AWS User Group Brisbane 2024, A Year in Review

Celebrating a Year of Growth, Connection, and Innovation with AWS User Group Brisbane

Alan Blockley

2024-11-22

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And just like that, 2024 comes to a close. What a year it’s been for the AWS User Group Brisbane, one of the most incredible years yet. I know, I say this every year, but there’s a reason for that. Every single year gets better than the last. This year wasn’t just about events and talks (though there were plenty of those), it was about people, our growing community, our dedicated organisers, and every single person who turned up, contributed, or carried a pizza box up 30 floors. Let’s take a moment to reflect on what made 2024 so special.

Celebrating Our Organisers

2024 brought fresh energy to our organising team with the addition of two incredible community members:

Rian Brooks-Kane
Clara Vila

They’ve stepped in with enthusiasm and have already left their mark on the group.

On a personal note, this year marks my 3rd year as a co-organizer of this amazing group. Watching the community grow and thrive has been a privilege.

We also celebrated some big milestones this year:

Lucy Webster reached her 4th year as a co-organizer, bringing leadership and consistency to everything we do.
And then there’s Mark Promitz, who’s been with us for a decade. Yes, 10 years! Even after joining the AWS team in 2022, Mark’s dedication to this community has never wavered.

A heartfelt thank you to our organising team and every single person who pitched in this year, from setting up events to simply showing up with a smile.

A Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

This year wouldn’t have been the same without the generous support of our sponsors, Thoughtworks and Idea11. Their contributions covered the catering for our meetups, ensuring no one left an event hungry.

Thank you for fueling the conversations, learning, and community spirit, literally!

Highlights of 2024

This year was packed with memorable events, and it’s hard to pick just a few to highlight. But here’s a glimpse at what we accomplished together:

AWS Summit 2024 Recap
An Unofficial Guide on What Not to Do in AWS
Special Generative AI Event
Brisbane Game Day
Everything Well-Architected Panel

These weren’t just meetups, they were moments of connection, learning, and even a little bit of fun.

Incredible Talks and Presentations

One of the most inspiring parts of this group is the diversity of topics and the passion of our speakers. Here are just a few of the topics we explored this year:

What’s New on AWS?
Cleaning Up AWS Accounts
How to Get AWS Support
CloudWatch
Cloud Operating Models
Amazon Q Business
Data Platforms
Python and Rust
Generative AI
Kubernetes & EKS
Personal projects: triumphs, challenges, and everything in between

Every talk brought something unique to the table, and the willingness of our speakers to share their knowledge never fails to inspire.

By the Numbers

Here’s what 2024 looked like in numbers:

Meetups held: 10
Presenters: 18
First-time speakers: 4
New Members: 315
Unique Attendees: 522
Garlic breads consumed: Over 300 (at least, we stopped counting after a while).

In total we have 3,325 members registered with us on meetup.com

Building a Stronger Community

This year, we introduced a few new ways to keep our community connected:

Our very own Slack group, where conversations continue long after the meetups - https://bit.ly/4g2a7Pr
A YouTube channel, making it easy to revisit talks and share them with a wider audience - https://www.youtube.com/@AWSUserGroupBrisbane

These additions have made it easier than ever to learn, collaborate, and stay involved.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we wrap up 2024, I want to take a moment to encourage everyone to get involved in 2025.

Have an idea for a talk but aren’t sure where to start? We’re here to help you develop it.
Never spoken in front of a group before? Don’t worry, this is a welcoming and supportive space to try.

Reach out to us on LinkedIn, Slack, or in person at an event. Whether you want to present, volunteer, or just listen and learn, there’s a place for you here.