Architecture Groups Sydney

Networking Drinks #31

Join us once again at **The Art Syndicate**, a unique wine bar and gallery nestled in Surry Hills for a relaxed evening blending local drinks and meaningful conversations which should be perfect for a cold winter night. 🍷 **Event info:** ✅ Come discover some amazing NSW wine, beer and spirits. ✅ Expand your network of designers & make connections that last. ✅ No formal talks or speeches - just great conversations in a relaxed, friendly environment. *Check out my reviews on this page to see what others are saying!* **Venue information:**
 You'll find us at this art gallery & wine bar in Surry Hills. They exclusively offer a curated selection of NSW-based wine, beer and spirits! There is even art for sale! **Check them out on socials:** https://www.instagram.com/theartsyndicate.com.au/ **How to find us:**
 We are on Bourke Street, a short walk from Oxford Street or Central Station. **Join our What'sApp group:**
 Since Meetup has removed the event chat feature, [please join this WhatsApp group](https://tinyurl.com/uxad2026) for the latest event updates! Cheers, Josh

Welcome to the next 2026 AWS Sydney Well-Architected Meetup!

Hi Architects, Welcome to the next 2026 AWS Sydney Well-Architected User Group Meetup! Each month we cover off AWS best-practices across all pillars and give away drones - lots of drones 🥳 **Please also note that AWS Security now requests a company name and company email where it is available. If you are a student, please list your institution and your student email address at that institution 👍** We'll be announcing more speakers on [https://well-architected.me](https://well-architected.me/) and previewing presentations during the coming weeks - our speakers and details this month include: * **Wu Shilin, Principal Solution Architect — VeloDB / Apache Doris** **Cost-Efficient Real-Time Analytics on AWS: Storage-Compute Separation with Apache Doris** Real-time analytics have a reputation for being expensive — you pay for fast storage you barely use, and for compute that sits idle overnight. This session walks through VeloDB / Apache Doris's storage-compute separation architecture on AWS, showing how to push warm data down to S3 while keeping sub-second query latency on the data that matters. We'll round off with a **live demo** querying billions of rows against S3-backed storage, soattendees can see the latency-vs-cost trade-off in action rather than on a slide. * **Mystery Speaker** **Generative AI Cost Optimisation** Cost Optimisation is essential but with all the anecdotal stories of massive token budget blowouts, staying on top of Generative AI best-practices is essential to avoiding these scenarios. This month's menu will include: * Pizzas * Beer: Nastro Azzurro * Wine: Big and red 🤤 So come join us at 5:30 for a 6pm **SHARP** start, followed by beer, wine, pizza and friendly networking after our talks :-) Tired of Linkedin’s "thought leadership”, spam and advertising? Join https://well-architected.me/ , the AWS community built for architects, developers and cloud professionals. * Connect with experienced AWS practitioners * Preview upcoming AWS Meetups and relive past content * Create and review beautiful AWS case studies in minutes * Prepare for AWS certifications with curated quizzes * Show your manager and reports you’re well-architected (Please note that by registering to attend you agree to your details being shared as and where required with Amazon Web Services and AWS Well-Architected User Group partners)

Build Your Own Mapping/Real Estate Site in One Day with AI - Luke Metcalfe

**Outline:** Every suburb is really hundreds of city blocks, and each one has a story in the data. This talk tours the coolest things you can do with Australian real estate and geospatial data at street resolution. Put a dollar value on a tree. Watch prices spread like an epidemic. Redraw the suburb map from scratch. **Speaker:** Luke Metcalfe stands at the intersection of data science and property innovation, pioneering machine learning applications that have transformed how Australians understand neighbourhood liveability. As founder of Microburbs, he applies advanced AI and machine learning to decode the DNA of Australian neighbourhoods, creating unprecedented insights for property decisions. Industry leader Eugene Dubossarsky calls him "one of Australia's greatest data scientists." Through Microburbs, Luke delivers cutting-edge solutions that empower smarter property decisions. His proprietary algorithms process millions of data points to quantify liveability factors that matter most to home buyers, renters, and investors. This unique approach transforms complex neighbourhood dynamics into clear, actionable intelligence. ‍Since 2014, Luke has been at the forefront of the proptech revolution, consistently innovating in the real estate space. His entrepreneurial track record includes building two data ventures that were successfully acquired. His work has earned recognition from leading data scientists and entrepreneurs alike, positioning him as the go-to authority for data-driven real estate intelligence in Australia. Join our community on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14297125/ to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming events

