Plenary Agenda

1330 - 1430 Welcome Coffee/Tea
1430 - 1530 Opening Plenary: Geospatial Industry and World Economy through Strategic Partnerships

Session Highlight

In today's interconnected world, the geospatial industry, standing as a cornerstone in driving innovation, plays a crucial role driving economic growth through strategic partnerships and collaborations. Collaborations between technology firms, governments, and research institutions drive innovation in mapping, digital twins, satellite imaging, and location-based services. Through shared resources, expertise, and vision, these strategic partnerships as a catalyst of digital transformation in diverse fields including urban planning, natural resource management, and disaster response, revolutionizing industries, and reshaping societal landscapes. Furthermore, strategic alliances within the geospatial industry, today, transcend traditional boundaries, fostering cross-sectoral and cross-border cooperation. Through joint research endeavors, technology transfer agreements, and knowledge-sharing platforms, partnerships help to unlock new avenues for mutual growth and prosperity, propelling innovation and competitiveness in the global marketplace driving sustainable development, propelling innovation and competitiveness and economic growth and resilience.

Moderator

Sanjay Kumar

CEO
Geospatial World
India

Ron S. Jarmin

Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer
U.S. Census Bureau
USA

Dean Angelides

International Corporate Director
Esri
USA

Mohammed Yahya Alsayel

President
General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information (GEOSA)
Saudi Arabia
(Virtual)

Virtual

Stefan Schweinfest

Director
United Nations Statistics Division

1530 - 1630 Plenary Session 1: Geospatial Transition: Powering World Economy

Session Highlight

The world is undergoing a profound transition across multiple fronts, including technology, society, economy, and geopolitics, driven by a focus on all-around resilience. The geospatial industry is no exception, experiencing a fundamental progression in the utilization and integration of geospatial information and technologies. This evolution encompasses shifts from traditional mapping methods to advanced digital mapping technologies, the adoption of new spatial data analysis techniques, and the integration of geospatial data across various sectors and industries. However, the geospatial transition extends beyond technical innovation; it holds significant implications for the global economy. Today, advanced, and mature use of geospatial and space technologies and applications are emerging as powerful drivers of economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness worldwide. Businesses are leveraging geospatial information for market analysis, infrastructure development, resource management, urban planning, disaster response, and other economic activities. Thus, the transformative impact of the evolution that is Geospatial Transition, is powering various aspects of the global economy. These advancements are reshaping industries, enabling informed decision-making, and driving economic progress and resilience worldwide.

Moderator

Sanjay Kumar

CEO
Geospatial World
India

Judith Pryor

First VP & Vice Chair
EXIM Bank
USA

Ronald Bisio

SVP
Trimble
USA

Marc Prioleau

Executive Director
Overture Maps Foundation
USA

1630 - 1730 Plenary Session 2: Geospatial Transition Driving Economic Value for the User Industries

Session Highlight

The ongoing transition in the geospatial realm is not only reshaping technological landscapes but also catalyzing economic value for user industries. Various Industries spanning and inclusive of infrastructure, agriculture, disaster management, retail, supply chain and logistics, and more are leveraging geospatial expertise to unlock new avenues for growth, efficiency and competitiveness. By leveraging geospatial information and integrating it into business processes user sectors are able to optimize resource allocation, mitigate risks, and improve customer experiences. From optimizing supply chain logistics to streamlining asset management, geospatial technologies are enabling organizations to achieve higher levels of productivity and resource utilization. This increased efficiency translates directly into bottom-line savings and improved profitability. As this transition continues to unfold, businesses that embrace and leverage geospatial capabilities will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and data-driven world.

Moderator

Bert Klaassens

VP - Europe
Geospatial World
The Netherlands

Tan Boon Khai

CEO
JTC Corporation
Singapore

Massimo Claudio Comparini

Deputy CEO & ESVP
Thales Alenia Space
Italy

Adina Gillespie

VP-Strategic Initiatives - Geospatial Content
Hexagon
USA

Fatma Fahad

Spokes Person & Media consultant
GEOSA
Saudi Arabia

1730 - 1900 Exhibition Opening & Welcome Reception
Exhibition Opening & Welcome Reception | Co-host : OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium)
0900 - 1000 Plenary Session 3: Geospatial Infrastructure and Digital Twins: Advancing Resilient Infrastructure and Digital Cities

