Career Mentoring Melbourne

AI Engineering: From Agents and Harnesses to Production

## 🤖 Your AI demo can run. But is it ready for production? You may already have an AI Agent that can call models, use tools and complete tasks. But once it reaches real users, real data and real permissions, new questions begin: * Are the outputs stable enough? * Will your team know when a tool call fails? * Can you explain and evaluate the quality of its decisions? * Can you control latency and cost? * When something goes wrong, should the system pause, roll back or hand the decision to a person? A successful demo only proves that something can work once. A production-ready AI system must also be reliable, testable, observable and clear about its responsibilities. > When an AI Agent enters a real system, how do we make sure it works reliably — and knows when to stop, ask for help or hand over to a human? ## 🛠️ What is missing between Demo and Production? Many Agents perform well on a developer’s laptop. The real challenge is making them work consistently under real-world constraints: * Model outputs can change * Tools can fail * Permissions may be limited * Data may be incomplete * User requests may go beyond the system’s boundaries * Teams may struggle to reproduce or understand failures The question is not only whether the model is smart enough. It is whether the whole system is controllable, measurable and ready to improve. We will look at an Agent workflow through four key layers: * **Agent:** How does it plan tasks, use tools, handle failure and ask for human help when needed? * **Harness:** How do tools, orchestration, evaluations, guardrails and human handoffs work together as a testable operating framework? * **Production:** How do we decide whether an AI feature is ready to launch and continue tracking its quality after release? * **Trade-offs:** How should teams balance reliability, observability, latency, cost, security, user experience and responsibility? ## 🔍 This is more than a talk We will work through real workflows and practical exercises: * **Demo-to-Production Ladder** Map the journey from Idea and Prototype to Evaluation, Deployment and Monitoring. Identify what your system is still missing. * **Agent Failure Wall** Explore where Agents are most likely to fail: data, tools, permissions, model outputs or human handoff. * **Harness Design Clinic** Take a real workflow and break down how tools, orchestration, evaluations, guardrails and human handoffs should fit together. * **Production Readiness Roundtable** Discuss the real engineering trade-offs around quality, latency, cost, permissions, security, observability and responsibility. * **30-Day Ship Card** Leave with one practical engineering action or product assumption to test in the next 30 days. You do not need to bring a complete system. A failed tool call, an unreliable Agent workflow or an AI feature you are unsure about launching can all be useful starting points for discussion. **Bring a real problem. Register for free.** ## 👥 Who should attend? * Engineers working on Agent orchestration, RAG, evaluations, deployment or reliability * Data Engineers, Platform Engineers, DevOps professionals, architects and infrastructure leads * Product managers and engineering leaders deciding whether AI features are ready for real business use * Founders and technical builders moving AI products from idea to production * People who have tried RAG, tool calling or Agents and want to strengthen their engineering foundations * Developers and serious learners moving beyond prompt experiments into AI Engineering ## 📍 Event Details **Date:** Wednesday, 7 October 2026 **Time:** 5:30 PM–7:30 PM Melbourne time **Location:** Amazon MEL12 **Address:** Level 12.304, 555 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000 **Language:** English **Cost:** Free

