WGIC Constitutes Executive Board, Elects Office Bearers for 2025-2027

WGIC Secretariat on May 6, 2025

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

For media queries or interview requests, please contact [email protected].

Geospatial Industry In A Pivotal Stage of Maturity and Expansion 

WGIC Secretariat on April 3, 2025

No single company or entity is in a position to master, produce, and meet the expanding demand for geospatial data alone. This awareness has brought about an increasing openness to embrace collaboration. Together, we are a force to reckon with, and we must act, influence, and bring about the requisite changes to exploit the massive business potential ahead of us all.

WGIC Is A Strong Community Creating Immense Impact 

WGIC Secretariat on March 26, 2025

Aaron Addison reflects on his first full year as Executive Director of WGIC in this activity report. 2024 has been a year of growth, connection, and collaboration. From expanding WGIC membership to deepening our commitment to key initiatives, 2024 has shown just how powerful our collective efforts can be, even as he looks forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.

WGIC’s Inaugural Industry Event – Horizons 2025 – Moving Beyond Boundaries

WGIC Secretariat on February 6, 2025

The Hague, The Netherlands, February 6, 2025 — The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is thrilled to announce its inaugural event, Horizons 2025, set to take place from April 27-29, 2025, at the iconic Denver Art Museum in Denver, Colorado, USA. This premier event, organized and supported by over 60 global geospatial private sector companies — will bring together industry pioneers, thought leaders and cross-sector innovators to explore the transformative power of geospatial and earth observation technologies.

Under the tagline “Moving Beyond Boundaries,” Horizons 2025 will explore the intersection of geospatial technologies, allied industries, and global business ecosystems driving innovation. Designed as a single-track conference, Horizons 2025 offers an intimate setting for deeper connections, focused discussions, and enhanced networking on shared topics. The event will serve as a platform to co-develop innovative approaches, collaborative business models, and scalable solutions, advancing the vision of “Geospatial in Everything, Geospatial for Everyone.”

Why Attend Horizons 2025?

Attendees can expect an immersive experience featuring:

  • Be in the room for an intentionally designed single-track conference of thought leaders. Enjoy a more focused setting without the larger crowds. 
  • Think more deeply about the transformative power of future-defining technologies, such as Generative AI, in bringing actionable solutions to complex geospatial queries.   
  • Connect and network with businesses, thought leaders, cross-sector pioneers, and innovators guiding real-world applications across sectors. 
  • Understand the interdependencies, interoperability and collaborate with leading technology players to co-develop scalable solutions; partner with academia and local communities  
  • Enjoy the eclectic Denver Art Museum, the largest between the West Coast and Chicago! 

Diverse Lineup of Speakers:

Horizons 2025 features an impressive lineup of curated speakers from leading companies across the geospatial industry, technology, consulting, enterprise sectors, and government, including high-level policymakers and industry pioneers. Attendees will gain insights on emerging technologies, cross-sector collaboration, and the future of geospatial innovation. For the full list of speakers, visit https://www.wgic-horizons.live/speakers.

Bryn Fosburgh, President of WGIC, said, “The Horizons 2025 conference is where today meets the future, and from this intersection, we will gain clarity to navigate and chart the next decade within our industry.”

Aaron Addison, Executive Director of WGIC, added, “Horizons 2025 promises to be a new type of event, “Moving Beyond Boundaries”.  Where the geospatial and earth observation industry intersects the enterprise community on emerging technologies, challenges and most importantly –opportunities for building a better future together.”

Join Us in Denver!

For more information and to register, visit https://www.wgic-horizons.live/.

About World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC)

The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is a global not-for-profit trade association of private sector companies working 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

For media queries or interview requests, please contact [email protected].

WGIC Takes Center Stage at INTERGEO 2024

WGIC Secretariat on October 16, 2024

We anticipate that the geospatial industry will double over the next six years. To prepare for this growth, WGIC hosted a series of activities at INTERGEO 2024, fostering discussions and collaboration around the opportunities and challenges ahead.

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Geospatial in Everything
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