I started a Canberra security meeting in 2011 (now called CSides) and started BSides Canberra, the first Australian Security BSides conference, in 2016. Over the last 14 years of running community events in Canberra, I often get asked how to best build a community. So I thought I'd jot some thoughts down.
1. Build the community you want to be a part of. Don't see yourself as a facilitator or a leader. To truly last and love building a community, you have to enjoy going. You have to love the content and the people that you're with.
2. Participate first. Before kicking off BSides Canberra I had volunteered at community conferences. I still low key volunteer at other grass-root conferences and attend as much as I can. Understand the industry until you know what's missing for you or what you would like to see.
3. Don't be afraid to be yourself. As you build your community you will get so much advice. You will be told more times that you can count that you're doing it wrong. "Too technical", "too high-level", "too short", "too long". Don't be afraid to be who you are. Embrace your strengths and what you love. I think managerial and policy conferences are so important - but I don't doubt if I tried to run one it would be an absolute flop.
4. Deadlines. Plan out your timeframes. Have deadlines for important milestones (Ticket sales, CFP open, CFP closed). When life gets busy, and it will since grassroot community work is almost always volunteer time, having these deadlines means you will make time to meet them.
5. Accept help & seek help. This is probably surprisingly the most tricky because the heart of community events, volunteers, can be unreliable as their professional and personal lives get busy. Don't be afraid to pay someone to help with admin. Even though I personally have never been paid to run grassroots events, I will admit that in the past 3 years we have paid notional amounts to younger people to do set hours on admin.
6. Thank people. Thank your speakers, your volunteers, people that promote your events. There is an army of people making the event happen. Although you may start it, although your name might be on the event contracts and you carry a bunch of personal risk - at the end of the day the success is due to the community itself. Never forget how much the community matters.
7. Pick a good cofounder. Huge thank you to my partner in crime and all things conferences Silvio Cesare. Without his good humour and absolute passion for all things community, I'm certain all our communities would have had less longevity. Pick someone you can trust, who will be there for the bad and good times and who loves it as much as you.
8. Have fun. Do it for as long as you have fun. If you stop having fun, stop doing it.
I hope this helps a little, if I think of anything else I'll add it in. Overall, I strongly recommend if you have any interest at all in this - to jump in and do it. The world needs more community builders. :)
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| BSides Canberra 2024 - Royal Theatre Track |