Put AI to Work: Build Your AI Competitive Advantage

Co-hosted by JR Academy, ANZ and Bupa. This event focuses on AI-native businesses, organisational practices and workflow design. It is designed for professionals and small and medium-sized business owners who want to explore the journey from personal productivity to enterprise AI work systems. 📅 **Thursday, 1 October 2026** 🕔 **5:00 PM–8:30 PM Melbourne local time** 📍 **Venue: To be announced** ## 🌏 MELBOURNE · AI & BUSINESS ### You Have an AI Assistant. The Next Step Is to Have an AI Work System. You may already be using AI to write emails, summarise information and generate content. However, customer follow-ups, task progress and delivery checks may still require you to monitor everything yourself. With more and more tools available, your work may still not be truly connected. This event starts with a more practical question: **How can AI take on specific responsibilities and turn professional expertise and business processes into a continuously operating work system?** 🍕 Pizza will be provided, with time for Q&A and networking. ## 🎤 LIGHTMAN · FEATURED PRESENTATION ### ⚙️ How to Build an Efficient AI Operating System **Speaker: Lightman · Founder of JR Academy** From one person to a team and then to an entire company, how can AI evolve from a collection of separate tools into a work system that actively participates in the business? Lightman will explain how management and coordination functions can be integrated into a system, and how customer enquiries, sales follow-ups and operational tasks can be connected into executable workflows. * **Redesigning management functions:** Delegate task assignment, information summarisation and progress tracking to the system. * **Building business workflows:** Connect business knowledge, AI and tools to create practical workflows. * **Defining the division of responsibilities between people and AI:** Determine which steps can be automated and which must be confirmed by people. ## 01 / 🏢 What Will a Business Look Like When AI Joins the Workforce? A task often involves assigning work, passing on information, tracking progress and preparing reports before it is completed. If AI can take on these coordination functions, how many layers of management will a business still need? How can leaders gain direct visibility into business progress? How much delivery capacity can a small team achieve? JR Academy is exploring how AI work systems can restructure these management functions and reduce reliance on middle management. ## 02 / 🔧 Give an Entire Business Process to AI for Collaborative Execution After a customer sends an enquiry, can AI organise the requirements, draft a response, update business records and create the next follow-up task? ### How an AI Workflow Operates **Request received → Understand and break down → Execute through tools → Human review → Update the system → Follow-up result** We will explain: * What business knowledge AI needs * How AI connects with business tools * Which actions must be approved by people * How to handle errors and exceptions ## 03 / 🚀 How Can AI Amplify Your Professional Expertise? For professionals, the focus is on turning experience into reusable processes, improving service quality and increasing delivery efficiency. For business owners, the focus is on reducing dependence on personal time for customer follow-ups, operational tasks and team collaboration. You are welcome to bring your real questions: * Which task repeatedly takes up your time? * Where does your team often get stuck? * What responsibility would you like AI to take on first? ### 👥 Featured Speakers **Lightman** Sharing JR Academy’s current practices in AI work systems and organisational design. **Guest speaker from ANZ** Name, role and presentation topic to be announced. **Former Deloitte professional** Name, current role and presentation topic to be announced. **Guest speaker from Bupa** Name, role and presentation topic to be announced. ## 💼 Who Is This Event Suitable For? * **Experienced professionals:** People who want to combine their expertise with AI and reduce repetitive administrative work. * **Small and medium-sized business owners:** People who want to improve sales follow-ups, operations and team collaboration. * **Entrepreneurs and team leaders:** People who are designing business processes and defining the responsibilities of people and AI. No programming background is required. The focus is on business scenarios, workflows and organisational design. ## 🧠 What Can You Start With After the Event? * Identify one task that should be prioritised for AI. * Define its input, execution, review and outcome. * Determine which responsibilities can be delegated to AI and which must remain with people. * Evaluate your first workflow based on time, quality and maintenance costs. 🍕 Pizza will be provided, with plenty of time to connect with speakers, professionals and business owners. ## 📸 Previous Events From presentations on stage to conversations after the event, experience the atmosphere of our previous events. The photos are from previous events. The food, gifts and recruitment information shown in the photos do not represent the arrangements for this event. Pizza will be provided at this event. ## ⚠️ Entry Registration Requirements The Bupa venue requires advance registration. All participants must complete both event registration and venue entry registration before attending. * **Date:** Thursday, 1 October 2026 * **Time:** 5:00 PM–8:30 PM Melbourne local time * **Venue:** Bupa Melbourne venue * **Food:** Pizza will be provided The exact address, entry instructions, ticket information, registration deadline and Bupa registration process will be announced later. 🎟️ **Free event · Limited to 100 attendees**

MSA Melbourne Meet-up at Melbourne Office [In-Person]

