Canberra Emerging Technology Hub

The call for a more productive, capable public service is clear. But how do we move from "AI concept" to "practical capability” without the high-risk, multi-year project cycle?
This session is a leader's guide to doing it.
This is a real conversation between Cheng Yu (Head of R&D, Trellis Data) and Harshil Siyani, an AI developer in the Innovation Department at News Corp Australia and a key member of the Canberra innovation community. His day-to-day work is applied AI and rapid prototyping, taking unknown or ambiguous ideas and converting them into working capability quickly. He has previously presented at ACS and Google Developer Groups (Melbourne and Canberra), and has been featured in national print coverage for his analysis on bias in AI.
Harshil will talk through examples like structured data problems where AI-to-SQL wasn’t enough, and over-engineered prototypes that didn’t need to be complex. He’ll show how rapid prototyping reveals the cleanest, lowest-friction path so policy outcomes can be tested and validated faster and safer, before money gets burnt. This is the new way to build: faster, safer, and genuinely innovative.
You'll learn how to test, validate, and de-risk your AI initiatives before you commit. This briefing is for the leaders, policymakers, and builders who want to see behind-the-scene process, and learn how to control it.
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How to find us:
When you arrive at CMAG, look for the entrance facing Civic Square. We are to the left and right near the ACT Library entrance. There will be signage as well.
Special thanks to:
1. Canberra AI Unclassified for bringing the event to Skill Studio.
2. Trellis Data for sponsoring this community event.

This relaxed, volunteer-led session offers a friendly introduction to Linux, the open-source operating system used across servers, desktops, and devices around the world.

You don’t need to be an expert — in fact, this meetup is designed for anyone who’s curious to learn alongside others.

Together we’ll cover:
What an operating system is, and how Linux compares to Windows, macOS and Android
A short history of Linux — from Linus Torvalds’ idea to today’s global community
What “free and open-source” really means
Different Linux distributions and what they’re suited for
How to try or install Linux on your own computer (dual-boot or USB live session)
Where to find reliable help and resources

Bring your own laptop if you’d like to swap your old corporate Windows system top friendly open-source Linux!

Bar open and food can be ordered to Skill Studio.
Free entry – all welcome.
A gentle start for anyone curious about open-source technology.
Learn. Build. Innovate. Together.