Episode 286: Jack Skinner of PyCon AU and Regional Confs

Episode 286: Jack Skinner of PyCon AU and Regional Confs

From Sustain by SustainOSS

March 13, 2026 · 40 min

About this episode

Jack Skinner discusses the importance of regional conferences for the health of open source communities.

Guest Jack Skinner Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Richard Littauer talks with Jack Skinner, PyCon AU organizer and freelance consultant/fractional CTO, to explore why regional conferences matter so much to the long-term health of open source communities. Their conversation looks at how events like PyCon AU do far more than host talks, they create local connections, nurture future leaders, support first-time speakers, and help sustain the broader Python ecosystem in ways that global conferences alone cannot. Drawing on Jack’s experience as a conference organizer and community builder, the episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of running volunteer-led events, from sponsorships and logistics to burnout, accessibility, and building a stronger pipeline of future organizers. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:49] Jack shares his background and how he got involved in Python and event organizing. [00:02:48] We hear about Jack’s first PyCon AU experience. [00:04:14] Jack describes PyCon AU, who it serves, and how it’s changed after COVID. [00:07:01] Why do regional conferences exist alongside PyCon US? [00:09:24] Jack talks…

People in this episode

Host: Richard Littauer

Guest: Jack Skinner

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: PyCon AU, Python

Places: Australia, New Zealand

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