Consulting Groups Sydney

Sydney Singles Relational Lab — Facilitated Connection Experience

# Tired of dating apps culture and surface-level? This is different. And people often leave surprised by how quickly strangers can feel human, warm, honest, and real again. Free to RSVP, 👉 $59 to confirm your spot [https://consciousconnectionsclub.com/stayconnected](https://consciousconnectionsclub.com/join) Relational Labs is a guided connection experience for singles who want more honest, playful, emotionally intelligent interaction — without performance, pressure, or endless small talk. This is not speed dating. Not networking. Not “pitch yourself to strangers.” It’s a facilitated relational container rooted in psychology, emotional intelligence, attachment work, social dynamics, nervous system awareness, and real-world human connection — made practical enough that you can actually live it instead of reading another 50 books about it. ## What happens • A 2-hour guided online relational experience • Real-time connection exercises designed to create authentic interaction • A format that adapts in real time to whoever is present • Optional participant-led in-person continuation afterward • WhatsApp connection thread after the session ## This may be for you if: • You’re tired of shallow or repetitive social spaces • You want deeper connection without forced intimacy • You enjoy personal growth, psychology, communication, or relational work • You’re open to meeting people in a more intentional way ## Important This experience runs with whoever is present and takes its own shape each time. Sometimes expansive. Sometimes intimate. Both are the real thing.

Machine Learning to mRNA: How I Built a Personalised Cancer Vaccine for My Dog

**Speaker bio:** * Paul Conyngham is the founder of Gamgee, a Y Combinator company developing personalised mRNA cancer vaccines for dogs. After 17 years in machine learning, Paul taught himself genomics and used AI to design a personalised vaccine for his dog Rosie, whose responsive tumours shrank by 50–75%. **Presentation outline:** \- Rosie’s cancer and why existing treatments were not enough \- Using AI to cross from machine learning into genomics \- The journey from tumour sequencing to an administered mRNA vaccine \- What worked\, what failed and what one patient can teach us \- Turning a year\-long manual process into repeatable software \- Why Gamgee is starting with dogs and where the technology goes next * Join our community on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14297125/ to stay up-to-date on all our upcoming events We are grateful to our new hosts and sponsors the Centre for Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) at the Business School, University of Technology, Sydney

The AI Project Brain: NotebookLM to Align Business Goals, SEO & Development

The most expensive bug in a WordPress project often isn't hidden in the code — it's hidden in communication. When business requirements, SEO strategies, UX decisions, and developer specifications are scattered across emails, Slack conversations, Google Docs, and meeting notes, projects slow down, scope creeps in, and teams waste time rebuilding features that could have been avoided. That challenge becomes even more common as projects grow. Developers spend valuable time searching for information, clients receive inconsistent answers, and important decisions become difficult to track because no single source contains the full picture. In this practical session, Georgia Tan, Co-Founder of Switch Key Digital, demonstrates how to build a centralised "Project Brain" using Google's NotebookLM. By bringing together client goals, UX wireframes, SEO documentation, and project requirements into a single AI-powered knowledge base, teams can quickly find answers, stay aligned, and make better decisions throughout the entire project lifecycle. **You'll walk away with:** ✅ A practical framework for building a centralised AI-powered project knowledge base using NotebookLM ✅ Faster ways to find answers across project documentation without digging through emails and chat history ✅ Techniques for turning SEO audits and business requirements into clear technical specifications for developers ✅ Better strategies for keeping clients, strategists, and development teams aligned while reducing scope creep **🎯 Who's It For?** WordPress developers, digital agencies, project managers, SEO specialists, and anyone involved in planning or delivering WordPress projects who wants to improve collaboration and documentation. This session is ideal for teams managing multiple stakeholders, client requirements, and technical documentation. **Format** * In-person Event * Arrive 6:30 for pre-networking * Talk starts at 6:45. 👉 **Host:** Georgia Tan, [Switch Key Digital](https://www.switchkeydigital.com/)

Unhurried Conversations - Saturday

Bring yourself along, we explain how it works.

