New Zealand’s Adam Greenland has officially started in his role as Director with the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO).
As Spatial Source reported in April, Adam Greenland was elected to the role earlier this year, bringing more than four decades of experience in hydrography and maritime operations, with the last 20 specifically within the IHO’s international hydrographic global community.
He says he intends to focus on three themes: to leave no nation behind, build a global workforce for the future, and evolve the IHO to meet Member State needs and ensure hydrography’s critical role in ocean governance is recognised.
“Building a global workforce for the future is about developing a diverse, skilled, and adaptable hydrographic community capable of navigating the profound technological and environmental changes reshaping our field,” said Greenland.
“This is crucial as we transition to S-100 standards and increasing demands for marine data beyond traditional navigation — a transition that requires not only technical expertise but diverse perspectives and innovative thinking.”
Prior to his IHO appointment, Greenland served as New Zealand’s National Hydrographer, overseeing the country’s international hydrographic responsibilities, including charting activities in New Zealand waters, parts of the South-West Pacific, and the Ross Sea region of Antarctica.
Over the past 20 years his many IHO roles have included Chair of the Southwest Pacific Hydrographic Commission (SWPHC) and member of the International Board on Standards of Competence (IBSC).
Hydrography: A bridge between nations
Taking up a new office within the IHO is Rear Admiral Luigi Sinapi from Italy, who has assumed his role as Secretary General.
Rear Admiral Sinapi is an experienced hydrographer and naval officer who has been actively promoting capacity-development and international cooperation throughout his career, and in particular since 2020 as Director of the IHO.
In his new role he intends to strengthen cooperation both regionally and with other intergovernmental organisations and industry.
This includes plans to improve seabed mapping so that every country benefits from safer navigation, and continuing to build hydrographic capacity so that all nations have the tools to map and protect their waters.
“Hydrography is not just a science, it is a bridge between nations, economies, and people,” said Rear Admiral Sinapi.
Completing the three-person IHO directing team is Dr John Nyberg from the USA.
Dr Nyberg has begun the second three-year term of his current mandate as the Director of Technology. During his first three years, he led the technical program through the period in which S-100 moved from implementation to delivery.
