The Hague, The Netherlands, May 6, 2025: The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is pleased to announce its Executive Board for 2025-2027. Zubran Solaiman (Bentley Systems) and Matthew Pennells (Esri) were elected president and treasurer for the period.  

WGIC Executive Board 2025-2027 

WGIC, at its recent annual general meeting (AGM) held on the sidelines of the Horizons 2025 conference in Denver, USA, announced the members of its Board who will serve from May 2025 to April 2027. The Board comprises senior geospatial industry professionals drawn from WGIC’s patron, corporate, and associate member companies. The Board will provide strategic guidance to WGIC in pursuing its mission and achieving its programmatic goals during the next two years.  

• Autodesk – Eric DesRoche, Senior Manager 
• Bentley Systems – Zubran Solaiman, Director 
• Esri – Dean Angelides, Managing Director – International  
• Fugro – Leonard Sands, Global Director 
• Hexagon – Adina Gillespie, Vice President  
• IIC Technologies – Steven Sawdon, Director 
• MDA – John Bowers, Senior Director – GeoIntelligence
• MBS – Kathleen Martin, Practice Lead
• NaraSpace – Jae-Pil Park, CEO
• Oracle – Siva Ravada, Vice President 
• PlanBlue – Hannah Brock, Co-Founder & CSO
• RIEGL International – James Van Rens, Senior Vice President 
• SparkGeo – Will Cadell, Founder & CEO
• Space 42 – Dr Prashanth Marpu, Chief Technology Officer
• Trimble – Bryn Fosburgh, Senior Vice President
• VastPoint – Willy Govender, CEO  
• TomTom – Marius Swanepoel, Director  
• Woolpert – Brian Nicholls, Vice President

New Leadership Team 

The bi-annual ballot for the office of WGIC saw the election of Zubran Solaiman, Director of Product Strategy & Innovation (Energy Utilities) of Bentley Systems, as WGIC President. Matthew Pennells, Director for Global Community Engagement, Esri, was elected Treasurer for 2025-2027. Marius Swanepoel, Director of TomTom, was elected Secretary General in 2024 and will continue in office until April 2026.   

WGIC Officers

Zubran Solaiman shared his thoughts on being elected as WGIC President, saying, “WGIC is all about a shared belief that geospatial knowledge has the power to bring clarity, connection, and bold decisions to a world facing complex challenges. I believe that when we work together across companies, cultures, and continents, we can build something far greater than any of us could do alone. WGIC, with more than 50 organizations, is where competition gives way to cooperation, and bold ideas turn into shared action. From data policy and workforce development to innovation and climate resilience, WGIC sits at the heart of advancing geospatial in everything and for everyone. I am excited for the journey ahead and even more excited to walk with all of you.” 

Matthew Pennells, taking on the reins as the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee (FARC) of WGIC, said, “I look forward to engaging with existing and new members throughout the year. It is an exciting time in the industry, and WGIC plays a key role. Getting involved in one of the WGIC committees is a great way to share your inputs and help shape the industry’s future.” 

Congratulating the new Board and office bearers, Aaron Addison, Executive Director, said, “I am excited to welcome our latest slate of WGIC officers and board members.  The Board represents the diversity of our membership, both from an industry perspective and geographically. It is emblematic of the dynamic nature of WGIC and the overall geospatial community.” 

About World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)

The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is a global not-for-profit trade association of private sector companies in the geospatial ecosystem. WGIC collaborates with multilateral organizations, public authorities, and user-industry communities with the objective of demonstrating the value and benefits of geospatial technologies in ecology, the economy, and society. 

Through its policy research thematic and cross-cutting outreach programs, WGIC facilitates the exchange of knowledge and the co-creation of business opportunities for the geospatial industry.

For more information, visit www.wgicouncil.org

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