Lean Beer F2F IRL

Join us for an **in-person Lean Beer Sydney** session — great conversations, great people, and a relaxed pub atmosphere. We use the **Lean Coffee** format: * No fixed agenda * Everyone suggests topics they care about * We vote on what matters most * Then we dive into short, focused discussions **What to expect:** * A friendly, informal setting at a local pub * Conversations about agile, product development, leadership, and more * A chance to learn, share, and connect with like-minded people **What to bring:** * Your curiosity and a few topics you’d love to discuss * No slides, no presentations — just ideas and conversation **Why join?** * Meet new people in the Sydney agile community * Share your experiences and learn from others * Enjoy a drink while having meaningful discussions Grab your favorite beverage, bring your ideas, and let’s make this an engaging Lean Beer Sydney session!

Breakups, Dating & Relationships Connection Circle — Conversation Improv Evening

***A warm, sit-down evening of real conversation for anyone navigating heartbreak, separation or modern dating*** **Ever wish you could just sit down with people who actually get what you're going through — no awkward small talk, no unsolicited advice, just honest conversation with people who understand?** **That's exactly what this evening is.** **What is the Breakups, Dating & Relationships Connection Circle?** **It's a free, intimate sit-down gathering built around conversation improv — a format where everyone draws a prompt card from the centre of the table and lets the conversation flow naturally from there. Some cards are light and fun. Some go a little deeper. All of them are designed to spark the kind of genuine connection that's hard to find when you're going through something as personal as heartbreak or a relationship breakdown.** **Think of it as a dinner party for people who are done pretending everything is fine.** **How the evening works:** **You arrive, grab a drink and settle in. You'll be seated in a small group around a table. Someone draws a card from the pile, answers the prompt, and the conversation takes on a life of its own from there. There's no pressure to share more than you're comfortable with — the cards do the hard work so nobody has to sit there wondering what to say.** **It's relaxed. It's real. And you might just leave with connections you didn't know you needed.** **This meetup is for you if:** * **You're going through a breakup, divorce or separation and feeling the isolation that comes with it** * **You're back in the dating world and craving connection with people who just get it** * **Your social confidence has taken a hit and you're looking for a gentle, low-pressure way back into the world** * **You're tired of surface-level conversation and ready for something that actually means something** * **You simply want to be around warm, genuine people who are on a similar journey** **What this is NOT:** **❌ A therapy session** **❌ A singles night or dating event** **❌ A lecture or workshop** **❌ Somewhere you need to have it all together** **✅ Just real people, real conversation and real connection** **About your host** **Hi, I'm Sylvia — relationship counsellor, breakup recovery coach and host of the Breakup to Blessing podcast. I've been through my own experience of relationship breakdown and I know firsthand how lonely and disorienting that period of life can feel. I created this gathering because I genuinely believe that connection is one of the most powerful parts of healing — and sometimes what you need most is simply a room full of people who understand.** **I'll be there with you the whole evening, holding a warm and safe space where everyone is welcome exactly as they are.** ******* **📅** **Date:** **Monday 31st August 2026** **🕖** **Time:** **7:30pm – 8:30pm** **📍** **Location:** **Little Big House, 16 Flour Mill Way, Summer Hill NSW 2130** **💛** **Cost:** **Free** **🪑** **Format:** **Sit-down conversation improv — small groups, prompt cards, genuine connection** **👥** **Group size:** **Limited — intimate by design** **🅿 Plenty of free street parking available** ***Spots are limited to keep the evening genuinely intimate. RSVP to secure your place.*** ***[REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO ATTEND.*** [CLICK HERE TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/1999339643695?aff=oddtdtcreator)