We're thrilled to invite you to our next Microsoft Student Accelerator event on Thursday, October 1 at 3:00 PM Melbourne time at the Microsoft Melbourne Office! 🎉 Microsoft Student Accelerator (MSA) helps university students build industry-ready skills, connect with Microsoft, and learn from people working across different areas of tech. Join us for an engaging afternoon with practical career advice, a short beginner-friendly hackathon activity, role spotlights from Microsoft professionals, and time to connect with other students and Microsoft employees over food and networking. What’s on the agenda: 💼 Hiring Manager Panel - Hear practical guidance on preparing for interviews, improving your resume, and standing out when applying for tech roles. 💻 Mini Hackathon - Take part in a short, beginner-friendly hackathon-style activity. 🔦 Role Spotlights - Discover different tech career pathways through short talks from professionals across multiple disciplines in Microsoft. 🤝 Networking & Food - Connect with peers, Microsoft professionals, and other students to wrap up the afternoon. 📍 Microsoft Melbourne Office - Level 5, 4 Freshwater Place, Southbank VIC 3006 📅 Thursday, October 1 🕒 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM AEST (Please note: Meetup event shows time in AWST, this event is at 3PM Melbourne time) We can’t wait to see you there! 🤩 Best regards, The MSA Melbourne Team

Job search conversations 2.0 #2

Are you actively navigating the job market in Melbourne and looking for clear, practical guidance to break through hiring barriers? After hosting over 35 sessions with 400+ job seekers, Job Search Conversations is back in a refined 2.0 format—built around high-impact, actionable strategies, candid discussions, and real-time feedback. What We'll Cover 👉 Overcoming Application Bottlenecks: Why resume submissions aren't turning into call-backs and how to fix your application funnel. 👉 Decoding Rejection Factors: Unpacking hidden hiring obstacles, feedback gaps, and how to position yourself effectively. 👉 Navigating "Local Experience": Smart, proven ways to showcase relevant expertise to Australian employers and recruiters. 👉 Targeted Search Strategy: Optimizing your outreach, resume framing, and LinkedIn presence for current market dynamics. Why Attend? Unlike large webinars or generic networking functions, this is an interactive, small-group discussion (capped at 10–15 participants) held in a safe, constructive environment. Every attendee gets airtime to address their specific job search challenges and walk away with immediate, practical next steps What Community Members Say "*Vinesh brings a wealth of experience and deep knowledge to the table. He provides honest, practical insights and helps individuals understand the true essence of networking, equipping them to navigate the Australian job market effectively*." — Vaibhav Kashyap, Data Scientist *"I attended a session by Vinesh recently and it was filled with great insights for navigating your job search as a migrant here in Australia. It was a great interactive session where many questions were answered... A must attend session who is new to this country and looking for a job."* — Paras Kamdar, Mechanical Engineer "*He introduced the concept of the hidden job market, encouraging us to look beyond the traditional channels. Though it seemed abstract at first, I followed his advice and saw real benefits."* — Nandhini Sathyamurthy, Senior Business Analyst "*The meetup was a good place to meet fellow migrants who are going through a similar journey of finding a place in a new country. Vinesh answered a lot of common questions new job seekers have and went over an hour extra ensuring all our questions were answered*." — Sridhar Rajendran, Lead UX Researcher Who Is This For? ✅ Active job seekers in the Melbourne metropolitan area. ✅ Skilled migrants and professionals seeking to navigate local market entry. ✅Professionals making a career transition or refining their job search approach. Important RSVP Note To keep conversations personal, deep, and actionable, seats are strictly limited. Please RSVP only if you are fully committed to attending so that spots remain open for those who need them.

From Crisis to a Multimillion-Dollar Food Empire

May your future be what defines you: vision boarding

*May my future follow me into a room as aggressively as my past does.* Words that started as an affirmation in the phone notes but became something bigger. Because we have all walked into rooms carrying hard things. The stories we tell about ourselves, the chapters we would rather skip past, the versions of us that survived days we do not talk about at dinner parties. Sometimes, it’s easy for those things to dominate a conversation. Or to linger in the back of our minds while the room moves around us. Sometimes, our pain introduces us before we have had the chance to say who we are becoming. But what if the future could enter first? What if the woman you are working towards, the career you are building, the love you are opening yourself up to, the impact you want to have, could walk into the room before anything else? What if the room could feel your future before it remembered your past? This is a morning to explore that question. Join us for a guided journaling and vision boarding session where we will sit together and write and create our way towards the lives we are heading into. By choosing, on paper and in community, to let our future take up more space than what came before it. **What to expect** \* Guided journaling and vision boarding prompts centred on your next chapter, the woman you are becoming, and the life you are making room for \* A warm, held space with other women who are also in the process of rebuilding, or stepping into something new \* Time for quiet reflection and time for gentle conversation **Who this is for** This is for the woman in transition. The woman who is tired of being defined by what happened to her and is ready to be known for what she is building. The woman who is healing and also dreaming. The woman who wants to write her future into something she can feel arriving. You do not need to be a writer. You do not need to have the right words. You just need to bring yourself, a pen, and a willingness to let your future lead. ***May we be defined by the places we are working towards and the women we are becoming, not by the days that have brought us to our knees.*** Read more about the motivation behind this event [here](https://girlswhoboss.substack.com/p/may-my-future-follow-me-into-a-room?r=4apm4h&utm_medium=ios).

