Growth Hacking Sydney

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.

Sydney 2600 IRL

2600 Meetings exist as a forum for all interested in technology to meet and talk about events in technology-land, learn, and teach. Meetings are open to anyone of any age or level of expertise. The 2600 Australia chapter became prominent in 1999, bringing together people interested in computer security, electronic gadgetry, communications, privacy, and technology exploration in general. In addition to bringing these people together with meetings, mailing lists and seminars, we spoke up on issues such as Internet Censorship, Cybercrime, DVD encryption, and many other issues. Since then, many of the original members have moved on to new projects, however the 2600 Australia movement is still alive, with many new (and original) members active within the online community and monthly meetings, along with the occasional visitor from 2600's international chapters. Current projects and ongoing discussions: * Satelite hacking * Metadata, Privacy & Anonymity * Decentralised Networks * 3D Printing/Manufacturing/other hacking stuff * Programming for fun and proffit * Drones and other similar stuff

From Chaos to Confidence

Schedule --- • 19:00 - 19:30 General networking starts. Setup space, open the first. Brief Introduction Round (Who are you? What do you do?). FREE drinks • 19:30 - 20:00 What bugs you (i.e. Lean Mastermind)? • 20:00 - 21:00 Topic of the day (see speaker details below). Q & A • 21:00 - 21:15 Last drinks. Closing down. Carry on partying elsewhere. **Details** --- General get together. Share the latest news in the entrepreneurs community. Have a drink with like minded people Exchange stories from the trenches and tips on how to run a better business. **Lean Mastermind Session** --- Share a Challenge or an idea you have for your start up / business How can we help you resolve your problem or help you improve on your idea? ## **Topic of the Day: From Chaos to Confidence** How Smart Content Management Keeps Your Business Compliant, Efficient and Ready to Grow ## **Speaker of the Day: Bruce Wren CEO of revelr.ai** Bruce has created and sold several companies before. Revealr.ai is his latest project and deals with turning the 40 year old PDF into an "online twin". ## **Audience** Suitable for those with a growing business looking to share solutions and experience to accelerate growth and value. Bring a friend/aspiring entrepreneur. **Format** --- Casual get together/Mastermind **Sponsors** --- Thanks for [WOTSO](https://wotso.com/locations/manly) for hosting the event and Michael from https://www.magaconsult.com/about for nourishment (i.e. free drinks and nibbles). Thanks to Amazon Web Services for their ongoing support: [https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started](https://aws.amazon.com/getting-started)

Hacktoberfest Meetup Sydney x Code For Sydney

This month, we are running an interactive 🕵️ **Cybersecurity Capture The Flag (CTF)** competition! Your mission: Discover bots communicating over a virtual MQTT network, intercept and decode their encrypted messages, and interact with the final bot to claim victory. * Tech Stack: You can use any programming language supported by MQTT. * AI Tooling: AI assistance (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot) is encouraged to help you solve challenges along the way! ⚠️ **IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION LINK** We have teamed up with **Major League Hacking** as part of **Hacktoberfest** for the month of October! 👉 **Please register on the MLH page instead of Meetup:** **[Register Here on MLH](https://events.mlh.com/events/15037-code-for-sydney-hacktoberfest-2026) and on MeetUp** **🚨 THIS ALSO MEANS THERE WILL BE FREE SWAG FOR ALL ATTENDEES!! 🚨** ⏰ **Schedule** * **10:15 \- 10:30 \|** Housekeeping & Setup * **10:30 \- 11:00 \|** Cryptography Introduction * **11:00 \- 12:00 \|** Hacking (Phase 1) * **12:00 \- 12:30 \|** Lunch & Pizza 🍕 * **12:30 \- 14:00 \|** Hacking (Phase 2) & Wrap-Up 💻 **What to Bring & Prerequisites** * A fully charged **laptop** with Wi-Fi capability. * Basic programming knowledge (or familiarity using AI tools to assist with coding). 📸 **Media Consent** By attending this event, you consent to being photographed and recorded on video for future marketing and promotional purposes. If you have any concerns or prefer not to be filmed, please inform the organizers upon arrival. 💬 **Community & Chat** Join the conversation before and after the event on our **Discord** server: 👉 **[Join the Discord](https://discord.gg/wPmp25Xnm5)**

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!

