A panel of data and industry experts will examine changes to IP and copyright and the disruption of current business models that current and future technologies are creating, with an open discussion about governance considerations that may affect surveying businesses now and in the coming years. This will be an insightful, interesting and challenging discussion around how technology and big data are redefining business opportunities.

The speakers will be:

• Professor Kevin McDougall, Head of School, Civil Engineering and Surveying University of Queensland
• Rachel Sciascia, Partner, Gadens
• Nicole Stephensen, Principal Consultant, Ground Up Consulting Pty Ltd
• Adam Beck , Executive Director, Smart Cities Council Australia New Zealand Secretariat, Centre for Data Leadership

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/boreala

The World of Drones & Robotics Congress 2021 (WoDaRC) will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15 and 16 November 2021. Like last year, it will be presented in a hybrid format, providing in-person physical participation for those able to attend in Brisbane and a high-quality digital experience for those who cannot.

Due to additional companies seeking display space, WoDaRC has moved to a larger space (the Boulevard Auditorium) within the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Auditorium will also cater to larger numbers and provide increased social distancing for all those attending sessions.

Physical and virtual registration options are available. Al registration options, physical and digital, include access to all congress sessions for six months post-event on an on-demand basis via the WoDaRC viewer portal.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ValentinValkov

During GEO Week 2021, the Group on Earth Observations will present the multidisciplinary activities of the GEO Work Programme that address policy agendas involved in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP26, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

The online event will include the GEO-17 plenary, plus anchor and side events. Time will be scheduled each day for virtual networking. On Monday, November 22, the 56th Executive Committee will be held as a closed meeting.

Of particular importance will be the anchor events: These are the main events designed by GEO week 2021 organisers to explain the multidisciplinary nature of GEO through the concept of nexus thinking. Working on multiple topics simultaneously is essential in today’s rapidly changing environmental and social conditions. For example, work in one area will have a knock-on effect or impact in another area, such as the water, energy and food nexus. These events are linked to the global policy agendas that underpin most of GEO’s work.

Image credit: NASA

In partnership with the Australian Space Agency, the Space Industry Association of Australia will host the Southern Space Symposium at the National Press Club in Canberra on 29-30 November 2021.

The Southern Space Symposium is the Australian space industry’s flagship annual conference, bringing together space industry experts and decision-makers from across Australia. At a pivotal moment, the Southern Space Symposium will this year bring space industry together with government and parliament for two days in Canberra to help shape the future agenda for Australian space’s aspirations.

Participants will include federal government departments and agencies, international agencies and missions, defence and space prime contractors, listed space companies, academic and research organisations, small and medium enterprises, space start-ups, and individual space professionals.

FIRA is a leading global event series, which this year is focused on the new era of robotics in agriculture and the huge impact it will have on the whole value chain. For the sixth year running, FIRA will be a hybrid in-person/online event, and is expected to attract 3000-plus attendees from around the world, including robot manufacturers, agricultural businesses, producers, investors, suppliers and entrepreneurs.

The World of Drones and Robotics Congress 2022 is scheduled to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Similar to 2021, it will be held in a hybrid format — in-person and online.

The World of Drones and Robotics Congress New Zealand (WoDaRC NZ) is shaping up as an unmissable event for anyone involved in robotics, drones, AI, AgTech and data-led innovation. WoDaRC is business-led, technology based and will create opportunities for collaboration and growth across the technology ecosystem.

Topics to be covered include:

• Regional capability and strategy
• Humanitarian engineering and disaster response
• Environmental science and agricultural technology
• The new frontiers: oceans, mountains, and space
• Movies, media, community, and social empowerment
• Education