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IxDF Sydney
Earning Influence, Part 1: The Translation Problem

Earning Influence, Part 1: The Translation Problem

Date and time: Mon, Sep 21, 2026; 07:30 – 10:00 UTC
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia

About the Meetup

Event cover for IxDF Sydney: “Earning Influence, Part 1: The Translation Problem” with Dan Whelan, Monday 21 September, 5:30–8:00 pm at Dovetail, Surry Hills. — IxDF Sydney presents Earning Influence, Part 1: The Translation Problem with Dan Whelan, Senior Design Leader.

Why do strong design ideas sometimes lose momentum the moment they reach the people who need to approve them?

In Part 1 of Earning Influence, we’ll look at the gap between how designers explain their work and how decisions are actually made. Dan will show how the same work can land differently when it is framed around outcomes, risk and consequence, without watering down the design.

Dan Whelan has spent 20 years leading design at companies including Intuit and CommBank, working on some of Australia’s most complex financial products. Her work focuses on decision quality and behavioural design, helping strong design work actually influence the room.

We’ll start with a 30-minute talk, then spend 60 minutes working through real examples together. Bring one non-confidential project or case study.

This is Part 1 of a two-part mini-course, and each session also works on its own.

A big thank you to Dovetail for generously sharing their space with the IxDF Sydney community.

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Hosted By

IxDF Local Leader distinction: Local Leader of an IxDF Local Group
IxDF Community Leader distinction: Awarded for serving as an influential IxDF community leader
IxDF Best-in-Class distinction: Completed an IxDF Course with a score of 100%
IxDF Connected Professional distinction: Attended 10 or more IxDF Meetups
+7

Sydney, Australia

Chiara Cerretti

End-to-end User Experience Designer

Why Join

Meet people who love design as much as you do. Together we learn new skills, grow our networks, and discover new job opportunities.

Questions? We've Got Answers

An IxDF Local Group connects you with people in your city who are building and applying design skills in their work. Together, you'll strengthen your craft, expand your network, and put theory into practice.

IxDF Local Groups meet regularly in person at cafés, company offices, or creative spaces to share ideas, give feedback, run workshops, and learn from each other. Many groups also organize IxDF Design Dinners, where the conversation goes deeper over a meal. These aren't just social events. Members find collaborators, clients, job leads, and future teammates through them.

You'll also have access to a private online forum where you can get career advice, honest feedback, and support from people who understand the work.

You don't need to have a "designer" title to join. If you care about how design shapes products, careers, and organizations, you belong here.

Join and you'll discover new skills, explore job opportunities, and build relationships with people who understand the power of great design.

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Your IxDF Local Leader organizes meetups based on what members want most. Sessions range from hands-on and structured to relaxed and informal.

Some examples of what you'll find:

Presentations from local designers, followed by Q&A
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Workshops where you work through a real design challenge together
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Coffee meetups and design dinners with open conversations about where the industry is heading

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What stays consistent is the people. You'll find designers and professionals who ask good questions, share what they know, and show up for each other between meetups too.

Yes, absolutely!

Design skills make you more effective in any role. Product managers, developers, marketers, researchers, and founders all work better when they understand how to think like a designer.

IxDF Local Groups reflect that. Members come from all kinds of professional backgrounds, not just design. What they share is an interest in how design shapes products, decisions, and careers.

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