Geospatial World Forum (GWF) is a collaborative and interactive event that demonstrates the collective and shared vision of the global geospatial community.

This annual gathering brings together geospatial professionals and leaders representing national mapping agencies, private sector enterprises, multilateral and development organisations, scientific and academic institutions, and large end-users from government agencies and private businesses.

Geospatial World Forum 2026’s theme will be Sovereignty, Economy & Society, and the event is expected to attract:

• 50-plus partners
• 75-plus exhibitors
• 2,000-plus attendees from 100-plus countries
• 500-plus speakers
• Representatives from 1,000-plus organisations

For 2026, GWF returns to the location of its first iteration, the RAI Congress Centre in Amsterdam.

The Geoscience Australia Distinguished Lecture, “Putting the ‘Geo’ into Geospatial: Shaping the future of Positioning Australia,” will cover future direction of the program, reflecting on its past achievements and how it will meet future positioning demands.

As it moves beyond the establishment phase, the Positioning Australia program will strengthen its capability for continued future relevance. The program builds on opportunities arising from Australia’s geographic location, its technological capabilities, strong partnerships and internationally significant positioning infrastructure.

The adoption of PNT-based technologies is changing requirements for the systems delivering it. There is increasing awareness that society’s increasing reliance on modern technologies brings potential risks from vulnerabilities in PNT systems. This lecture will highlight how Positioning Australia will address these issues, including an often invisible risk: the reliance of PNT systems on a global geodesy supply chain that is increasing vulnerable.

Presented by Dr Martine Woolf, (Branch Head Positioning Australia), Ryan Ruddick (Director GNSS Informatics and infrastructure), Dr Anna Riddell (Director GNSS Analysis), Dr Lisa Hall (Director National Geodesy) and Phil Shears (Director PMO), the lecture will outline how Geoscience Australia aims to continue maximising return on Commonwealth investment in reliable positioning, modernising infrastructure, enhancing access and efficiency, and supporting national resilience and economic growth.

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