AI Engineer Open Class: From LLM Applications to AI Agents | Melbourne

What does it take to build an AI agent? Connecting an LLM, writing prompts and building a chat interface are only the beginning. When your application needs to work with knowledge bases, external tools and business processes, a new set of engineering challenges emerges. Join **JR Academy in Melbourne** for a free, in-person open class exploring how AI agents work and what it takes to build a reliable, production-grade agentic system. We’ll also introduce our updated **AI Engineer Cohort 07 programme**, including its curriculum, project structure and learning requirements. 🎤 Meet your speaker — Roy Roy is an experienced AI Engineer who has worked on agentic AI and software development projects at **Deloitte and [V2.ai](https://V2.ai)**. His work includes AI systems for supply chain risk management, invoice automation and faster software development. In this session, Roy will explain **the inner workings of AI agents and how to build reliable, production-grade agentic systems**. 🚀 What we’ll cover **1\. From LLM applications to agent systems** Understand the relationship between model calls, AI workflows and agents, and explore how to choose the right approach for different tasks. **2\. RAG and citations: answers grounded in evidence** Explore retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), source citations and no-answer mechanisms, including how systems should respond when the available information is insufficient. **3\. MCP tools and tool calling** Learn how agents connect to external tools, and why tool definitions, parameter validation, permissions and result handling matter. **4\. Execution boundaries and human approval** Discuss stopping conditions, confirmation for important actions and failure handling to make agent behaviour more controlled and predictable. **5\. Evaluation and execution tracing** Discover how to assess output quality, track execution, diagnose errors and improve your system through ongoing evaluation. 🛠️ Introducing AI Engineer Cohort 07 Our updated programme follows one Agent project over **13 weeks**, progressively developing it through five stages: * **System Foundation:** Define requirements, architecture, data and business workflows. * **First AI Workflow:** Connect AI to a practical process and produce structured outputs that can be checked and reviewed. * **Grounded Intelligence:** Add RAG, citations, no-answer behaviour and quality evaluation. * **Agent System:** Integrate MCP tools, execution boundaries, human approval and secure memory. * **Production Standard:** Introduce execution controls, model routing, evaluations, red teaming and rollback mechanisms. The final project brings together code, architecture, evaluations, execution logs and release evidence. The programme includes **12 Theory Live sessions and 13 Practice Live sessions**, combining explanations of core concepts with live coding to develop the same project from Week 1 to Week 13. At the open class, we’ll walk through the learning schedule, project expectations and prerequisites to help you assess whether the programme fits your goals. 👥 Who should attend? * Software, backend and full-stack developers looking to expand into AI engineering. * Data and ML engineers interested in building complete AI applications. * DevOps and cloud engineers curious about agent operations and deployment. * IT students with programming experience exploring AI project development. * Developers who have built a RAG or agent demo and want to strengthen their testing, evaluation and engineering skills. * Professionals preparing for AI engineering roles or interviews. 💬 Bring your questions and meet the community There will be time for Q&A and networking. Bring your project ideas, technical questions or learning plans: * Where should I start with my current technical background? * I’ve built a small AI project—what should I learn next? * How can I turn individual skills into a complete, working system? * How can I explain my AI project’s design, trade-offs and results in an interview? * Is AI Engineer Cohort 07 a good fit for my goals? Connect with fellow developers and AI learners, exchange experiences and explore your next step in AI engineering. 📍 When and where **Thursday, 24 September 2026** **5:30 PM–7:00 PM · Melbourne time** **ANNG Gallery** Level 17, 60 Albert Road, South Melbourne VIC 3205 🎟️ **Free admission — reserve your spot and join us in Melbourne!** **​🤝 Host and Venue** **Host:** JR Academy **Venue:** ANNG Gallery **Venue Support:** CloudTech Group