3hr Scenic Cruise of the Port Hacking River

Guided Women’s Business Networking

**A monthly networking experience designed differently!** Our structured networking event is for women who want to grow, not just in business, but as individuals. Through meaningful conversations, thought-provoking reflection questions, and guided table rotations, you’ll gain fresh perspectives, build genuine connections, and challenge yourself to think bigger. **📝 How it works** **1\. Arrive & connect** You’ll be welcomed and seated at a table with a reflection prompt to kick-start the conversation. **2\. Dive into meaningful conversations** Each round explores a different question designed to spark honest discussions around business, personal growth, and the challenges that matter most. **3\. Meet someone new every 20 minutes** We guide every table rotation, so you’ll naturally connect with lots of different women throughout the evening, without any awkwardness. By the end of the night, you’ll leave with meaningful new connections, fresh perspectives, and greater clarity on your next steps. **🔎 How to Find Rabbit Bar** Rabbit Bar can be tricky to spot: 1. Go to the ground floor of **The Galeries** 2. Look for **Toastie Smith** 3. Behind it, you’ll see a semi-enclosed area 4. Walk down into that area 5. On your right, you’ll see a doorway. Enter it 6. Then look for another open door immediately to your right. That’s **Rabbit Bar**! 📲 **Got questions?** Feel free to message me here on Meetup. **Looking forward to a room full of real talk. See you there! xx** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Want to learn more about Her Collective Space?** Follow us on Instagram: [@hercollectivespace](http://www.instagram.com/hercollectivespace/)

Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It

How often are your decisions really your own? Every day we are surrounded by advertising, social media, political campaigns, news headlines, influencers, sales techniques and well-meaning advice — all competing for our attention and trying to shape what we think, feel and do. But where is the line between persuasion and manipulation? Can manipulation ever be ethical, or is it always something to resist? And in an age of personalised algorithms and increasingly sophisticated AI, are we becoming easier to manipulate than ever before? Come and join us as we explore these fascinating and relevant questions of modern life. **Book: *Manipulation: What It Is, Why It's Bad, What to Do About It* (2025) by Cass R. Sunstein** **Companion Reading: *[A Guide to Understanding Manipulation](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDHXT_8qUk6SaS0K3l8wqrwAQGmTmBNSjEbvmGyDm5emUM?e=A1kJfd)*** (prepared for this meetup) Cass Sunstein is almost uniquely placed to write this book. He is the co-creator of nudge theory (with Richard Thaler), a former senior adviser in the Obama White House, and one of the most cited legal scholars in the world. He has spent decades studying how human psychology shapes decisions, and has seen from the inside how governments and corporations exploit that knowledge. The result is a book that is simultaneously rigorous and readable: part philosophy, part law, part behavioural science, and part catalogue of the tricks being played on us every day. Sunstein moves from abstract definitions — what exactly separates manipulation from persuasion, and why does it matter? — through case studies of dark patterns, deepfakes, deliberate bureaucratic friction, and the social pressure traps of platforms like TikTok, before arriving at what may be the book's most important question: as AI makes manipulation more precise and more powerful than at any previous point in history, do we need a new legal and moral right — a right not to be manipulated — in the same way that a previous era recognised, for the first time, a right to privacy? This is one of those discussions where prior reading is not just encouraged but genuinely necessary — the conversation will move quickly into territory that only makes sense if you already understand Sunstein's conceptual framework. The companion reading guide is designed to make that framework accessible quickly, so even if time is short, a read-through of it will set you up well. But if you can get hold of the book itself, we think you'll find it genuinely easy to read or listen to — and it comes with a notable endorsement: Tim Wu, whose book we discussed just a couple of months ago, has named it as one of his top book recommendations. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 5th October, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surrey Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to others if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just optional links to consider to supplement the reading of the book and document. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * Cass Sunstein in an overview, seminar and podcast: [Overview of the book (3 mins)](https://www.cambridge.org/news-and-insights/talking-manipulation-with-cass-sunstein) [Online Seminar - Fifty Shades of Manipulation (43 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9sopDkcLYM) [Sunstein on Manipulation vs Influence](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aPzxitrWCE&t=2s) * 5 Insights on the book (The Next Big Idea Club) by Sunstein. Note that the audio version is more detailed than the written summary below it: [These Are the Silent Manipulations Most People Don’t Notice](https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/silent-manipulations-people-dont-notice-bookbite/56807/) * An explainer video and TED Talk on Dark Patterns: [What are Dark Patterns in UX?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yj1GH111Xc) [Dark Patterns - How design seeks to control us](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJUW0iZzAaQ) * Netflix: *The Social Dilemma* (2020). This is a well known documentary examining social media platforms including how dark patterns are employed to manipulate users. **Written** * The *Deceptive Patterns* website has a great collection of manipulative, deceptive and coercive design patterns in the digital world: [Deceptive Patterns](https://deceptive.design/) * A Cass Sunstein article in The Guardian: [Why we need a right not to be manipulated](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/jul/27/why-we-need-a-right-not-to-be-manipulated) * Cass Sunstein in an interview: [Cass Sunstein on Manipulation and AI](https://apablog.substack.com/p/cass-sunstein-on-manipulation-and)

Meet up with your analytics peers and chat

**What's this all about?** On the second Wednesday of every month the digital analytics community gets together for one or two short talks in an informal setting. There's lots of time for open ended discussion and to socialise. Plus there's free drinks! Open to anyone interested in digital analytics, we have people ranging from beginners through to analytics gurus and from marketing through to technical spaces, and everything in between.

