FIG Young Surveyors Conference

9th FIG Young Surveyors Conference in collaboration with GCA Young and Emerging Professionals

Date: Saturday 5 April & Sunday 6 April
Time:  TBC 
Location: (The Cube) has been changed to: Room Three Sixty at at Gardens Point (close to the Cube) Adjacent to Old Government House by the Botanical garden
Fee: 100 AUD

Under the theme "Next-Gen Geospatial Professionals: Driving a Digitally Enabled Future", this year’s conference is your gateway to the cutting edge of the geospatial industry.

Join us as we explore the power of emerging technologies, innovative practices, and global collaboration to shape a future that’s digitally dynamic and sustainable. This is where young minds meet seasoned experts, big ideas spark action, and YOU become part of the movement driving transformation in surveying and beyond. Prepare to network, learn, and be inspired by a dynamic program filled with interactive workshops, panel sessions, and hands-on experiences. Whether you're passionate about advancing tech, solving real-world problems, or connecting with fellow trailblazers, this is your stage to shine!

 Let’s push boundaries and chart a course for tomorrow’s geospatial solutions, together!

See Logistics and Registration Notes

PROGRAMME

Saturday, 5th April 2025

08:00 - 08:30

Registration and networking
Start your day by registering, grabbing your conference pack, and mingling with fellow participants.

Sijan Bhandari

   

08:30 - 09:00

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Opening session featuring welcomes from FIG Council, GCA, FIG Foundation, FIG YSN and GCA YEP leaders to set the tone for the conference.

Session Chair:
Marcus Schmitt, Vice-Chair,  FIG YSN, United States of America

Speakers
Kalogiannakis Michalis (FIG Vice-President), Greece
TBA (GCA), Australia
Tony Wheele, CEO, Geospatial Council of Australia(GCA), Australia
Shirley Chapunza, FIG YSN Chair, Zimbabwe
James Sadler, GCA YEP Chair, Australia

   

09:00 - 09:45

Keynote Session - Next-Gen Geospatial Professionals: Shaping a Digitally Enabled Future

A forward-thinking address by two industry leaders exploring the role of young surveyors in the rapidly evolving geospatial landscape and how they can lead the way in leveraging digital tools and innovations for the future of surveying.

Session Chair:
Oscar So, GCA YEP, Australia

Speakers
Lidija Spiranec, Product Manager for Monitoring Solutions, Leica Geosystems AG, Croatia/ Switzerland
Denise Mckenzie, Managing Partner for the PLACE Trust, Digital Geographer, United Kingdom

   

09:45 - 10:15

Grant Recipients Showcase

This session is dedicated to the remarkable Young Surveyor Grant Award sponsors and the award winners.

Session Chair:
Iaroslav Zifceac, Chair FIG YSN Europe, Romania

Speakers:
John Hohol, President Emeritus, FIG Foundation, United States of America
John Brock, Director of Brock Surveys at Parramatta, Australia

4 FIG Foundation(Global)
1 RIPRO Corporation Japan (Ukraine)
4 John Brock Gift to the Future (Local)
1 Aubrey Barker Fund (Regional)

   

10:15 - 10:20

Group Photo

A chance to capture the enthusiasm and energy of the conference participants

James Sadler, Chair, GCA YEP, Australia

   
10:20 - 13:30 Teabreak - One question, One person.

Walk up and talk to someone you don’t know and give one prompt: “Why did you attend this conference?”
   

10:30 - 11:15

Empowering the Future: Celebrating Excellence in Young Surveying

Session Chair:
Angela Anyakora, Vice-Chair, FIG YSN, Nigeria

Hear from the FIG Foundation Young Surveyor Grant Award, RIPRO Corporation Japan Ukrainian Young Surveyor Award, Aubrey Barker Fund, and John Brock Gift to the Future Award,  winners.

   
11:15 - 12:00

What makes a Next-Gen Geospatial Professional

This session will see three young spatial professionals talk about what they think makes a Next-Generation Geospatial Professional and the steps they are taking to achieve this.