Network Walk 2.0 Melbourne #9

After a break, We are back! Excited to meet new faces and kick-start more conversations. The objective of this event is to get comfortable with the idea of talking to strangers. You are free to talk, or just observe. Networking is critical for success here in Australia, and if not now - when? There is no agenda to this and anyone is welcome. Just come along and join a random bunch of strangers for a walk in the city. As this is a test run, we'll go by the flow after meeting at 300 Flinders St. Please arrive on time at the location as we may move from the start. As it's a short event, latecomers are not entertained. I will update the live location in the comments at 12.20 pm We may move/walk 10 mins after the beginning of the event. Follow us with the live location that I share in the comments Note : Please update your RSVP if you are unable to make it. We are all taking time of our busy schedule to make this happen.

Networking Drinks for Builders & Doers

**🍻 The Entrepreneur Club – Last Friday of the Month Drinks** **Not your average knock-off drinks.** Join us for a monthly gathering of entrepreneurs, builders, creatives, and self-starters who believe business is more than just work, it’s a personal growth journey. Whether you're scaling something or just starting out, this is a space to meet others who think like you do. **💬 What to Expect** ✅ Real convos with people building something ✅ A place to bounce ideas, swap challenges, and share wins ✅ Opportunities to give value and get it in return ✅ Chill vibes, no pitches, just smart people in good company You don’t need a title or a polished pitch, just curiosity and the willingness to connect. **🗓 Format** **6:30pm** – Arrive, grab a drink, join a convo **8:30pm** – We wrap, or roll on elsewhere **🎯 This is for you if** * You want more entrepreneurial people in your life * You’re building something, or want to be * You care about growth, not just small talk Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring your curiosity. Last Friday of every month. Let’s make it count.

Group Speed Friending with Meaningful Conversations

**Unlock Meaningful Connections at Our Speed Friending Event** [LINK TO BOOK](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1999899233443?aff=oddtdtcreator) Ready to step out of your comfort zone and make authentic connections? Join us at *The Bank on Collins* for an exclusive Speed Friending event with structured conversations designed for ambitious professionals and like-minded individuals who are eager to forge meaningful connections - not just small talk. This event attracts a diverse group of individuals who are serious about building friendships and expanding their network. Whether you're a professional climbing the career ladder, a creative pushing the boundaries of innovation, or an entrepreneur chasing your next big idea, you'll find yourself surrounded by like-minded go-getters who think big and dream even bigger. In a world where quality relationships are key to success, we believe that life is better with great people in it. This event is your opportunity to meet dynamic, driven individuals who are all about growth, collaboration, and real conversations. Be prepared to dive deep with thought-provoking questions that foster vulnerability and genuine connections so you can Find Your Tribe. Whether you're a seasoned event-goer or this is your first event, we're here to support you every step of the way. Push past surface-level interactions and start building the kind of relationships that truly matter. **Event Structure:** * **6:30 pm:** Arrive, grab a drink, and mingle. (Tip: Happy hour ends at 6:30 pm, so come early to snag a deal!) * **6:45 pm - 7:30 pm:** 3 rounds of group speed friending. You'll meet 12+ like-minded people ready to connect on a deeper level. * **7:30 pm - 8:00 pm:** Post-speed friending social networking. This is where the magic happens—spend time with the people you vibed with most and start building real friendships. **Investment:** $10. We are for passion, not profit. 50% of your contribution supports the running costs of the group, while the other 50% goes towards The Man Cave, Australia's leading preventative mental health charity for teenage boys and their communities. [Home - The Man Cave - Preventative mental health programs for teenage boys](https://themancave.life/) Link to book: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1985108869065?aff=oddtdtcreator To support the venue, please buy a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) or snack during the event. **Liability Disclaimer:** By attending this event, you acknowledge that you are participating voluntarily and are responsible for your own health, safety, and well-being during the session. *Find Your Tribe Melbourne* and its hosts are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur. Please take care, be mindful of your surroundings, and participate within your own comfort level. **Photo & Video Disclaimer:** Please note that photos and videos will be taken throughout the event and may be used on our social media channels or other platforms. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, kindly inform one of the hosts at the beginning of the event. **Take the leap - join us for a night of transformative connections and step into a community of movers and shakers. We can't wait to meet you!** [LINK TO BOOK](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/group-speed-friending-with-meaningful-conversations-tickets-1999899233443?aff=oddtdtcreator) Instagram: @findyourtribemelb