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

Master your Social Skills and 10x your Income LIVE MASTERCLASS

**Boost your confidence, connect like a pro, and watch your income soar at this live social skills masterclass!** \#\# Master your Social Skills and 10x your Income LIVE MASTERCLASS Ready to level up your game? Join us in person for this supercharged masterclass where you'll learn how to boost your social skills and watch your income soar! No fluff, just real tips and tricks that work. Don't miss out on this chance to transform your life and connections. Let's get social and get paid! This will be a game-changer if you are an Introvert who wants to break out of their shell or brush up your social skills overall, make an impact and grow your leadership and most importantly.... Multiply your income. ### **Get ready for this immersive experience and full of breakthroughs!!** Please buy your ticket from this link [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999262872069?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999262872069?aff=oddtdtcreator) **Speaker Profile:** Sam Lee is the Founder and CEO of Connect with Confidence, A Multi Award-Winning and Certified Social Skills Coach, 2x Published Author of “The Social Way” and “Connect with Confidence” which are Self-Help books currently sold through Amazon and Dymocks platforms. He is also a motivational and keynote speaker. He is involved in Non-For Profit Organisations such as Vice-President of Media and Communications for the Australian Vietnam Business Council, Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Australia Business Association and President of Hong Kongers Sydney Social Networking Community. After starting his career as a real estate agent, Sam moved into Helping Introverted Professionals to Master their Social Skills and Multiply their Income. Recently celebrating 6 years of Social Skills coaching over 1000+ students ranging from University students, Teachers, Lawyers, IT Professionals, Accountants, Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, Top Executives and CEOs. He is also featured in media such as TV and Radio shows and worked with the NSW Government and other listed companies for training purposes. Please buy your ticket from this link [https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999262872069?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/master-your-social-skills-and-10x-your-income-masterclass-tickets-1999262872069?aff=oddtdtcreator)

The Next-Gen Marketer: The AI Talent Playbook & How to Grow Your Career (PAID)

**🚨 IMPORTANT TICKETING NOTE:** This is a **PAID** event and tickets are REQUIRED for entry. RSVPing on Meetup does NOT reserve your seat or grant entry at the door. You must purchase your ticket in advance **via Eventbrite Registration:** https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-next-gen-marketer-the-ai-talent-playbook-how-to-grow-your-career-tickets-1999265448776 **Join Women in SEO & Digital Marketing (WiSDM) for our 2026 panel night finale! ✨** An executive summit for marketing and tech leaders and ambitious practitioners navigating the AI era. In an era where AI is transforming marketing operations overnight, staying ahead requires two critical capability stacks: mastering AI tools and workflows to stand out as individual talent, and knowing how to navigate your career trajectory into executive leadership. 🔥 **The Dual Playbooks for Next-Gen Success:** • **Panel 1 \| The AI Talent Playbook: Building & Upskilling AI\-Ready Teams** A tactical discussion with recruitment experts, talent strategists, and enterprise leaders on how top organisations are reshaping job roles, integrating AI across workflows, and how practitioners can upskill themselves to become in-demand talent. • **Panel 2 \| The CMO & CTO Playbook: Navigating Career Growth & Strategy in the Age of AI** A candid, high-level conversation with top CMOs, CTOs, and executive leaders sharing their personal career trajectories, how they evaluate AI investments, and honest advice for advancing your career today. 👥 **Host & Panellists:** • Georgia Tan \(Host & Moderator\) – Founder of WiSDM \| Co\-Founder at Switch Key Digital • Sofie Pellegatti — Data & AI Lead, IBM • Bupe Kasengele — Senior Account Director, LinkedIn & Founder, The Weekly Work Edit • Dominique Powis — Chief Technology Officer, Infomedix • Maziya Sarangpurwala — Centre of Excellence Lead – AI Policy, Risk and Governance, Commonwealth Bank • Malini Sietaram — Founder & Fractional CMO, Argyle Rocks • Tim Lillyman — Head of Marketing & AI Automation, XPON Technologies Group (...plus more brilliant panellists to be announced soon!) 🗓️ **Event Details:** • Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026 • Time: 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM AEST (Doors open at 5:30 PM for welcome drinks & canapés) • Venue: Level 7, Australia Square, 264 George St, Sydney CBD • Produced & Powered by: Switch Key Digital • In Partnership with: u&u recruitment & Taco Technologies ⚡ General Admission Tickets are Live! As this is our last formal panel event of 2026, spots are strictly limited. Secure your ticket today via Eventbrite Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-next-gen-marketer-the-ai-talent-playbook-how-to-grow-your-career-tickets-1999265448776