CEO Roundtables Melbourne

A11y Allies Roundtable: Recruitment without Barriers

**Accessibility Allies monthly roundtable** 2nd Tuesday of each month Proudly supported by [Builure](https://www.linkedin.com/company/builure/posts/). **Topic for September: Recruitment without Barriers** Learn how to access talented staff with strengths and abilities workplaces need but often overlook. Join us for a discussion about how people with disability can provide skills and abilities your workplace needs. Learn about alternative recruitment programs that help people with disability to become valuable staff. Featuring **[Xavier Vella](https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-vella97/)** an accessibility advocate and researcher exploring how accessible modern recruitment and hiring systems really are. Drawing on his own experience as a job seeker with a limb difference, he is examining job advertisements, recruitment and application platforms, online assessments and wider hiring workflows using both automated accessibility testing tools and manual reviews. His latest research is also expanding to include feedback from the accessibility community and a closer look at government recruitment processes, comparing stated accessibility commitments with the real candidate experience. Meet accessibility professionals and advocates. * No presentations * Open discussion * Exchange ideas * Genuine connections **Tuesday 8 September 2026** 5:30pm for a 6 pm start Ends at 7:30 pm **Free** Light refreshments provided (incl vegetarian and GF) **Location: Tank Steam Labs** Level 5, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne * Quiet exclusive space * Live Captions * Wheelchair access * Accessible toilet This is a secure building so [registration via Humanitix](https://events.humanitix.com/a11y-allies-2026-09) is essential **Guest sign-in** Use the touch screen to right of the doors on level 5 to sign in as a guest. Or you can scan a QR code to use your mobile to sign in. Host name: Inshu Misra **Running late?** Post a message to let us know you'll be late with an ETA. We will come get you when you arrive. **Accessibility** Please contact us if you have any accessibility needs or questions not covered in the FAQs on the event registration page. We will do what we can to help you feel comfortable attending. Please contact us if you have any accessibility needs or questions about this event.

Presenting - 'Speaking on the spot'

Smashing! Try something new Thursday Interactive reality workshops- Tonight get involved and have some fun. Ever walked away from a conversation thinking you should have said this or that, but instead suffered 'brain freeze'? Learn methods to respond on the spot, and follow up with practice in small groups. Learn by doing! Serious about improving your leadership - **Why mess, come to the best** Why is Smashing different to other speaking clubs? Just two member's thoughts, "The fun/laughs factor is definitely a point of difference. We keep it moving with high standards so it’s a nice balance. Too strict makes it tense and boring, too loose and we can lose the energy/commercial feel. SmashSpeak's vibe's in the sweet spot." "At other clubs I used to listen to long speeches and lectures, here we get so many chances to talk every meeting, that we have to improve" **Free parking** close: O'Connell and Cobden streets **IMPORTANT: Be on time, as doors close when the show starts** “Proudly Australian" – Free-flowing teamwork, greater good focus, sharing the stage, etc Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St (Opposite Queen Vic Market) Level 1, PURPLE Room (End of corridor) More to come...