IN PERSON | Financial Modelling with Copilot

Quality in Small Startups by Sam Connelly & 2026 Job Market by Andrea McHutchon

For our September in-person event generously hosted and supported by Salt Solutions Group, there are two great speakers offering diverse and prescient topics that people have asked us to cover for a while. Sam Connelly, the popular tester and public speaker and former chair of Sydney Testers, will be reprising her talk at Equal Experts: "Small Team, Big Stack", to talk about how she brought in quality practice into a small fintech startup. Andrea McHutchon (Regional Director at Salt) will be giving us the facts and intelligence on the current 2026 tech job market including salary trends and in-demand skills! **Sam Connelly: Small Team, Big Stack: A Quality Toolkit Built from the Ground Up** Most talks about quality assume you've got a QA team, a test framework someone already built, and headcount to spare. This one's for when you don't. **Sam Connelly a.k.a. BugHunterSam**, Principal Quality Consultant within the Equal Experts network in Australia, walks through how a small startup team builds and maintains confidence in what they ship — for a predominantly JavaScript web app — without any of that safety net. **What we'll cover:** * **Unit testing** — what we actually test (and, just as importantly, what we don't) * **BDD, pragmatically** — the test framework we built, and how we've kept it extensible as our underlying model evolves * **Debugging from the outside in** — using analytics frameworks to reconstruct what a user did right before something broke * **Where we're headed** — early experiments including a self-healing UI E2E agent, and using Claude Code as an exploratory testing partner rather than just a coding tool **Andrea McHutchon: An Update on the Sydney Tech Hiring Market and In-Demand Skills in 2026** As part of the event, we will provide an overview of the **current technology talent and hiring market,** sharing - * Real-time insights into candidate availability * Salary trends * In-demand skills * What we are seeing from businesses hiring across the sector. We will also be giving out prizes along with our usual chances for networking and socialisation! Not to be missed

SydDT #131: Lead Change That Matters with Ben Pecotich

Join us for the launch of my Ben Pecotich's new book Lead Change That Matters: Design the Conditions for Momentum! Your ticket includes all the usual SydDT goodness… plus a set of limited-edition Lead Change That Matters cards that we’ll use on the night to catalyse conversation and help you choose your own journey. You’ll also get a special launch discount on Ben's new book. 300+ people shared their experiences, goals, frustrations, and hopes through the research behind the book – including so many of you from the SydDT community. Lead Change That Matters is a call to action. It says the work matters, the people involved matter, and what we choose to do next matters. This session is for you if you’re: * Leading change you’re accountable for but can’t really control * Navigating complexity with increasing ambiguity and uncertainty * Caring for everyone’s wellbeing but dodging your own burnout * Firefighting the tactical when you want to lead the strategic change that matters At the heart of the book is a tension that ran through the research. Leaders are expected to juggle more as the work becomes faster, more complex, and more scrutinised… but the conditions around them haven’t kept pace with what’s being demanded. We want people to collaborate, adapt, take the initiative, and deliver meaningful results. What are we doing to make that possible? The premise is that leading change well is about designing the conditions for people to do meaningful work together – bringing purpose and performance together to build momentum and deliver results that matter. We’ll explore these themes together… with a focus on how we design the conditions for momentum, so we can lead change that matters. Come join us for some fun conversations with interesting people in and around the design thinking community. New members are welcome! **SPEAKER** **[Ben Pecotich](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benpecotich/)** **Design & Innovation Director/Founder, [Dynamic4](https://dynamic4.com). Author of Lead Change That Matters: Design the Conditions for Momentum** Ben's a designer, adviser, and founder of Dynamic4. He works alongside leaders and their teams on their most complex challenges across strategy, design, and tech. For 30+ years, Ben's led, designed, and delivered strategic change in financial services in Australia, NZ, Asia, the UK, and Europe – and co-founded 20+ startups and social enterprises across health and fitness, fintech, events, and community building. He founded Dynamic4 in 2001. Ben takes a human-centred design and living systems approach to helping clients design, build, and launch ideas that customers and teams love, make money, and do great things for people and our planet while increasing wellbeing. Everything he does is about accelerating the transition to more regenerative ways of living and doing business, creating the conditions for people and communities to be happier and live on a healthier planet. Ben's the author of Solve Problems That Matter and his new book Lead Change That Matters: Design the Conditions for Momentum is launching now. He's also the co-founder of Sydney Design Thinking. **EVENT SPONSORS** This event is brought to you by [Thoughtworks](https://www.thoughtworks.com/), [Shapeshifters](https://www.shapeshifterscreative.com.au/), 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.

