Unlocking growth, collaboration and impact through developer communities

(Michelle "MishManners" Duke) Developer communities are more than just places to ask questions or share code. They are platforms where careers grow, ideas spark, and real impact happens. In this talk, I’ll draw on my experience building and contributing to global developer programs, including initiatives like GitHub Stars, Twilio Champions, and more to explore what makes a community truly thrive. We’ll dive into how communities across platforms like Discord, Reddit, and Twitch create opportunities for learning, visibility, and connection, whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up. I’ll share practical ways developers can get involved, contribute meaningfully, and turn participation into career growth. We’ll also unpack what separates a good community from a great one, from fostering psychological safety to encouraging collaboration and recognising contributions. Whether you’re a developer, advocate, or community builder, you’ll walk away with actionable insights on how to find your people, grow your presence, and help shape communities that give back as much as they give you. https://2026.pycon.org.au/schedule/CWFAQP/ python, pycon, australia, programming, conference, technical, developers, panel, sessions, libraries, frameworks, community, sysadmins, students, education, data, science Videos licensed as CC-BY-NC-SA 4.0 PyCon AU is the national conference for the Python programming community, bringing together professional, student and enthusiast developers, sysadmins and operations folk, students, educators, scientists, statisticians, and many others besides, all with a love for working with Python. Licensed as CC BY-NC-SA - http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Produced by Next Day Video Australia: https://nextdayvideo.com.au Sat Aug 29 11:20:00 2026 AEST (UTC+10) at Ballroom 1