Session Highlight

The convergence of geospatial infrastructure and digital twins revolutionizes urban planning, amplifying resilience and efficiency in the development of Digital Cities. Geospatial Infrastructure comprising of spatially enabled data, technologies and platforms enables the creation of dynamic data-driven models that mirror the real-world infrastructure. These digital replicas, or Digital Twins enable scenario planning, risk management, predictive simulations, and analysis, thus, empowering robust management of infrastructure, risk prediction, and city function optimization. In essence, the symbiotic relationship between geospatial infrastructure - primary responsibility of the National Geospatial Organizations and the Digital Twins created from geospatial and space data, with integration of AI, IoT, and big data analytics, represent a paradigm shift in how we plan, design, and manage infrastructure and urban environments. By harnessing the power of geospatial data and digital twin technologies, cities and infrastructure systems can become more resilient, sustainable, and adaptable to the dynamic forces shaping our world.

Moderator

Ingrid Vanden Berghe

Administrator General
National Geographic Institute (IGN)
Belgium

Paul Becker

President
Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy (BKG)
Germany

Sean Wiid

CEO
UP42
Germany

Geert De Coensel

CEO
Merkator
Belgium

Cora Smelik

Board Member
Kadaster
The Netherlands

Eng. Ali AlAwaji

Executive Director- Geospatial Governance
GEOSA
Saudi Arabia

1000 - 1045 Plenary Session 4: Space Infrastructure and Geospatial Analytics: Economic Value through Downstream Applications

Session Highlight

The World Economic Forum predicts that the global space economy will grow to USD 1.8 trillion by 2035, propelled by the commercialization of space infrastructure and advancements in downstream applications capitalizing on advanced geospatial analytics. Advancements in space-based and enabled technologies including communications, PNT, and Earth observation, are pivotal drivers propelling the space economy towards unprecedented growth. The expansion of this growth is exponential, propelled by the escalating commercialization of space and the proliferation of downstream services. This trend unlocks new revenue streams and market opportunities, yielding substantial collective economic value and impact. The intersection of space-based data acquisition empowers geospatial analytics to create applications which yield significant economic benefits across sectors - from agriculture to natural resource management, and from infrastructure to public safety and security. Thus, integration of space infrastructure capabilities with geospatial analytics promises unprecedented economic growth and sustainability.

Moderator

Pacome Revillon

CEO
Novaspace
France

Juan Tomas Hernani

CEO
Satlantis
Spain

Sarah Hodgetts

Director
Geospatial Commission
UK

Rajeev Jyoti

Director Technical
IN-SPACe
India

Prateep Basu

Co-Founder & CEO
SatSure Ltd
India

Lorant Czaran

Scientific Affairs Officer
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)
Austria

1045 - 1130 Plenary Session 5: Hydrospatial Infrastructure and Blue Economy

Session Highlight

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the nexus between Hydrospatial infrastructure and the blue economy as a linchpin for sustainable development. Hydrospatial infrastructure, encompassing marine spatial planning, data acquisition systems, and navigation technologies, serves as the backbone for effectively managing marine resources and mitigating environmental risks. The integration of satellite imagery, remote sensing, and geographic information systems (GIS) has revolutionized the way marine data is collected, processed, and analyzed, providing policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders with unprecedented insights into coastal ecosystems, marine habitats, and ocean dynamics. This synergy between hydrospatial infrastructure and advanced geospatial technologies is instrumental in driving the blue economy forward and enables the efficient use of coastal areas and supporting industries such as aquaculture, renewable energy, and marine conservation. This synergy between technology and the oceandrives economic growth while safeguarding marine ecosystems for future generations.

Moderator

Denis Hains

President & CEO
H2i
Canada

Mark Heine

CEO
Fugro
The Netherlands

Mathias Jonas

Secretary General
IHO
France

Leendert Dorst

Deputy Hydrographer
Royal Netherlands Navy
The Netherlands

1130 - 1230 Tea/Coffee Break & Visit to Exhibition
1230 - 1330 Lunch & Visit to Exhibition
1330 - 1415 Plenary Session 6: Frontier Technologies: Amplifying Geospatial Value Impact

Session Highlight

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the integration of frontier technologies with geospatial data and analytics is reshaping industries, governance, and societal interactions, fostering significant economic growth. Today, cutting-edge innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are amplifying the value proposition of geospatial insights across various domains. For instance, AI-driven geospatial solutions automate processes, detect patterns, and optimize resource allocation, while blockchain technology enhances the reliability and security of geospatial data transactions. Meanwhile, the IoT ecosystem provides real-time, granular data streams, enabling unprecedented insights into dynamic spatial phenomena. By harnessing the power of these frontier technologies, stakeholders can unlock new value propositions from geospatial data, drive innovation, and address complex challenges facing our interconnected world.