Beyond Numbers: Business Referral Network for Accountants, Bookkeepers, Planners

**Beyond Numbers Business Referral Network** for Accountants, Bookkeepers, Lawyers, Planners and Brokers is designed for business owners in the Accounting, Legal, Bookkeeping and Financial Services Industry to connect with likeminded finance professionals, build meaningful and authentic relationships in a positive and supportive environment. Business owners in accounting and financial services often struggle to find networking opportunities tailored to their industry. **Beyond Numbers Networking Events** are dedicated to bring together accounting and finance professionals who truly understand their unique challenges and provide a platform for them to build connections, and trusting relationships and explore potential strategic referral partners. At Beyond Numbers Business Referral Network, our primary goal is to foster authentic connections among business owners in the accounting and financial services industry. Our event aims to facilitate the formation of strong relationships based on shared values, interests, and experiences. #### **Who is it for:** * Accountants in practice * Bookkeepers * BAS agents * Tax agents and advisors * Commercial Lawyers * Financial planners and advisors * Mortgage brokers operate over 2 years * Insurance brokers #### **What to expect:** 6:00 pm - Doors open and welcome in to network 6:30 pm - Event start, intro and topic discussion 7:30 pm - Discussion and Q&A 8:00 pm - Event closes (Drinks and finger food will be provided) Please be on time, as there is no late entrance after 6:30pm. #### **Why Join Us?** Being part of an accounting and financial services community means you’re not alone on your journey. You’ll meet potential strategic referral partners who not only understand the unique challenges in the finance industry but also share your drive to grow and succeed. Together, you can exchange valuable insights, build trusted relationships, and uncover new opportunities to expand your client base. This community is designed to foster collaboration, offering peer support and expert connections to thrive in a competitive market. Join us to create meaningful connections, explore collaboration opportunities and secure lasting success for your business and beyond. PS: Participation certification can be issued for you to claim 1 CPD hours with your industry body, if applicable. ##### **Event Photography Disclaimer** ##### ##### **By attending this event, you acknowledge and consent to being photographed and/or filmed. These images and videos may be used for promotional purposes, including but not limited to social media posts, website content, marketing materials, and future event promotion.** ##### ##### **If you prefer not to be photographed, please inform event organisers upon arrival and we will make every effort to accommodate your request.** ##### ##### **For questions about photo usage or to request removal of your image, please contact the event organisers.**

