Conservation Groups Sydney

Winter Greenups - Ethical Finance and Money

**Ethical Finance: Finding the Light in this Hazy Shade of...Winter** **[TICKETS ON HUMANITIX](https://events.humanitix.com/greenups-winter-2026)** In 2026, Greenups is meeting quarterly and using the seasons as our guide. For the Winter gathering Greenups will bring together voices from Australia’s ethical and sustainable finance sector to ask: **What does finance look like in the cold winter light of climate risk, ecological limits and social responsibility?** Finance is the hidden system shaping our future. It determines what gets funded, what gets protected, what gets scaled, what gets retired — and what kinds of futures become possible. After a packed Autumn gathering at UTS exploring biophilia, biomaterials and regenerative design , we now turn to Winter — a season of clarity, contraction, resilience, hard choices, protection, repair and preparation - to look at our Finance and Money systems - are they getting us where we need to be, and soon enough? This will be an accessible, grounded conversation covering ethical investing, ESG, superannuation, climate risk, transition finance, disclosure, stewardship, anti-greenwashing and impact investing — while also making space for deeper Greenups-style questions: * What should capital help sustain? * What should it help transform? * And what should it help us let go of? (and how) **What to expect** Expect new ideas, new connections, new faces — and plenty of friendly old faces too ;-) We’ll create an inclusive space for grounded conversation. Greenups is a diverse group of people from different fields, but aligned in our care for each other and this beautiful, fragile planet. Together, we’ll share the stories, find the voices, and forge the pathways toward systems of resilience and regeneration — with room for care, compassion, purpose, meaning, art, and beauty along the way. **Light refreshments and drinks thanks to the generous support of [SIX](https://www.six-invest.com.au/) and [UNLESS](https://www.unless.financial/),** Drinks from Rosnay Wines + Young Henrys and food thanks to Parliament on King. **Contributors include:** --- * **[Justin Medcalf](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmedcalf/)** — (Panel MC) Co-Founder + Financial Adviser at UNLESS Financial. Before co-founding UNLESS, Justin was a Financial Adviser at Ethinvest, Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) board member, co-founder the Ethical Advisers’ Co-op and led The Emerald Club, where he launched Australia’s responsible investment platform for retail and wholesale clients. _ * **[Adam Verwey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-verwey-77668913/)** — SIX (Sustainable Investment Exchange) Australia's first share trading app to combine activism with investing. Adam is also a founder and former MD of Future Super - Australia’s first 100% fossil fuel free superannuation fund. _ * **[Persephone Fraser](https://www.linkedin.com/in/persephone-fraser-75a132108/)**[ ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/persephone-fraser-75a132108/)\- Ethical Research & Climate Policy Lead at Australian Ethical\. Before joining Australian Ethical, Persephone worked in research across the Climate Justice Initiative, Common Capital, Reconciliation Australia, and the Greens. _ * **[Dr Stella Whittaker](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-stella-whittaker-36b39123/) -** Climate Change, Adaptation and Resilience Lead in Haskoning Australia. A PhD in climate finance, Stella has more than 30 years of experience in climate change, climate finance, environmental policy, sustainability, circular economy and environmental planning, and recently the founder of the Climate Adaptation Finance Activation Group.

Sydney OpenSearch User Group Meetup #1

Welcome to the very first Sydney OpenSearch User Group meetup! We're kicking off the Sydney chapter with talks, networking, pizza, and a quiz with swag to give away. Whether you're deep into OpenSearch or just curious, come along and meet the community. Agenda and talk summaries below. **Agenda** Wednesday\, 29 July 2026 \| 5:00 PM \- 7:00 PM 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Arrivals, Networking, Pizza & Drinks 5:30 PM - 5:35 PM: Welcome & Housekeeping 5:35 PM - 6:00 PM: Talk 1 - Urmila Iyer, AWS 6:00 PM - 6:20 PM: Talk 2 - Mehri Sandoghchian, Atlassian 6:20 PM - 6:40 PM: Talk 3 - Ryan Eves, Atlassian 6:40 PM - 6:50 PM: Tech Quiz - put your brain to the test to win swag 6:50 PM - 7:00 PM: Wrap-up & Networking **Talk 1: Observability with OpenSearch** **Speaker:** Urmila Iyer, OpenSearch Specialist Solutions Architect, AWS Observability is more critical than ever as systems grow more distributed and complex. Urmila opens with a quick look at where the observability space is heading and why it matters, then digs into a hybrid approach with OpenSearch: OpenSearch for traces and logs, Prometheus for metrics, Data Prepper for ingestion, and OpenSearch Dashboards bringing it all together into a single pane of glass. **Talk 2: Autoscaling OpenSearch on Kubernetes** **Speaker:** Mehri Sandoghchian, Senior Software Engineer, Atlassian Learn how Atlassian right-sizes hundreds of OpenSearch clusters at scale - a reactive layer in the Kubernetes operator for fast, low-risk changes, paired with a Recommendation Engine for capacity planning. **Talk 3: Architecting Blue/Green Deployments for OpenSearch on Kubernetes** **Speaker:** Ryan Eves, Senior Software Engineer, Atlassian Learn about the Opensearch cluster update process, and how Atlassian designed its own blue/green deployment process to safely and reliably apply updates with no downtime.

