Consulting Groups Sydney
Connect with consulting professionals in Sydney
SydDT #128: When Does Design Become Strategic?
Wed, Jul 22, 8:00 AMMost designers want to be more strategic. But what does that actually mean? Is strategic design about working on bigger problems? Influencing executives? Creating visions and roadmaps? Driving transformation? Or are we confusing good design with strategic design? Join us for our July meetup where a panel of experienced strategic design leaders will explore one of the most debated questions in our profession: what makes design strategic? We’re lucky to have Dr Leanne Sobel, Jaimes Nel, Paul Merrell, and Lize Wordsworth sharing their insights with short lightning talks before we open up a panel discussion and audience conversation. We'll explore: * What strategic design is * What it isn’t – with common misconceptions and traps * How strategic design differs from other design disciplines * Where strategic design is heading * How designers can increase their strategic influence and impact Expect diverse perspectives, thoughtful discussions, and practical insights for designers at every stage of their career. Come join us for some fun conversations with interesting people in and around the design thinking community. New members are welcome! **SPEAKERS** **[Dr Leanne Sobel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lsobel/)** **Adjunct Fellow, UTS Business School** Leanne is a strategic designer, researcher, and educator. Her PhD research explored the role of design in strategy, and her work focuses on applying design practices, systems thinking, and participatory approaches to complex organisational challenges. With experience spanning consulting, academia, and industry, Leanne is a leading voice in the evolving field of strategic design. **[Jaimes Nel](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimesnel/)** **Founder, Path Ventures** Jaimes is the founder of Path Ventures, a Sydney-based consultancy helping organisations connect strategy to action through design-led approaches. With more than 20 years of experience spanning service design, digital transformation, and organisational change, Jaimes has worked with organisations including the NHS, BBC, GOV.UK, Westpac, ING, and TAL. His work focuses on helping organisations “play the long game” by using strategic design to navigate complexity and deliver lasting change. **[Paul Merrell](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-merrell-9861846/)** **Senior Service Designer, Allianz** Paul is a design leader and strategist with extensive experience applying service design and human-centred approaches to organisational transformation. Currently with Allianz Australia, Paul works at the intersection of customer experience, business strategy and change, helping organisations navigate complexity and deliver meaningful outcomes. His work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens when strategy connects with the realities of people, systems and delivery. **[Lize Wordsworth](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizewordsworth/)** **Group Head of Business Architecture & Design, Westpac Group** Awesome bio coming soon… **EVENT SPONSORS** This event is brought to you by [Atlassian](https://www.atlassian.com/), [Shapeshifters](https://www.sh8peshifters.com/), 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.
$15🌟North Sydney Public Art Trail: 20 Sites of Cultural Significance
Sun, Jul 19, 1:00 AM**NOTE:** This event is posted on multiple Meetup groups. **ABOUT:** Explore 20 sites of cultural significance recommended by the North Sydney Council on Sunday, July 19 - across Milsons Point, Lavender Bay and Kirribilli. Stops on this route will include Luna Park, Wendy's Secret Garden (created by Wendy Whiteley, the former wife of the renowned artist Brett Whiteley), First Nations design at the Coca Cola Place, the statue of St. Mary MacKillop (known for her work with the rural poor), historical landmarks and multiple site-specific installations in the North Sydney CBD. All welcome to this exciting, educational tour! Come along if art is especially new to you. Don’t forget to exchange numbers with group members and make new friends! **MEETING TIME:** 11:00 – 11:15 AM. **MEETING POINT:** Outside Milsons Point Train Station, at the Alfred Street entry/exit. **START AND PROGRAMME:** We will begin at 11:15 AM, moving towards Luna Park, then walking north. Short midway break for those who may want drinks/snacks. **END:** We will end by 2:15 PM on Olympic Drive. Short walk back to Milsons Point Train Station. You can wait for more chatting with group members in a café, if interested. **PRICE OF TOUR:** Please pay $15 by cash on arrival. Or you could transfer the amount to: Account Name: Elucidaction Pty Ltd St. George Bank Account Number: 433 012 445, BSB: 112-879 Please send a copy when you make the payment. **IMPORTANT:** * Please check transport in advance. Make sure you sleep well the night before, and leave home early enough in the morning so you can reach the meeting point on time. * Remember to have a good breakfast before arriving which can keep you going during the early afternoon. * Please message if you are running late. * Stay with the group at all times. You are expected to be "present" and socialise with other attendees - please do not talk on the phone to somebody else unless it is urgent. * Please inform the organiser if you want to leave before the end of the walk. * Wear comfortable shoes, a hat or cap, sun protection. Please bring a water bottle and an umbrella. * No additional compulsory costs beyond $15. Drinks and snacks are optional – you may also bring your own. * Photos of the group will be clicked and may be posted on Meetup and the organiser’s social media platforms. Attendees who do not wish to be photographed must inform the organiser before the tour begins. * Please update your registration if you are unable to make it to the event. **CONTACT:** Call, text or WhatsApp Tulika at 0402 820 272 if you have any questions. Having lived across India, Thailand, the UK, Canada and Australia, Tulika is an Art and Culture Consultant and founder of the art publication + art consultancy: [https://onartandaesthetics.com/.](https://onartandaesthetics.com/) You can also connect with her on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/tulikabahadur/.](https://www.instagram.com/tulikabahadur/) Email: tulikabahadur[at]gmail[dot]com. For updates on Sydney events, you are welcome to join the WhatsApp group "Sydney Art & Culture Events & Tours": [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BttDzLCa2TTFa2te1Q1FkZ?mode=hqrt1.](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BttDzLCa2TTFa2te1Q1FkZ?mode=hqrt1.)
