AWS User Group Brisbane

Over the course of my technical career, I’ve been exposed to many different learning resources;

• AWS Formal Training
• AWS Certification
• AWS Skills Builder
• AWS Dev Lounge
• Hands-on experience
• Positive encouragement from leadership to learn
• …

The list goes on! But the one that I feel really holds a lot of weight in the transformation from an on-premise Systems Engineer to an AWS Solution Architect is the AWS User Groups, specifically Brisbane.

Discovering AWS User Group Brisbane - I was first introduced to the User Group by my then-leader, Matt Kerrison in 2017. It was a little awkward, the feeling I could just turn up to this free social with free beer and pizza and sit there and do what I enjoy, listening to technical speakers and being educated. Where’s the catch?

All of my favourite things, in one place, for free??

But this was a truly welcoming experience. I met many people in the AWS ecosystem, some just starting out like I was, and others were seasoned SAs, AWS Partners and AWS employees. I forged some great friendships and professional relationships through these events.

Knowledge Sharing and Learning Opportunities - One of the most significant advantages of attending an AWS User Group was the abundance and variety of learning opportunities. Regular meetups are held and hosted by experienced professionals and AWS experts who selflessly shared their knowledge and expertise. Whether diving into the latest AWS services or exploring real-world case studies, each event broadened my understanding of cloud computing. Some of the most memorable events were, in no order;

• Listening to how our favourite pizza company adopted AWS in their IT operations.
• All things deep racer
• Learning the basics of Machine learning
• Christmas in July trivia 2023
• …

There have been so many AWS User Groups Brisbane sessions, 100 to be precise. And that’s why I celebrate today. I have not attended all 100 but I give Kudos to those that have been there since its inception.

The Brisbane sect of AWS User Groups has survived over 10 years of economic change and a pandemic, only to come back stronger. In the 5-6 years I have been attending I have learned so much and the only way I can give thanks for what I have taken from the community is to give back. So early in 2022, I started to get involved in minor tasks with the user group, putting my hat in the ring to help, so to speak. Initially just helping set up, MC’ing and introducing our guests but then I decided to present some of my knowledge, my first ever presentation being all about Amazon ECS Fargate and how to get started with it.

The most daunting thing I’ve done in my life thus far was to stand up in front of 100 people and talk. But at the same time, I found this extremely fulfilling, especially to have people approach me at the end and ask questions about my chosen topic.

Since then, I’ve presented multiple times, MC’d numerous events and hosted so much talent it won’t all fit in one room. I became the third community organiser of this awesome group and its events, nothing could make me prouder to be at the centre of this community, contributing, and giving back. Whether it’s talking to large audiences or ordering 100 pizzas, I’m happy to help and do my part.

My favourite memory, to date, was being on the panel of people in a fireside chat all about the current state of Security within AWS. This included people who I look up to in my field of work, a truly humbling feeling to work alongside Crowd Strike, Trend Micro, AWS’s advanced security team and a multi-PHD government security specialist.

“Quick recap - I started with nothing more than my AWS Solution Architect Associate certification and knowing almost nothing about AWS, to being here, in front of 125 people, being an authoritative opinion on how to approach AWS security. “

All because of an AWS User Group?

So in true celebration style, of 100 Brisbane AWS User Group meetups, a massive shoutout to the organisers and leaders of the AWS User Group Brisbane;

• Lucy Webster (Itoc)
• Matthew Kerrison (Itoc)
• Gemma McLean (AWS)
• Mark Promnitz (AWS)
• Reece Denne (AWS)
• Adam Lynch (AWS)

My time and experience with the AWS User Group Brisbane has been a transformative journey filled with learning, growth, and camaraderie. From gaining in-depth knowledge of AWS services to contributing as a speaker and building lasting connections, every moment has been an empowering one. As I continue my cloud computing journey, I am forever grateful to this incredible community for the immeasurable impact it has had on both my personal and professional life. I look forward to giving back and supporting others on their cloud computing journey, just as the AWS User Group Brisbane has done for me.