July Meetup for the Sydney Nature Journal Club

Come along to our **July meetup for the Sydney Nature Journal Club**. National Tree Day is 26 July. We will explore this theme in the Botanical Gardens. This is a chance to connect, spend some time in nature and journal together. I will offer some guidance to start. After we can share journal pages and ideas. **What to bring:** Bring along sketchbooks/paper and your favourite drawing materials (pens, pencils, watercolour, acrylic, anything you have). I will have extra materials on the day if you want to explore other mediums. \*\*Where:\*\* We will meet at the Palm House, at the Botanical Gardens. **Cost:** Suggested donation is $10 annual fee, $5 casual fee. (This helps cover Meetup fees). DISCLAIMER.
Please note that Katy as volunteer organiser of activities for Sydney Nature Journal Club is NOT responsible for the health or safety of members (or their guests) and therefore will not accept any liability for accidents or injuries or losses that may occur during Meetup events at any location. By attending a Sydney Nature Journal Club event members acknowledge that you accept ALL of the above. I look forward to seeing you there.

Sydney Singles Relational Lab — Facilitated Connection Experience

# 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.

National Tree Day

Human Hearted Sydney is committed to contributing to our community. We are planning to participate in National Tree Day for 2026 by joining Strathfield Council’s National Tree Day event at Hudson Park Strathfield where we'll help plant some native seedlings. More information and registration details at https://events.humanitix.com/strathfield-council-national-tree-day-2026 We warmly welcome others to participate by volunteering with us. If you’d like to join us please register through the registration page at the url above. Please note there are several sessions on the day, and we are registering for the 9.00am session. Once you've registered please RSVP for this meetup and then post a comment here that you have registered. Then we’ll know who is coming and how many people to look out for. We don't have a precise location other than Hudson park, which has a golf range. We'll provide more info when we have it. We also don't know how many places are left for this event so register soon if you can. We hope to see you there.

Unhurried Conversations - Sunday

Bring yourself, we will go over how Unhurried Conversations works.

MONOKULCHA, CULTURE WARS, MULTICULTURES, HUMAN BEINGS

NSW HUMANISTS MEETUP's discussion event this Sunday 26 July 2026 at 3-5PM at Humanist House in Chippendale will be titled MONOKULCHA, CULTURE WARS, MULTICULTURES, HUMAN BEINGS. I mean what's with all this 'culture'? Woke culture, Bro culture, Cancel culture... The word culture can be a bunch of people and/or a bunch of ideas, and often references the behaviour of 'others' rather than 'us'. All this can lead to 'culture wars'! Multiculturalism can be a source of enriching a nation but has so provoked some of us that they advocate some kind of Aussie 'monokulcha', otherwise not specified, but no doubt intended to set prescriptions for the rest of us. Much of 'culture' overlaps concerns often expressed over concepts like 'identity'. Why can't we just be individual human beings and just get along through a process of empathy and open debate on reasoned principles? Are some people dragged into their family's culture and identity and suffer from stifling traditions from long ago and far away? Social pressures for 'respectability' are less effectivie than they used to be but new forms of conformity have arisen. All these words mean different thing in different minds but let's not get bogged down in academic semantics. It's just a discussion and there's no hope of easy answers, but it can be surprisingly enjoyable to share ideas, so why not come and join in. Our events allow for people interested in learning and discussing humanism to meet in a dedicated space, in an atmosphere that allows time and space for good conversation on interesting topics. ABOUT HUMANISM Humanism is a flexible, open-minded life philosophy where we explore our common humanity in an awesome world without theism (religion) and other supernatural beliefs. There is no dogma but a shared reality and an appreciation of basic human values like compassion, reason, and fairness. Humanism can be seen in the best aspects of the modern Enlightenment - secularism, science, social democracy, human rights, and human flourishing. We have a concern for the biosphere, and a delight in the world as it is - and as it could be. Our discussions respect reason, respect one another, and reject all dogmatic thinking. NSW Humanist Meetup is sponsored by the Humanist Society of NSW. The HSNSW encourages honest, open conversations held in a respectful manner.

