agency deliberately. **About the speaker** [Cathy](https://www.linkedin.com/in/geeklady/) is a Senior Cloud Consultant at [Mantel](https://mantelgroup.com.au/) and and an organiser of Women in Cloud Meetup. **Agenda:** **5:30pm** – Food and networking **6:00pm** – Presentation 1. Reinforcing Resilience in the Real World with Static Stability, Fault Isolation and Multiple Regions **6:45pm** – Presentation 2. Your next oncall buddy is an agent - here's how to design it **7:10pm** – Quiz **7:20pm** – Networking We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors **[AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/)** (looking forward to explore their beautiful Melbourne office), **[HAL Systems](https://www.halsystems.com.au/)** and **[REA Group](https://www.rea-group.com/)** for supporting our community. Join us for an evening of learning, meaningful conversations, and great company. We can’t wait to see you there!

Knitting and Crocheting with Conversation and Coffee at Kindred Studios

**Description**: Join me to knit or crochet in the warm, friendly environment of Kindred Studios where we can share our skills and ideas. Knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities are welcome. The conversation is relaxed as we work on our projects together and it's a great way to make new friends. The Bass Note Cafe is within the studios and will bring great coffee and delicious snacks to our table. **Agenda**: I'll meet you at 10.00am inside Kindred Studios at the large table near the tiered seating. We have the space available until 12.00pm. **Location**: Kindred Studios 3 Harris St Yarraville Street parking is available nearby in Harris, Cowper, Hyde and Whitehall Streets. There are large red signs on the footpath to guide you to Kindred Studios. If you are coming by train take the Williamstown/Werribee line to Seddon Station. It's then about 10 minutes to walk to the Studios. When you RSVP please click attend on the Event Page and I will be in touch via direct message. I will also be available on the Events Comments page on the day. .