DrupalSouth Steering Committee Minutes - 14 April 2025

Friday 18th April

In attendance: Marge, Julia, Dallas, Vladimir, Karl, Chris, Dave

  • DrupalSouth Melbourne 2025
    • It happened!
    • Feedback collected:
      • Full results (link TBA)
      • Communication
        • 95% said pre-event comms were "just right".
        • Attendees want updates on sessions (52%), keynotes (45%), speakers (34%)—but really, everything (42%).
        • Preferred channels: Email (100%), Slack (40%), LinkedIn (40%).
      • Content & Speakers
        • 79% rated speakers/topics as excellent.
        • Second keynote was a hit; mix of tech/non-tech appreciated, though some wanted more Drupal focus.
        • Suggested: better speaker vetting, improved panels, more ops/infra talks, and clearer BoF structure.
      • Venue & Catering
        • Venue was a standout: loved location, AV, accessibility.
        • Catering didn’t land: limited variety, quality concerns, dietary gaps.
      • Tickets & Value
        • Most tickets were covered by employers or speaker/volunteer roles (55%).
        • Ideal ticket price: $400–$600 AUD.
        • Future cost-saving ideas: smaller cities, reduced swag/alcohol, BYO meals.
      • Future Content Preferences
        • Want more: deep dives (58%), panels (39%), audience interaction (31%), diverse speakers (28%).
      • Community Vibe
        • Loved: keynotes, mix of content, social/networking elements, overall energy.
        • Least liked: session timing, cramped sponsor area, repetition in ceremony intros.
      • Suggestions for 2026
        • Avoid date clashes with religious periods.
        • Consider dev days, student projects, quiet zones.
        • Improve speaker prep & MC quality.
        • Use anonymous Q&A tools, balance tech/business content.
        • Better marketing to attract younger devs.
      • DrupalSouth 2026 - NZ?
        • 49% Yes, 38% Maybe – strong support!
        • Committee aims to make it accessible for all, even those who can’t travel.
  • DrupalSouth NZ 2026
    • A city has been chosen, more information to be provided when available
  • DrupalSouth Community Day 2025
    • No progress as yet, awaiting to near GovCMS Mega Meetup details
  • DrupalSouth committee position:
    • One team member is moving to another region of the world
    • Looking for a new NZ based representative in the near future -  more information to be provided when available
  • DrupalSouth diversity & inclusion
    • A DS committee member joined a global Drupal D&I meeting
    • Unsure if this is a concern in our region
    • DS may look for feedback on this topic as other global events have seen a decline in some areas
    • DS don't currently collect any personal data other than tshirt size/cut (eg male/female) which is done for logistical purposes only.

Next meeting:

  • Scheduled for Monday 12 May 2025, however may change due to committee member prior commitments.
  • If you would like to be invited to a DrupalSouth Committee Meeting to observe, contact chair@drupalsouth.org