Data Centers, Technofeudalism & The Rise of the Surveillance State

**"Amazon is not a market; it's a fiefdom."** — Yanis Varoufakis **"AI is now infrastructure, just like electricity."** — Jensen Huang Massive data centers are spreading across the globe, consuming enormous amounts of energy while storing the information of billions. Who owns them?, who profits from them? and who benefits? Are they the infrastructure of progress or the foundations of a new **"Technofeudal"** order where privacy is extinct and surveillance is everywhere? **Join the discussion on our community** Discord [https://discord.gg/QSwa3PMzHy](https://discord.gg/QSwa3PMzHy)

Delightful Vegan Festival [Maroubra]

The Immigration Debate: Myths, Facts and Ethics

Immigration is one of the most emotionally charged issues in global politics today. No other issue generates as much heat, fear, or political division. But how much of what we hear about immigration is true? What are its actual effects on jobs, housing, public services, innovation and social cohesion? Has global migration actually been increasing — and do border restrictions even work? And even if we could agree on the facts, what ethical principles should guide our thinking? Do people have a right to seek a better life across borders? What do wealthy nations owe to those displaced by poverty, conflict, or climate change? How should we balance compassion, fairness, freedom and national self-determination? Join us for a thoughtful discussion as we explore one of the most important and controversial global questions of our time. **Book: *How Migration Really Works – A Factful Guide to the Most Divisive Issue in Politics* (2023) by Hein de Haas** **Companion reading:** ***[The Ethics of Migration - An Introductory Guide](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDzLZM1XoUtRodgUee8p_e0AfVZZ7jILU7oNv8RFPURgV0?e=yyoHlD)*** (prepared for this meetup) **Essential Ideas at a Glance: *[Infographics, Tables and Summaries on Migration Myths ](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDhmc7ksrVEQ5ZHZukMnbGZAWgYg_puO_IQhUu976w6aog?e=NLFebq)***(prepared for this meetup) For this month’s meetup we have two principal readings that approach migration from complementary angles: one examines the myths and realities of migration across the world, while the other explores its ethical dimensions. In *How Migration Really Works*, Dutch migration scholar Hein de Haas argues that much of the public debate is driven by myths and misunderstandings. Although Australia receives its share of attention, this is not a book specifically about the Australian migration debate; it is a wide-ranging account grounded in decades of international research. De Haas explores questions such as whether migration is increasing, whether immigration lowers wages, whether immigration fixes the problem of an ageing population, and whether governments can effectively control migration flows. The result is a nuanced and evidence-based account of migration. The accompanying guide to the ethics of immigration examines the deeper questions that facts alone cannot answer. Even if we agree on the evidence, what should immigration policy aim to achieve? The guide introduces the major ethical perspectives and arguments from across the political spectrum, providing a framework for thoughtful and informed discussion. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before you attend. This will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also included some further resources below that you may find useful. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 3rd August, 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** * Two presentations by Hein de Haas on his book: [How Migration Really Works (1hr)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuwiwD67AjM) [How Migration Really Works (45mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89jS8FRkRCI) * A collection of short videos by de Haas: [Migration 101](https://heindehaas.org/migration-101/) * Harvard’s Michael Sandel convenes a debate on the ethics of national borders with the help of the BBC and a group of participants from over 30 countries: [The Global Philosopher - Should Borders Matter?](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03njc35) * Debating Open Borders: Carl vs Caplan (2023) Noah Carl and Bryan Caplan debate the merits of open borders: [Spotify - Open Borders Debate](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Q8DMpZU4pUdRkA2Zv1hMo) [Apple - Open Borders Debate](https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/debating-open-borders-carl-vs-caplan/id1569224821?i=1000636401848) **Written** * **Essential Ideas at a Glance: *[Infographics, Tables and Summaries on Migration Myths ](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQDhmc7ksrVEQ5ZHZukMnbGZAWgYg_puO_IQhUu976w6aog?e=NLFebq)***(prepared for this meetup) * Hein de Haas's substack articles: [Hans de Haas’s substack](https://heindehaas.substack.com/) * Immigration Ethics - An Overview (in 999 words!): [Immigration Ethics Summary](https://1000wordphilosophy.com/2026/04/01/immigration-ethics/) * Encyclopedia Entries: [Stanford - Arguments for Open and Closed Borders](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/immigration/) [Wikipedia – Opposition to Migration Arguments](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposition_to_immigration) * Reviews of How Migration Really Works: [How Migration Really Works - Review](https://www.e-ir.info/2024/09/15/review-how-migration-really-works/)

Whale-Watch-Walk! Manly-Shelly-Beach-North-Head-Fairfax-Lookout-13km!