Session Chair:
Rindert Vos, Manager Architecture and Information Management, Kadaster, Netherlands

Speakers:
Nozipho Madlala, Chief Professional Surveyor and Senior Manager of Training, South Africa’s Chief Directorate: National Geospatial Information, South Africa
Cameron Lowe, Chair, NSPS YSN, United States of America
Tina Baidar, Chief Survey Officer, Survey Department under the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation, Nepal

   

12:00  - 13:00

 Lunch - Meet an Expert

2 experts sit at a table and Young Surveyors chat with them.

   

13:00 - 13:40

How Our Industry is Driving a Digitally Enabled Future

Hear from two industry experts from ESRI and Trimble as they provide guidance on how you can apply the technology we have to making a digitally enabled future

Session Chair:
Sijan Bhandari, Vice-Chair, GCA YEP, Australia/Nepal

Speakers
Jennah Williams
,National Science & Education Manager, ESRI Australia
Markus Koper, Rotational program - Project management,  Trimble, New Zealand

   

13:40 - 14:00

Mapping Opportunities: Get Involved with VCSP

Discover how you can get involved with the Volunteer Community Surveyors Program (VCSP)! Join us for a quick, interactive session featuring a fun icebreaker, a snapshot of  opportunities in VCSP projects, and practical ways to contribute. Connect, learn, and map your path to new experiences!

Session Chairs:
Angela Anyakora
, VCSP Co-Lead
David Elegbede, VCSP Co-Lead

   

14:00 - 14:15

Closing remarks

Recap of the day and plan for the rest of the day.

Speaker:
Shirley Chapunza, Chair, FIG YSN, Zimbabwe

   

14:15 - 15:00

Travel to Charity Event

   

15:00 - 17:00

Charity Event

In partnership with FIG WG2.3 on Learning Styles in Surveying Education and FIG WG4.3 on Mapping the Plastic, the charity event will focus on ocean conservation drawing from the work of these two working groups in partnership with the Young Surveyors Network.

Session Chairs:
James Sadler, Chair, GCA YEP, Australia
Narelle Underwood, FIG WG 2.3, Australia

We donate money to
Deadly Science

   

17:00 - 18:00

Break/Travel to FIG YSN-Leica Social Event

Take a refresher before heading to the social event at Plough Inn.

   

18:00 - 21:00

FIG YSN-Leica Social Event

Networking cocktail at The Plough Inn sponsored by
Leica Geosystems part of Hexagon.

   

Sunday, 6th April 2025

09:00 - 9:10

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Recap of Day 1 and opening of plans for the workshop

Speaker:
Angela Anyakora, Vice-Chair, FIG YSN, Nigeria

   

9:10 - 09:40

Updates from FIG YSN Regional Networks

This session will feature updates from FIG YSN Regional Network group leads, highlighting key developments and ongoing initiatives within their regions. Each lead will also share one specific action they aim to achieve in their workshop, fostering collaboration and impactful outcomes.

Session Chair:
Nozipho, Chief Professional Surveyor and Senior Manager of Training, South Africa’s Chief Directorate: National Geospatial Information, South Africa

Speakers
Marcus Schmitt Chair, FIG YSN Americas, United States of America
Iaroslav Zifceac Chair, FIG YSN Europe, Romania
David Elegbede Chair, FIG YSN Africa, Nigeria
Shristi Paudel Chair, FIG YSN, Asia and Pacific, Nepal

   

9:40 - 10:30

The Future of Surveying: YSN Workshop

Help shape the FIG Regional network groups and achieve their goal for their workshop.

Note: Participants cannot be in their host region (i.e. if they are part of the Americas region, they aren’t allowed to be in the FIG YSN Americas group. Repeat for other groups).

Session Chair:
Shirley Chapunza, Chair, FIG YSN, Zimbabwe

   

10:30 - 11:00

Break

   
11:00 - 11:30

Finalise Workshop findings

This session will bring together all workshop participants to finalize key findings and share insights with the group for collective reflection and next steps.

Session Chair:
Shirley Chapunza, Chair, FIG YSN, Zimbabwe

   

11:30 -12:00

Closing and Recap

What we’ve learned and what's next?

Speaker:
Marcus Schmitt, Vice-Chair, FIG YSN, United States of America

   

Sponsored and Supported by:

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