Find your Identity | Melbourne TED Talk Community Event

Join the Melbourne TED Talk Community for an engaging session and meet people who like being an ideator, who want to bring their voice to a larger community. In contrast to a typical public speaking training event, where you receive feedback on your amms and aas and the way you present, this goes beyond that. **The objective of this community is to get inspired by some of the best ideas serving humanity, find your own calling and voice, be an ideator, and share your ideas clearly and persuasively.** The talk we will play is one of the amazing talks from the TED Library. In this session, we will delve deeper into the topic and gain perspective, and learn from each other. Be prepared to network, engage in meaningful conversations, and embark on a journey of professional development and leadership growth. **Mark your calendars and don't miss this opportunity to refine your public speaking abilities with the Melbourne TED Talk Community!** **TED Talk link to watch together: How to reclaim your life from work** https://www.ted.com/talks/simone_stolzoff_how_to_reclaim_your_life_from_work **Agenda (as a guide)** 6.00 PM Registration 6.10 PM Introduction by Attendees 6.15 PM 10-12 min TED talk on screen (optional) 6.30 PM Breakout session (Group / Individual) based on topic 6.40 PM Individual / Group shares their takeaways 7.00 PM Practice the Art of Public Speaking - 2-3 talks of 2-5 minutes 7.10 PM Feedback to the Presenters and overall session 7.20 PM Event Concludes & floor opens for Networking **Location Guide:** We are in the Sue Healy Room which is on 2nd floor. For any issues in locating the room, please call or message on the number displayed in the Foyer near the lift. **Fees:** The event has **a $5 contribution** towards hiring the hall and Audiovisual. This can be paid through PayPal at the time of registration. **RSVP and Non-attendance is taken very seriously by us including a block to attend the future events. So for any reasons you can't attend please change your RSVP to NO atleast a day in advance. This will help the Organisers manage the venue and seating.** Looking forward to seeing you there. The Organizers Raj

AI & Robotics Innovation Expo

**AI & Robotics Innovation Expo 2026** The AI & Robotics Innovation Expo 2026 brings together more than 30 emerging startups, scaleups and research organisations from across Australia’s innovation ecosystem. Visitors can experience live demonstrations, discover commercially deployable technologies and meet the founders, researchers, investors and technology leaders shaping the future of AI and robotics. The program spans enterprise AI, autonomous agents, robotics, digital twins, intelligent automation and emerging applications across business, industry and everyday life. **Register Here**: https://www.melbconnect.com.au/events/ai-robotics-innovation-expo **Event details** * Date: Friday, 11 September 2026 * Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM * Venue: The Launchpad and The Lab, Melbourne Connect * Host: AIBUILD * Partners: InnovateConnect Alliance, Global Elite School, StarPlan AI and AI Development Group **Speakers** * **Dr Daisy Liu** — Founder and CEO, StarPlan AI * **Dr Johan Barthélemy** — Senior AI Scientist, NVIDIA AI Technology Centre * **Yifei Wang** — Founder and CEO, AIBUILD * **Wendy Jiang** — Co-Founder and Managing Director, StrataXcel * **Sicheng “Joe” Zhou** — Co-Founder and Director, AskRomi * **Liam Kelly** — Head of Technology Practice, Method Recruitment * **Joseph Lee** — Associate Director, Data, AI and Delivery, Method Recruitment * **Professor Jenny Waycott** — Professor of Human–Computer Interaction, University of Melbourne * **Carey Hassall** — NVIDIA Business Manager, Multimedia Technology * **Dickson Li** — Co-Founder and Director, Roboly * **Kathy Coultas** — Strategic Adviser, AIBUILD * **Amber Main** — Founder and Ecosystem Builder * **Professor Lihai Zhang** — Professor of Engineering Management, University of Melbourne **Expo agenda** * 10:00 AM–11:00 AM: Exhibitor setup * 11:00 AM–11:15 AM: Official opening * 11:15 AM–12:00 PM: Industrial demonstrations and startup pitches * 12:00 PM–1:00 PM: Expo showcase and networking * 1:00 PM–1:30 PM: Expo Pitch Stage presentations * 1:30 PM–2:00 PM: University of Melbourne research presentations * 2:00 PM–3:00 PM: Expo showcase, live demonstrations and networking * 3:00 PM–4:00 PM: Exhibitor pack-down Be an Exhibitor: please contact team@aidg.au