**WHALES & WHALES!** In July/August, thousands of humpback whales migrate north from Antarctica to the warm breeding waters of tropical Australia. **Best for visibility! yes! photos yes!** Manly to North Head high point viewing areas are Sydney's top classified list for whale watching. Mornings when winds are typically lighter, making the ocean smoother, sun directly overhead, reducing ocean glare and making it easier to spot spouts and splashes. **BEAUTIFUL WHALE WATCHING WALK: my identical walk on both Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th pick one!!!** 1\. Don't miss this interesting Whale Walk\, "Spot the Whale" stops at five clifftop lookouts\. 2\. Marine Parade at Cabbage Tree Bay to Shelly Beach Walking Track\, 1st Whale Lookout\. 3\. Spotting Whales here at about 10\.30\, perfect timing\, lets hope it's spot time\, hey\! 4\. Shelly Head Lookout\, next on the list\, I'm feeling good\. Who's first to SPOT one\! 5\. Shelly Headland Upper Lookout\, a longer distance better view\. \(10km out to sea\) 6\. Shelly Beach to Barracks Precinct Walk\, past Old Quarry Swamp\, fun uphill hike\. 7\. We walk the "Hanging Swamp" if not flooded\, past the Battery Observation Post\. 8\. Eventually reaching the Fairfax Walk Trail\, 2nd highest point\, "Yiningma Lookout"\. 9\. Fairfax Track\, again reaching Number one\! "Burragula Lookout"\. \(Fairfax Lookout\) 10\. Lunch/Snack break coming up at "North Head Scenic Drive Point"\. 11\. Quick visit\, "North Head Sanctuary"\, before heading to "Third Quarantine Cemetery"\. 12\. Zigzagging down to Manly for a refreshing drink/lunch at yes\! "Hotel Steyne" 13\. The Manly Markets are just in the right spot nearby\. **Meeting Point:** Manly Wharf Visitors Information Centre (near pedestrian crossing) **Distance:** 13km **Difficulty:** Moderate, steps and hills, classified moderate due to distance. **Walking Pace:** An easy steady pace at 4.25km-4.50 per hour. **What to Bring:** Comfortable outfit, a litre of water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, a raincoat just in case of wet weather. Bring your happy personality too! **Payment Please:** $10 cash or **PAY ID** 0435801602 name George Palasty. **Contact:** George 0435 801 602 if you have questions. (call or text)

Great North Walk Thornleigh to Chatswood 18km medium

Fabulous walk along the Great North Walk trail from Thornleigh Station to Chatswood Sation about 18km and a few small ups/downs but lovely bush trails ## Lane Cove National Park & The Great North Walk Sydney is incredibly fortunate to harbor a significant number of national parks right within its metropolitan boundaries. Among the most central is **Lane Cove National Park**, which begins less than 10 kilometers from the CBD as the crow flies. While surrounding suburban development has introduced some weed encroachment along the creeklines, the park beautifully preserves a wealth of original, pristine bushland across its ridges and valleys. For walkers looking to explore this pocket of wilderness, a prime section of the iconic **Great North Walk**—the massive track linking Sydney to Newcastle—cuts directly through the heart of the valley. This specific route follows the peaceful, non-tidal waters of the Lane Cove River, tracing the valley from the weir at Fullers Bridge all the way up to the northern watershed near Thornleigh. For transport info please visit [http://www.transportnsw.info/](http://www.transportnsw.info/) Around 16km medium grade a couple of ascents and descents but and track is rough in places. Should be into Chatswood station about 3:30-4:00pm ish, time for a cold beer across the road from the station! $10 fee applies to this event which can be paid in cash on the day or PayID is 0402 251036 David Matthews Make sure you have plenty of snacks think carbs/sugar as protein takes too long to process. Do not skip salt... Your body requires energy to complete longer walks... Bring a jacket in case of a change of weather and 2l of water, sturdy walking shoes/boots, hat suncream, snacks and lunch! Nowhere to top up along the way either water or food! SAFETY WARNING: Please stay away from cliff edges and be very careful when walking on wet and slippery rocks and surfaces. Please stay within sight of the group at all times and do not walk in front of the leader. If you get lost you are on your own and must find your own way out. DISCLAIMER: Your health and safety is our priority and we take care to minimize risk and avoid accidents and injuries. However, Organizers and Hosts are not responsible for your health and safety and do not accept any liability for accidents and injuries that may occur during Meetup activities and events. Please take responsibility for your own safety and belongings. By RSVPing to this event you and your guests agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the Aussie Explorers Meetup group which can be found in the link below: [[https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers](https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers)]([https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers](https://www.meetup.com/Aussie-Explorers))