Sydney Street Photography Adventure, Newtown

**POETIC WITNESS** $185 for 4 hour workshop [BOOK here](https://theapertureclub.com.au/sydney-street-photography-adventure-newtown-the-poetic-witness/) Step into the vibrant streets of Newtown and discover the art of storytelling through your lens. Whether capturing the spirit of a city or documenting its dynamic culture, this popular Aperture Club workshop will guide you in photographing people, architecture, street art, events, and more. Newtown’s diversity and thriving street culture make it a street photographer’s paradise. By the end of this immersive workshop, you’ll leave with a captivating visual narrative of one of Sydney’s most iconic neighbourhood, along with the skills to observe, react, and connect with your subjects to create impactful, unforgettable images. [https://theapertureclub.com.au/sydney-street-photography-adventure-newtown-the-poetic-witness/ ](https://theapertureclub.com.au/sydney-street-photography-adventure-newtown-the-poetic-witness/) **What’s Covered:** * How to improve your power of observation * How to identify your ‘points of interest’ * Composition * Quality and properties of light * Street awareness and etiquette * Candid photography techniques * How to predict and time a great moment * Approaching people and requesting a portrait * How to be inconspicuous * Choice of camera equipment **Workshop format:** **Tutors**: a professional photographer and a photographer’s assistant (subject to group size) **Class size**: minimum four; maximum 10 **Time**: 2pm to 6 pm.

SydDT #130: The Hidden Performance Skills of Great Designers

Designers spend years learning how to shape products, services, and experiences. But some of the most important design work happens live, in the room: * facilitating conversations * navigating uncertainty * building trust * uncovering perspectives * creating energy * driving alignment * helping people feel safe enough to contribute honestly Great facilitators don’t just run workshops, they shape emotion, attention, participation, atmosphere, and human connection in real time. In this Sydney Design Thinking Meetup, we’ll explore what designers can learn from experts who work at the extreme edge of live human experience design. Joining us will be: [Pamela Pilawa](https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-pilawa-27096baa/) A Sydney-based performer blending clowning, physical theatre, storytelling, and teaching across cultures and languages. [Pamela’s work ](https://pamelapilawa.com/)explores presence, emotional authenticity, courage, vulnerability, improvisation, and audience connection. Pamela will share perspectives from the world of clowning and performance — including: * how to stay present under uncertainty * responding authentically in the moment * reading audience energy * embracing failure and imperfection * building trust and connection quickly * why vulnerability can be a leadership strength Because sometimes the difference between a good workshop and a transformative one isn’t the methodology. It’s the human presence in the room. [Wai Yin Vicente Kwok](https://www.linkedin.com/in/wai-yin-vicente-kwok/) Creative Director and Founder of [Wai Yin Designs](https://www.waiyindesigns.com/), with more than 20 years of international experience across theatre, film, immersive events, entertainment, and experiential activations — including large-scale themed experiences at Universal Studios Singapore. Wai Yin will explore how environment, atmosphere, spatial design, and intentional setup influence participation, behaviour, emotion, and outcomes. Drawing from theatre, live entertainment, and immersive experience design, she’ll share how: * environments shape interaction * atmosphere influences engagement * physical space changes collaboration dynamics * intentional staging can reinforce purpose * experiences can be orchestrated to support desired outcomes Because workshops, co-design sessions, and facilitation environments are experiences too. And like any experience, they can be intentionally designed. Together, we’ll explore: * facilitation as performance * the role of presence in leadership and design * designing environments for participation * improvisation and adaptability * balancing structure with emergence * how designers can become more effective facilitators of human interaction This session isn’t about becoming performers. It’s about learning from experts whose craft depends on understanding people in real time.... **EVENT SPONSORS** This event is brought to you by [Thoughtworks](https://www.thoughtworks.com/), [Shapeshifters](https://www.shapeshifterscreative.com.au/), The Growth Habit, and [Dynamic4](https://dynamic4.com). We take photos and record our events for documentation and promo purposes. Just let us know if you prefer not to be featured.