Journey Management: an emerging practice that’s changing the way we lead

It’s safe to say that by now, Journey Mapping is familiar territory for many organisations. Yet what actually happens to Journey Maps and Service Blueprints once the project or workshop ends? The hours of synthesis, the pain points, and the hard-won customer insights are often archived in hidden folders or left on walls as wallpaper, rarely referred to in daily decisions. They become static relics as the organisation moves on. Journey Management is an emerging global management practice that turns static maps into a dynamic information system that acts as the backbone of operational and strategic decision-making. But how does an organisation make the shift from static maps to an active management practice? Join MDT for this exciting panel of speakers who talk about how they are developing and scaling their Journey Management practice. **What you'll hear:** ✨ **The Global State of Journey Management 2026:** Which organisations are investing in Journey Management around the world, the reasons why and a case for Strategic Service Design as a leadership capability ✨ **Creating a living management information system:** The challenges associated with building a living information system, going from static to dynamic maps ✨ **Scaling practices across the organisation:** What leaders are required to do to scale this practice across different teams effectively ✨ **Case studies from practitioners:** Key lessons from practitioners as they formalise and scale their practice. **📌 The details:** * Date: Thursday 17th September * Host: Melbourne Design Thinking Meetup x Natural Velocity Innovation Centre * Refreshments included: Pizza and fizz! Our Speakers: **Anna Yip** *Design Leader \| Co\-Author of This is Journey Management \(the book\) and Lead Researcher of The Global State of Journey Management Study 2026* Anna is the co-author of *This is Journey Management (the book)* and lead researcher of *The Global State of Journey Management Study 2026*. Over the last 10 months, she has led a global study on how Journey Management practices have been rapidly evolving and are changing the way managers lead in complex and dynamic environments. This study is the largest global study on Journey Management to date and is the cornerstone of the upcoming book, *This is Journey Management.* Anna Lectures Strategic Customer Experience (CX) at RMIT, consults with organisations and coaches practitioners on advancing their management capabilities. In her spare time, she’s the organiser of Journey Management Monthly Australia and co-organiser of Melbourne Design Thinkers. **David Mulholland** *Associate Director of Service Experience & Design \| University of Melbourne* David Mulholland has spent over 14 years turning complex, tangled service ecosystems into intuitive, human-centred experiences. Spanning UX, CX, and Service Design, his career is built on bridging the gap between lofty strategic visions and the reality of how things actually work on the ground. As the Associate Director of Service Experience & Design within the Enterprise Services Group (ESG) at the University of Melbourne. He heads a multidisciplinary team of User Research & Insights, Service, Digital, and AI Experience Designers. Together, they don't just design screens; they architect end-to-end service blueprints that connect the student experience, improve and automate mundane staff processes, and weave apps, AI experiences, and cross-channel strategies into one cohesive university journey. By translating deep insights into scalable journey systems, David consistently drives tangible results, boosting student engagement, improving staff experience, and unlocking new operational efficiencies. When he isn't mapping complex user journeys or mentoring his team, he brings that same methodical creativity to his downtime, exploring agentic AI tools and vibe coding to bring his own digital side-projects to life. **Keirice Farley** *Customer Experience Design Chapter Lead / 7/11* Keirice Farley is a creative problem solver, design and customer experience leader working at the intersection of strategy, systems thinking, and human-centred design. She leads enterprise experience design across complex, omni-channel environments, helping organisations reduce friction, improve decision quality, and deliver sustainable value at scale. Keirice is known for translating abstract design and CX concepts into practical leadership frameworks that resonate with executives, operators, and product teams alike. Her work focuses on uncovering ‘experience debt’, the hidden cost of compromised decisions. Then helping organisations pay it down through better judgment, governance, and accountability. In her spare time, Keirice takes Korean Language classes, watches Real Housewives (for research purposes 😉), enjoys coffee shop hopping and reads books that improve her craft.

International Day of Democracy Event : Panel Discussion

Hi everyone! Designing Open Democracy is hosting an event! In partnership with 888 cooperative causeway, join us for what promises to be a thought-provoking panel discussion celebrating the International Day of Democracy! Panel Lineup includes: Nicholas Gruen - CEO, Lateral economics Godfrey Moase -co founder of CoPower Anitra Nelson - Activist Academic Nicole Hunter - Deliberative community engagement specialist Please visit the link below to buy tickets - as a member of this group, you can gain access to the special Designing Open Democracy Member's price of $20! [https://events.humanitix.com/international-day-of-democracy](https://events.humanitix.com/international-day-of-democracy) Light snacks will be provided.

