The Hague, The Netherlands, September 12, 2023: The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Addison as its next Executive Director. Aaron, who presently serves as WGIC’s Deputy Director, will step into the new role from November 1, 2023, as Barbara Ryan, current executive director, completes her term.
Aaron comes to WGIC with 30 years of international experience, including extensive work in public and private sectors, NGOs, and higher education institutions. Before joining WGIC, Aaron served as the executive director of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS) – a member-based organization of the geographic science departments of universities in the U.S. and Europe. He also spent many years at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he served as the director of data services while holding adjunct teaching positions in four schools at the university.
As the Executive Director, Aaron will be responsible for the organization’s day-to-day management, along with its programs and strategic planning efforts. Leveraging his vast and varied experience, Aaron will play a key role in engaging with commercial companies, multilateral organizations, governments, academia, and other leading trade and professional bodies to fulfill WGIC’s mission.
Bryn Fosburgh, WGIC President and Senior Vice President, Trimble, enumerating WGIC’s goals and relating them to the appointment, said, “Geospatial data, services, and technology are essential enablers for all major economic sectors. As an industry, our challenge in the next decade is to expand geospatial technology’s value proposition to the world economy, continue to attract the next generation of people to the industry and incorporate AI and robotics responsibly into our solutions and services. We believe Aaron’s experience in technology, academia, and the non-government sector will greatly enable WGIC to meet the goals we have set for ourselves. I thank Barbara for her leadership, where she guided WGIC from an emerging to an established industry group.”
Barbara Ryan, outgoing Executive Director, welcomed the appointment and said, “With each year, WGIC has been able to increase its relevance to and impact on, and for, our members, partners, and society. Aaron is well-suited not only to continue but also to expand WGIC’s global impact. I wish Aaron, the team, and WGIC all the best in their future endeavors.”
Accepting the appointment and the responsibilities, Aaron Addison said, “I am excited to be stepping into this leadership position at WGIC. I look forward to building on the fantastic work Barb has delivered during her tenure. WGIC is the premier global association of geospatial and earth observation companies, and I am honored to represent and showcase how our members positively impact our world. I will ensure WGIC continues to build the community by advancing geospatial as the core to understanding our sustainable world, connecting businesses, and advocating for geospatial in everything and geospatial for everyone.“
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 agencies, and user-industry communities to demonstrate the value and benefits of geospatial technologies in the economy, society, and environment.
Through its policy, thematic research, and cross-cutting outreach programs, WGIC facilitates the exchange of knowledge and co-creation of business opportunities for the geospatial industry.
For more information, visit www.wgicouncil.org