AI Project Hub

Welcome to **WSTI's AI Project Hub**—the hands-on heart of the WSTI community's AI Shed model. This isn't a traditional class or a lecture. It’s a weekly, drop-in "Shed" designed for collaborative, project-based learning, where we support each other turning ideas (beginner or ambitious) into real, working prototypes and projects. Whether you're a founder with a specific problem, a developer testing a new tool, or a complete beginner curious about what you can make, this is your space to build, learn, and collaborate. **What to expect:** * **Quick Pitch:** To spark some inspiration, we’ll have a few informal, low-pressure "progress check-ins" where attendees can briefly share what they’re working on. * **Space to Build:** No formal lectures here. Just a supportive environment to polish your prototype, refine your code, or finalise your pitch. * **Guides on the Side:** Our technical mentors will be mingling in the room. They’re ready to offer a helpful nudge, architectural advice, or a tool recommendation if you hit a roadblock. * **Community Wisdom:** If our mentors don’t have the answer, they’ll connect you with someone else in the room who does. We’re all about sharing what we learn. * **Curiosity is Welcome:** You don’t need a hackathon project to pull up a chair. If you’re a regular from our Project Hub looking to share your knowledge, or just a curious neighbour. We have community laptops with access to some AI tools if you aren't able to bring your own. **Tools/Topics discussed may include:** * ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, Opensource AI Models. * Platforms like n8n and other automation tools. * Coding vibe coding like Lovable, Replit, Antigravity and Cursor. * Frameworks such as BMAD. * Image and video generators like Midjourney, Nanobanana and Video models such as Kling, Veo & Seedance. *By attending this event, you consent that you may be photographed and recorded on video. These photos and videos may be used for marketing and promotional purposes in the future. If you have any concerns please let the team know upon arrival.*

SSP .TUE ..CHERRY BLOSSOMS Auburn

Today we walk the Auburn Botanical Gardens in Spring. We have timed this to avoid the endless crowds and catch the tail end of the cherry blossoms. The Azaleas and many more varieties of plants and shrubs are also photo worthy. Enjoy the later start time. If you require a morning coffee, there are a few cafes in close proximity to Auburn station. For coffee snobs, Auburn does not have a coffee culture like the CBD, but passable. We will have a quick look through the bird aviary at Auburn Botanical Gardens, then walk around the corner to the Auburn Tennis Club for lunch at noon in their bistro. After lunch we walk back to the Auburn Botanical Gardens to take images of the plants and flowers Depending on what time we decide to leave the Gardens we could stop at Auburn shopping area before catching the train home as there are many eateries and the possibility a pub. Auburn is a melting pot of cultures, Turkish, Nepalese, Pakistani, Afghani, Middle Eastern and Asian, so tasty and usually low priced. How to get There: Public Transport Meet at Stand A at Auburn Train Station for the S3 Direct bus to the Gardens departing at 11.15am. If you miss the direct S3 in the morning then catch the next 909 from the station area Stand B and tell the driver that you are going to the Gardens and get off the bus at the roundabout where Chiswick Street crosses over Cumberland Street (the bus travels along Cumberland Street). There is a coffee shop at this roundabout that has a black awning. Keeping the coffee shop on your right side, walk down Chiswick Street for 5 minutes and cross over busy Chisholm Road and you will see the Gardens in front of you and the Tennis Club is to your left on Chisholm Road (same side as the Gardens). When we get off the bus at the Gardens, walk to the Auburn Botanical Gardens bird aviary. The last direct S3 bus from the Gardens to the train leaves at 14.30 or if you want to stay longer, walk to Cumberland Road (see above directions) and catch the 909 back to Auburn Station at a time that suits. Car: Free parking at the car park or nearby streets at the Auburn Tennis Club, 181 Chisholm Rd, Auburn NSW 2144.