Tech & Business Networking in Melbourne

📍 **Registration is on Luma — Meetup is not our RSVP platform.** Please register here to secure your spot: https://luma.com/uv8sdilc 🚀 **Join our event in Melbourne!** We design Pitch and Networking nights to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback and to give strong investors access to serious teams. **Our pitch night is complemented by a structured networking session before and after the pitch session.** ▶ **See how our pitch nights look:** https://vimeo.com/877496618 **💡 What to expect:** - **Startups pitch live and receive focused feedback** from angels and VC partners - **Structured networking session** before and after the pitches - Entrepreneurs, startup founders, and operators are joining to network, exchange ideas, and build strong connections - Active investors and venture scouts joining to discover the best startups early **🤝 Who you will meet at the event:** - Founders - Investors, VC partners, Venture Scouts - Marketers, Salespeople, Business Advisors - Industry Disruptors - AI Experts - Entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom **💼 We Welcome New Investors:** We invite investors to our event to expand their network, get acquainted with new startups, evaluate them, share feedback, and participate in discussions with early-stage and serial founders. We offer **complimentary tickets to institutional investors, angels, and venture scouts** with a proven track record. Please [apply via Luma](https://luma.com/uv8sdilc) or send us an email so we can issue the ticket. If you'd like to **access our database of promising startups** or **provide mentorship support to our best startups**, please fill out this short [Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn1s8f5_R3iaqYoJ4aU2q1IxcFXIZIQElD6cEcv8YkRQhaUA/viewform), and our team will contact you. **🎤 Want to Pitch?** A limited number of founders will have the opportunity to pitch their startup or business **to a panel of investors and experts.** 4-6 selected founders will pitch their startup, followed by a short Q&A where participants can ask questions and share feedback. Apply by filling out the [Pitch Application Form](https://forms.gle/CuscVQibyXBbi1Fv7) and sending us your pitch deck. Spots are limited, and we select founders in advance. To maintain high-quality pitches, you are required to present with a pitch deck. We will share our **pitching guide** and, if you'd like, **coach you** so you're fully prepared for pitch night. 🏆 **The best startups will be featured** across our social media and included in our **investor newsletter.** **Requirements for attendees:** - Dress code: smart casual. Bring good energy. **🎟 Join our event and secure your ticket today!** **About us:** [Startup Valley](https://startupvalley.club/) is a global event organizer hosting pitch nights in 25 cities since 2023. Since then, **we have hosted 850 events for 40,000 attendees**. Over these years, we connected countless outstanding early-stage startups to serious investors, and we are not planning to stop. We maintain strategic partnerships with VC funds in the US, Europe, and Asia to support our community. Do you have a **question, a partnership proposal, or want to clarify something**? Reach us at hello@startupvalley.club **Agenda** - 18:00–18:30 — **Registration**: Guests register, receive badges, and event programs. This is an opportunity for casual networking, making first connections, and preparing for the event. - 18:30–19:00 — **Event Kickoff & Interactive Networking**: Official welcome from the organizers with a brief overview of the event goals and schedule. Interactive networking session to connect with key contacts. - 19:00–19:50 — **Startup Pitch Session**: Startups present their projects to investors and experts. Each team has 5 minutes to pitch, covering the project’s core idea, business model, and target market. - 19:50–21:00 — **Chill & Networking**: Participants enjoy casual conversations with investors, discuss collaboration opportunities, and exchange ideas over refreshments. **FAQ** **Can I pitch?** Yes! To pitch, please purchase a Pitch Ticket and fill out the Pitch Application Form. We will contact you to discuss and approve your pitch. The pitch duration is 5 minutes. You will also have some time to answer questions from the audience. **How does the pitch go?** Selected founders present on stage to the audience and the investors in the room. You get 5 minutes to pitch your idea, business model, target market, and investment ask, followed by a short Q&A. The best startups are featured across our social media channels and in the investor newsletter. **Who will I meet?** Founders, angel investors, VC partners, venture scouts, AI experts, engineers, operators, marketing and sales experts, and international entrepreneurs from across Europe, Asia, and the US. **Do investors get free tickets?** Yes! Please apply via Luma (the link is in the event description) or email hello@startupvalley.club, and we will issue a complimentary ticket for you and your team. **Can I request a refund?** Yes. Refunds are available if requested at least 1 day before the event start time. Please submit the refund request on the platform where you purchased your ticket, or email us at hello@startupvalley.club