Beyond Numbers: Business Referral Network for Accountants, Bookkeepers, Planners
Thu, Jul 16, 8:00 AM**Beyond Numbers Business Referral Network** for Accountants, Bookkeepers, Planners and Brokers is designed for business owners in the Accounting, 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 7:45 pm - Continue networking 8:30 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 1.5CPD 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.**
Unhurried Conversations - Sunday
Sun, Jul 26, 12:15 AMBring yourself, we will go over how Unhurried Conversations works.
Don't prompt the Solution: Build the Brain
Tue, Jul 21, 8:00 AMWelcome Back CCX Sydney to our Events for 2026 from myself, Lydia, Sylvia and James and we are planning a bumper selection of speakers for the new year. Our next event on July 21st will be a interactive AI tools workshop facilitated by our very own James Earnshaw and from Faster Zebra Charbel Zeaiter who will both be showing and helping our CCX members move beyond the prompt and start using AI more effectively to deepen Design discovery. As this will be a workshop, will be applying a $10.00 cover charge to cover Food and drinks and on this occasion will be kindly hosted by our new friends at Lorikeet. Details below on the venue location (Surry Hills) **IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THIS SESSION!** **An Important detail is that due to gaining entry to Lorikeet we will need any CCX Member planning to attend this session to supply us with their First and Last name in advance of attending.** On this occasion we will not be able to accept Members who do not supply these details. Many thanks CCX Sydney. PLEASE NOTE Attendees please bring your own Laptops and your favourite AI prompting tools installed ready to use. **About the workshop** AI is often framed as a way to move faster: faster ideas, faster wireframes, faster outputs. But for designers, that may be the least interesting use case. This session explores how AI can be used at the beginning of the design process — during discovery, framing and definition — not to replace design thinking, but to amplify it. Drawing on the Double Diamond, service design and UX discovery practices, we’ll look at how small, deliberate interactions with AI can build a shared “project brain”: a strategic thinking partner that understands the context, constraints, users, assumptions, risks and emerging opportunities. This is not a talk about agents. It is not a demo of one tool. It is a practical exploration of how the skills designers already have — framing, questioning, synthesis, critique and sense-making — become even more valuable when working with AI. Part talk, part workshop, attendees will try a step-by-step discovery flow for themselves and explore how AI can help them stay in the problem space longer before jumping to solutions. About James: James Earnshaw is a UX and product design leader who has spent his career helping teams make sense of complex problems across telecommunications, banking and financial services. With a background in service design, discovery, design systems and enterprise product delivery, James is interested in how strong design process helps teams avoid rushing to the first plausible answer. Recently, he has been using that experience to develop a new way of working with AI — one that leans into the Double Diamond, structured discovery and step-by-step context building to turn AI into a sharper strategic partner, rather than just a faster content generator. About Charbel: With 27+ years across design, tech, education, entrepreneurship, and product, I’ve built things that breathe across four continents. From shop floors to strategy rooms, classrooms to fabric cutting rooms, I’ve helped companies and people shape their vision and make it tangible. Right now, Charbel is focused on: • Neupreneur (coming soon) • Faster Zebra: learning for the new economy • Velvet Onion & Friends: an innovation and product development agency • Febble Flim & Family: fictional worlds that dance too close to the edge of reality And now, I'm bringing these vast experiences to life: Young Founders, The Innovators, XD4.0 & Brand Mavericks: kits and books for mindset-first founders building ventures that open up a world of possibility. If you're to explore something - conventional, unconventional, or completely undefined - I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Good things come to those who make. Therefore don't miss out on a place at our second interactive workshop CCX Sydney event for 2026, as places will be limited for this session.
Sydney Singles Relational Lab — Facilitated Connection Experience
Tue, Jul 28, 9:00 AM# 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.
Trusted by millions worldwide
Popular groups
ExpertTalks Sydney
ProfTech Professional Services for Technology Businesses
Global Startups Club Sydney
Australian Business Analysts
The Data People
Sooner Safer Happier - Pacific (#BVSSH)
Referral Network for Accounting and Finance Business Owners
AI-Powered Analytics (AIPA) - Sydney
Frequently asked questions
Related content
Discover more groups and events that match your interests