A Big Year for AI and This Community As we slide toward the end of the year, I just want to take a moment to say… wow. It has been a big year for AI and for this community. With everything happening globally, and with the Australian Government’s announcement about the national AI plan, the pace and scale of change has become impossible to ignore. The conversation has shifted, the energy has shifted, and it feels like we are standing at the edge of something major. Many of you have shared your own reactions with me: curiosity, overwhelm, excitement, concern – all of it. You are not alone. That is exactly why I started this work. None of us should have to navigate this moment by ourselves. What’s Been Happening Since November Since the last event on 6 November, I’ve been resetting the foundations of The Remix and spending more time in deeper conversations with people who are asking what AI really means for their work, businesses and organisations. For me, this is a continuation of the work I’ve been doing for more than 20 years: using technology and automation to make work smoother, clearer and more human. Collaboration Across the Local Ecosystem A few of you have asked how the events are going. For me, they have never just been social gatherings. They are how I listen, see how we are each responding to this moment, and shape what needs to come next. I also want to call out Byron Design Thinking and the newly formed Byron Tech Community, who have both been running great events this year. It shows how strong this community is and how many great people are here. I’m excited to see what 2026 has in store for all of us. Byron Tech, Design and AI Jingle Mingle To close out the year, The Remix, Byron Design Thinking and Byron Tech Community co-hosted a simple shared Christmas catch up at the Brunswick Hotel in Brunswick Heads – casual drinks, early dinner and good people. No tickets, no speeches, just a relaxed get together to end the year. Ongoing Coffee Mornings Our Friday coffee catch ups at Vagabond in Byron Bay have also continued. They are a small, informal way to stay connected, especially if you are coming from other parts of the region. You can drop in when you can, say hi, and connect with a few other people who are working through similar questions about AI and work. Thank You Thank you again for being part of this. Getting to hear what you’re building, how you’re thinking about AI, and what you care about has shaped where this goes next. We are still early, but something real is forming here. Here’s to closing out a very interesting 2025, and seeing what 2026 has in store for all of us.