Our teams have the best AI tools but nothing changed

[Josh Centner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcentner/), Principal PM, Seek: will be taking us through this topic building on some discussions from ProductCamp. **Our teams have the best AI tools but nothing changed** Most organisations now have AI tooling across their product and engineering teams. Most of them are moving just a little faster then they were two years ago. The tools aren’t the problem. The operating model underneath them is. Build is no longer the bottleneck. The new constraint is coordination: how teams align on what to build, how functions like legal, security, and design stay genuinely involved without becoming the gate everything stalls behind, and how leaders shift from approving decisions to setting the conditions that let good decisions happen without them. This session draws on a live transformation across a large technology organisation, redesigning not just how teams build, but the entire system from idea to customer impact. We’ll cover the three things that actually have to change for AI tooling to translate into speed: – how work gets defined before it’s built – how specialist functions engage without creating queues – and how the PM role changes when coordination overhead drops and intent has to survive further and faster than ever before. This isn’t a talk about tools. It’s about what your organisation needs to look like for the tools to matter. Our fabulous sponsors: **Netwealth** Netwealth is one of Australia's leading wealth management platforms, providing technology and investment solutions for financial advisers and their clients. Since 1999, we’ve focused on innovation and challenging the status quo, building digital products that help Australians see wealth differently and achieve better financial outcomes. At the heart of Netwealth is a culture of curious, collaborative, courageous, optimistic, agile and genuine people who are passionate about solving meaningful problems and creating better experiences for customers. For more [about careers](https://www.netwealth.com.au/web/about-netwealth/careers/) at Netwealth.

An evening with Diem Fuggersberger

From Crisis to a Multimillion-Dollar Food Empire

Dungeons and…Developers? Building skills in tech teams with table top RPG

Developing your team's "core skills" like communication, problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership can be challenging. What if we could make skill-building fun and impactful? In this session, Kirsty will introduce ‘Ultimate Tech Team’, a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) designed specifically for tech teams. Inspired by games like Dungeons & Dragons, this TTRPG creates a playful, immersive environment where tech professionals can develop core skills through engaging gameplay. Instead of awkward role-playing scenarios, ‘Ultimate Tech Team’ allows participants to use their imagination, work together, and roll some dice as they navigate challenges set in a “make-believe” company. In this meetup session, we'll spend a bit of time going through some of the research, and what benefits playing TTRPG's can provide. BUT most of the session will be a hands on scenario! **Agenda (time in Melbourne/AEST)** * 5:30pm Meetup starts - Networking * 6:00pm Welcome * 6:05pm Main Presentation * 6:20pm Workshop * 7:00pm Networking * 7:30pm Close **This will be a HYBRID event:** **Zoom link -** will be posted 1hr before event starts. **Our Speakers** **Kirsty McDonald** A Senior Platform Engineer @ Up Bank. Working in tech for 10+ years in a variety of roles (dev, cloud, delivery lead), she has worked across many organisations helping to solve difficult technology problems. Her current focus is on assisting teams improve the way they build, deploy and run software in the cloud in a safe and sustainable way, while also creating supportive, collaborative environments where teams can thrive. A player of Role Playing Games for 5 years.