The Monthly Reset: Walk, Reflect, Connect

Instagram: @findyourtribemelb Take a pause from the hustle and join us for **The Monthly Reset** \- a space for driven and ambitious people to reflect on the past month\, set fresh goals\, and connect with other growth\-minded individuals\. There’s something powerful about sharing your reflections and intentions with other growth-minded individuals. When you're surrounded by people who value progress, purpose, and self-awareness, it creates a natural sounding board for ideas, clarity, and encouragement. These kinds of conversations can help you see things differently, feel more supported, and stay aligned with the goals that truly matter to you. 🌿**MEETING POINT** Let's meet outside Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre at 2:00pm. Anyone who would like to grab a coffee can do so, then at 2:15pm, we'll take a walk around the Tan. 🤝**CONNECTION ACTIVITY** During the walk, you’ll be invited to participate in structured conversations with different partners as we rotate every 15ish minutes. We’ll provide reflection prompts to guide your discussions on: * What worked well this past month * What challenged you or stretched your limits * Intentions or goals for the month ahead * What success and balance look like for you This is a space to connect authentically, think intentionally, and feel supported by others who care about growth and alignment - both professionally and personally. 👋**NEW HERE?** Welcome! Find Your Tribe Melbourne is a community mostly around 25-40s who are passionate about connection, purpose, and personal development. We’re open-minded, respectful, and always excited to welcome new faces. Whether you come solo or with a friend, we’ll make sure you feel included and supported. Pushing outside your comfort zone can be tough, but it's where growth and friendship begin. 🌱 If you have any questions or just want to say hi before the event, feel free to message me! ⚠️**LIABILITY DISCLAIMER** By attending this event, you acknowledge that you are participating voluntarily and are responsible for your own health, safety, and well-being during the walk and any related activities. *Find Your Tribe Melbourne* and its hosts are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur. Please take care, be mindful of your surroundings, and participate within your own comfort level. **PHOTO AND VIDEO DISCLAIMER** Please note that photos and videos will be taken throughout the event and may be used on our social media channels or other platforms. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, kindly inform one of the hosts at the beginning of the event. Instagram: @findyourtribemelb

Welcome coffee + walk + talk

Welcome to our very first in-person event in Melbourne! I am so glad you're part of this community, and I look forward to meeting you in person. Now that spring is here, let's make the most of the beautiful weather and nature's therapy. Today's event is an easy walk around Fitzroy Gardens. I've timed it so we'll finish long before the AFL Grand Final starts. **ITINERARY** 11am: Meet outside Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Information Centre. Say hello, grab a coffee to support KereKere Green Cafe, and we'll start our walk. No agenda, just a time of peace and quiet in nature, and talk when you feel ready. 12.30pm: End of event. **OPTIONAL EXTRA** For those who feel extra sociable and want to have lunch together, we can make plans on the day to have lunch nearby. Lunch is at each person's own cost. **COST** There is no cost for this event. **GETTING THERE** The closest train stations are Jolimont (2 min) and Parliament (10 min). **INTROVERT WELLBEING TIPS** 1. Always honour your safety, health, and wellbeing. If at any time you are fatigued, overstimulated, or your social battery runs out, you can say something like "I had a great time but I have to go now." No need for long explanations or apologies - we are all introverts and we get it. 2. I may take random photos of the group to share on social media. For privacy reasons, I do not tag individuals or post close-up shots. If you prefer not to be photographed at all, please let me know. 3. I try to keep attendee numbers under 10 so it's not overwhelming for us introverts, and so everyone gets to talk to at least one or two people.