Moderator

Ronda Schrenk

CEO
USGIF
USA

Deborah Davis

Board Member
USGIF and OGC
USA

Marryam Chaudhry

CEO
XR2Lead
USA

Sandra Auchter

Director, NGA Denver
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
USA

1415 - 1500 Plenary Session 7: Location Analytics: Enhancing Consumer Experience and Business Solutions

Session Highlight

Geospatial technology has become a cornerstone in transforming both consumer experience and business solutions through the lens of location analytics. This power tool harnesses location-based data, to provide businesses with valuable insights into consumer behavior, preferences, and trends. From optimizing store locations to targeted advertising campaigns, businesses leverage location analytics to tailor their offerings to specific demographics and locations to maintain competitiveness. With an estimated market value projected to reach USD 39.4 billion by 2028, the Location Analytics market presents vast opportunities for businesses across industries, from retail and transportation to urban planning and emergency services. Ultimately, the integration of location analytics empowers businesses to deliver personalized experiences and drive growth in an increasingly competitive market landscape.

Moderator

Mark Reichardt

Senior Consultant
Geospatial World
USA

Armin Hamidovic

Director
Google Maps
USA

Siva Ravada

VP- Development
Oracle
USA

Ramakrishna Mulukutla

AVP, GIS and LBS
Cognizant
India

Dhananjay Deshmukh

VP
Tech Mahindra
USA

1500 - 1530 Fireside Chat: Technology Innovation and Sustainability of Everything

Moderator

Sanjay Kumar

CEO
Geospatial World
India

Ola Rollen

Chairman
Greenbridge
UK

1530 - 1600 Coffee/Tea Break
1600 - 1630 Keynote Address and Conversation

Moderator

Hugo de Groof

Retired official European Commission DG ENV
European Commission
Belgium

Keynote Address

Josef Aschbacher

Director General
European Space Agency - ESA
France

1630 - 1715 Plenary Session 10: Image Intelligence and Geospatial Solutions: Powering ESG and Next Generation Economy

Session Highlight

Image intelligence, coupled with geospatial solutions, is emerging as a powerful catalyst for driving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and shaping the trajectory of the next generation economy. The synergistic relationship between image intelligence and geospatial solutions offers a wealth of opportunities to address pressing global challenges, from climate change and natural resource management to urbanization and disaster response. By leveraging high-resolution satellite imagery, aerial photography, and drone/UAV technology, stakeholders gain unprecedented insights into environmental trends, ecosystem health, and land use patterns, facilitating informed ESG decision-making processes. Harnessing image intelligence from these technologies can catalyse sustainable economic development, setting the stage for the economy of the future.

Moderator

Nadine Alameh

Executive Director
Taylor Geospatial Institute (TGI)
USA

Motoyuki Arai

Founder & CEO
Synspective
Japan

Colin Low

Chief Executive
Singapore Land Authority
Singapore

Beatrice Moulianitaki

Chief Commercial Officer
Meridia
The Netherlands

Anup Jindal

CEO
RMSI
India

Greg Scott

Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance
PVBLIC Foundation
USA

1715 - 1800 Plenary Session 11: Bridging Generations: Engaging Gen-Z in Geospatial Practice - Insights from Millennials

Session Highlight

The inclusion of Generation Z into geospatial practice is a milestone in closing generational gaps and inspiring innovation in spatial studies. Growing up in an age of quick technological advancements and access to information anywhere, members of generation Z have unique skills that would greatly help geospatial practices. They are well-equipped to handle complex challenges like spatial data analysis, interpretation and visualization given their efficiency with digital tools, social media sites, and online sharing. We can develop new space thinkers and change-makers for tomorrow by embracing youth involvement in responding to geospatial issues actively. Today, we can bridge the generation gap through using the unique perspectives of the Gen-Z by promoting collaboration among them as a means of propelling the field of geospatial practtice forward past the 20th century into the new millennium.

Moderator

Ananyaa Narain

VP - Consultancy
Geospatial World
India

Allan Mbabani

Executive Director
OpenStreetMap Uganda
Uganda

Feye Andal

Geospatial Analyst/Project Manager
YouthMappers Regional Ambassador
Philippines

Mantas Vaskela

CEO
AISPECO
Lithuania

Samantha Dinning

Senior GIS Analyst
Pima County, AZ
USA

1800 - 1900 Wine & Cheese in the Exhibition Hall
1900 - 2230 Geospatial World Leadership Awards 2024 & Gala Dinner