Startup Pitch & Networking in Melbourne

📍 **Registration is on Luma — Meetup is not our RSVP platform.** Please register here to secure your spot: https://luma.com/uv8sdilc 🚀 **Join our event in Melbourne!** We design Pitch and Networking nights to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback and to give strong investors access to serious teams. **Our pitch night is complemented by a structured networking session before and after the pitch session.** ▶ **See how our pitch nights look:** https://vimeo.com/877496618 **💡 What to expect:** - **Startups pitch live and receive focused feedback** from angels and VC partners - **Structured networking session** before and after the pitches - Entrepreneurs, startup founders, and operators are joining to network, exchange ideas, and build strong connections - Active investors and venture scouts joining to discover the best startups early **🤝 Who you will meet at the event:** - Founders - Investors, VC partners, Venture Scouts - Marketers, Salespeople, Business Advisors - Industry Disruptors - AI Experts - Entrepreneurs from Europe, Asia, and the United Kingdom **💼 We Welcome New Investors:** We invite investors to our event to expand their network, get acquainted with new startups, evaluate them, share feedback, and participate in discussions with early-stage and serial founders. We offer **complimentary tickets to institutional investors, angels, and venture scouts** with a proven track record. Please [apply via Luma](https://luma.com/uv8sdilc) or send us an email so we can issue the ticket. If you'd like to **access our database of promising startups** or **provide mentorship support to our best startups**, please fill out this short [Investor Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdn1s8f5_R3iaqYoJ4aU2q1IxcFXIZIQElD6cEcv8YkRQhaUA/viewform), and our team will contact you. **🎤 Want to Pitch?** A limited number of founders will have the opportunity to pitch their startup or business **to a panel of investors and experts.** 4-6 selected founders will pitch their startup, followed by a short Q&A where participants can ask questions and share feedback. Apply by filling out the [Pitch Application Form](https://forms.gle/CuscVQibyXBbi1Fv7) and sending us your pitch deck. Spots are limited, and we select founders in advance. To maintain high-quality pitches, you are required to present with a pitch deck. We will share our **pitching guide** and, if you'd like, **coach you** so you're fully prepared for pitch night. 🏆 **The best startups will be featured** across our social media and included in our **investor newsletter.** **Requirements for attendees:** - Dress code: smart casual. Bring good energy. **🎟 Join our event and secure your ticket today!** **About us:** [Startup Valley](https://startupvalley.club/) is a global event organizer hosting pitch nights in 25 cities since 2023. Since then, **we have hosted 850 events for 40,000 attendees**. Over these years, we connected countless outstanding early-stage startups to serious investors, and we are not planning to stop. We maintain strategic partnerships with VC funds in the US, Europe, and Asia to support our community. Do you have a **question, a partnership proposal, or want to clarify something**? Reach us at hello@startupvalley.club **Agenda** - 18:00–18:30 — **Registration**: Guests register, receive badges, and event programs. This is an opportunity for casual networking, making first connections, and preparing for the event. - 18:30–19:00 — **Event Kickoff & Interactive Networking**: Official welcome from the organizers with a brief overview of the event goals and schedule. Interactive networking session to connect with key contacts. - 19:00–19:50 — **Startup Pitch Session**: Startups present their projects to investors and experts. Each team has 5 minutes to pitch, covering the project’s core idea, business model, and target market. - 19:50–21:00 — **Chill & Networking**: Participants enjoy casual conversations with investors, discuss collaboration opportunities, and exchange ideas over refreshments. **FAQ** **Can I pitch?** Yes! To pitch, please purchase a Pitch Ticket and fill out the Pitch Application Form. We will contact you to discuss and approve your pitch. The pitch duration is 5 minutes. You will also have some time to answer questions from the audience. **How does the pitch go?** Selected founders present on stage to the audience and the investors in the room. You get 5 minutes to pitch your idea, business model, target market, and investment ask, followed by a short Q&A. The best startups are featured across our social media channels and in the investor newsletter. **Who will I meet?** Founders, angel investors, VC partners, venture scouts, AI experts, engineers, operators, marketing and sales experts, and international entrepreneurs from across Europe, Asia, and the US. **Do investors get free tickets?** Yes! Please apply via Luma (the link is in the event description) or email hello@startupvalley.club, and we will issue a complimentary ticket for you and your team. **Can I request a refund?** Yes. Refunds are available if requested at least 1 day before the event start time. Please submit the refund request on the platform where you purchased your ticket, or email us at hello@startupvalley.club