JEFFREY STREET WHARF KIRRIBILLI

All About Composition - 4 hr hands on PAID Workshop

4 hr $185 workshop [Book here ](https://theapertureclub.com.au/all-about-composition/) This 4 hr workshop is perfect for photographers at all levels. We look at the elements of design that represent the building blocks of any photograph. Composition uses forms, shadows, colours and lines and is key to crafting a work that can truly be called art. You will learn to compose with depth of field as well as learn the very important skill of planning and positioning background elements to set the subject. Also explore the various ways to use light in your images and the effects we can create using different shutter speeds. Most importantly you will learn in easy steps how to use composition to create stunning photographs. https://theapertureclub.com.au/all-about-composition/

Historic South Everleigh

TechWalking - Sydney - Networking Event for Tech Professionals

**TechWalking is here to stay in Sydney!** 🌊🚶‍♂️A huge thank you to our co-hosts — Nitta, Malathy, Felix, Sujata and Akhil — for making it happen! Are you a tech professional looking to network beyond the screen? Join us for a refreshing **#TechWalking** event along the stunning Royal Botanic Garden! It’s the perfect chance to connect with industry peers while getting in some steps! Whether you're in software development, cybersecurity, data science, or any tech-related field, this is the perfect opportunity to expand your network in a relaxed setting. 🌅 **Meeting Point:** Archibald Memorial Fountain, Hyde Park 🏖 **Route:** 4 km walk through the Botanical Garden to the Sydney Opera House 🕙 **Start Time:** 10 AM sharp—don’t be late, or you might have to sprint to catch up! Check out the photos from the last event in Sydney: https://www.meetup.com/it-career-in-australia/photos/35710580/ And video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/H6_-ZET00I8 **Please note:** unfortunately, dogs aren’t allowed in the Botanical Gardens. A bit sad, we know 🐶💔 Looking forward to meeting you all in real life! **TechWalking Community page: [https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/](https://tech-walking.yanamartens.com/)** *** Join the TechWalking group on LinkedIn! [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/](https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14477058/) Just moved to Australia? Grab your FREE guide to landing your tech job! [https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/](https://yanamartens.com/first-tech-job-in-australia/) Follow me on LinkedIn for more information: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yana-martens/ Subscribe to YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ITCareerinAustralia

Sydney Claude Community: From Beginners to Builders

Welcome to the Sydney Claude Community! Whether you are completely new to artificial intelligence or a seasoned developer looking to architect enterprise solutions, this meetup is your space to learn, share, and grow. AI is moving fast, and navigating it alone can be overwhelming. We’ve broadened the scope of this group to support everyone in our local community who wants to understand and leverage AI—specifically Anthropic’s Claude—no matter where you are on your journey. **What to Expect:** Grab a coffee and join us for relaxed, open discussions broken down into three main areas of focus: •⁠ ⁠The AI Explorers (Beginners): For those who don't know much about AI yet but are eager to explore, ask questions, and get hands-on experience in a welcoming environment. •⁠ ⁠The Professionals (Intermediate): For those who understand the basics of AI but want practical advice on how to implement it to help their teams, automate workflows, or support their companies. •⁠ ⁠The Builders (Advanced): For developers and consultants willing to dive deep, study AI architecture, and prepare for the official Anthropic certification exams. **Why Join Us?** As AI evolves, getting the right guidance is crucial. One of our co-organizers is an official Anthropic Partner and a newly Certified Claude Code Architect Professional. We are here to support the community, provide mentorship, share real-world use cases, and help you navigate the certification pathways. Come along to network, share your ideas, and learn how to make AI work for you! **About the Organizers & Partners** •⁠ ⁠Code Sydney (https://code.sydney/) •⁠ ⁠Community Partner: Seiment (https://seiment.com/)