Speakers Bio & Abstract
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Ordnance Survey Great Britain
UK
BiographyJohn Kedar is Director International Engagement, Ordnance Survey. He builds key relationships with, and advises, UK Government, leading international organisations and national governments looking to gain enhanced value from geospatial capabilities. He also delivers Ordnance Survey’s input into UK’s international policy.
John left the British Army to join Ordnance Survey International in 2013 where he opened up new markets in the Middle East, South America, Africa and Europe. His experience spans a range of engineer, geospatial, intelligence and operational roles, including commanding 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) and Chief of Staff, Headquarters Engineer-in-Chief (Army). He has worked in Germany, Central America, Africa, Balkans, Cyprus, Afghanistan and across the Middle East. He has developed government policy and strategic direction for geospatial information, including representing UK on the EU Satellite Centre Board, and furthered the role of geography on international military and stability operations, disaster relief and London’s Olympics. He contributes to the United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management work.
John is a Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of Royal Engineers, and is a Chartered Geographer. john.kedar@os.ukAbstract Future National Geospatial Agencies: Shaping our contribution to societyThe geospatial community continues to transform as the world increasingly uses location to unlock value. Disruption sees new ideas, new providers, often bypassing the traditional surveying and mapping authority. The mantra 'evolve or die' has never held so true to national mapping authorities.
But this increasing reliance on location, from delivery of SDGs to the internet of things, is also our opportunity. Managing the fundamental geospatial data layer, fit for purpose, maintained and trusted underpins the integration of all spatial data and allows machine to human and machine to machine activity. The future national geospatial agency may become data brokers as well as collectors/managers, SDI authorities, service providers and service consumers. Whichever, national geospatial agencies have to be the 'go to' authority for trusted fundamental geospatial data.
The future national geospatial agency cannot sit aloof; it will connect with customers, government, business, academia and consumer. It will support and lead innovation, be an incubator of change as well as a reliable 'foot on the ground' that does not bend to every breath of wind.