Matrix Leadership Training: Dual Reporting Lines - 1 Day Session in Sydney

Lead confidently in dual-reporting environments and discover strategies to resolve conflicts and align cross-functional teams. **Ready to secure your spot? 🎯 Register now and complete your payment securely via Stripe Checkout!** [Click Here](https://buy.stripe.com/14A3cv1DQ32K55ufyA2oF02) **About the course:** **Duration:** 1 Full Day (8 Hours) **Delivery Mode:** Classroom (In-Person) **Language:** English **Credits:** 8 PDUs / Training Hours **Certification:** Course Completion Certificate **Refreshments:** Lunch, Snacks and beverages will be provided during the session **If you would like weekend training sessions, kindly reach out to us at [info@mangates.com](mailto:info@mangates.com) for availability and scheduling.** **Course Overview:** **Matrix Leadership** equips you with the skills to lead effectively in a **matrix organization**, where team members report to multiple managers. You will learn to **balance priorities, collaborate across functions, influence without authority**, and resolve conflicts while maintaining strong relationships. By the end of the course, you will gain practical tools to navigate **dual reporting lines**, drive alignment, and inspire teams in complex organizational structures. **Learning Objectives:** By the end of this course, you will: * Understand how to navigate dual reporting lines effectively. * Develop strategies to influence without formal authority. * Build strong cross-functional collaboration and trust. * Resolve conflicts and align competing priorities. * Gain tools to lead teams successfully in complex organizational structures. * Apply practical techniques to drive accountability and sustained results. **Target Audience:** This course is designed for **managers, project leaders, department heads, executives**, and professionals working in or leading **matrix organizations**. **Why is it the right fit for you?** This course is ideal if you want to thrive in organizations with **complex reporting structures**. We combine practical tools, **real-world case studies**, and interactive exercises to ensure you can apply strategies immediately. You will learn how to influence without authority, manage multiple priorities, and resolve conflicts effectively. Our trainers bring deep expertise in leadership and organizational dynamics to provide actionable insights. By completing this program, you will gain the confidence and skills to **align teams, foster collaboration, and drive results** in a matrix environment. **©2026 Mangates Tech Solutions Pvt Ltd. This content is protected by copyright law. Copy or Reproduction without permission is prohibited.** **Would your organization benefit from team-wide mastery of matrix leadership?** We provide **in-house training programs** that can be tailored to your team’s unique structure, challenges, and industry. From customizing modules to addressing specific cross-functional dynamics, our programs ensure maximum relevance and impact. Your teams will gain practical skills to navigate complex reporting lines, influence peers, and achieve aligned organizational outcomes. **📧 Contact us today to schedule a customized in-house session: [corporate@mangates.com](mailto:corporate@mangates.com)** **Agenda:** **Module 1: Understanding Matrix Leadership** * Defining matrix leadership and its unique challenges * Key skills required for success in a dual-reporting environment * Balancing authority and influence * Interactive activity **Module 2: Navigating Dual Reporting Lines** * Strategies to manage priorities from multiple managers * Building clarity on responsibilities and expectations * Avoiding confusion and conflict among reporting lines * Case study **Module 3: Cross-Functional Collaboration** * Breaking silos and fostering interdepartmental teamwork * Techniques to align goals across functions * Encouraging shared ownership of outcomes * Role play **Module 4: Influencing Without Authority** * Leading peers and stakeholders effectively * Using persuasion and credibility to gain buy-in * Building trust across teams * Practical activity **Module 5: Conflict Resolution in Matrix Teams** * Identifying common sources of conflict in matrix structures * Mediation and negotiation techniques * Balancing competing demands with fairness * Group activity **Module 6: Prioritization and Decision Making** * Tools to manage competing priorities * Decision-making frameworks for multi-manager environments * Aligning choices with organizational strategy * Hands-on activity **Module 7: Communication Strategies for Matrix Leaders** * Effective reporting and feedback mechanisms * Ensuring transparency and clarity across teams * Active listening for alignment * Role play **Module 8: Building Accountability and Trust** * Encouraging ownership and responsibility across teams * Measuring performance and reinforcing accountability * Fostering psychological safety in multi-reporting setups * Case study **Module 9: Sustaining Success in a Matrix Organization** * Continuous improvement for cross-functional leadership * Embedding best practices for long-term impact * Reflecting and learning from real-world challenges * Group exercise **FAQs** **What is a matrix organization?** A matrix organization has employees reporting to multiple managers, usually by function and project. **Who should attend this course?** Managers, team leaders, project heads, and professionals working in multi-reporting environments. **Do I need prior leadership experience?** Some leadership experience is helpful, but the course is suitable for anyone managing or working in matrix structures. **Will this course improve my conflict resolution skills?** Yes, it includes practical techniques for resolving conflicts arising from dual reporting lines. **How interactive is the course?** The course includes **role plays, case studies, and group exercises** to ensure practical application. **Can this be applied across industries?** Absolutely, the strategies are **versatile and relevant** for any sector with matrix structures. **Does the course provide tools for decision making?** Yes, you will learn frameworks to prioritize and make effective decisions with competing demands. **Is there a certification provided?** Yes, you will receive a **Course Completion Certificate** at the end of the session. **How does this course help with influencing peers?** You will gain strategies to build credibility, trust, and persuasive skills without formal authority. **Are group discounts available?** Yes, special pricing is available for **organizations sending multiple team members**.

Incidents: Prevention Vs Response (Use Luma Link)

Please register here - https://luma.com/5f6al8tc **Schedule:** **Doors Open:** 5pm **Panel Talks:** 6pm - 7pm **Pub:** 8pm