The Australia-based International Global Navigation Satellite Systems (IGNSS) Association and the Australian Institute of Navigation (AIN) have announced plans to merge.
The IGNSS has long run a series of conferences focusing on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) technologies and satellite navigation systems, attracting hundreds of delegates from around the world.
The most recent IGNSS conference, held in Sydney in February 2024, attracted an international line-up of speakers who presented on a wide range of topics:
- PNT in space
- Atmosphere and ionosphere
- Alternative PNT
- Geodesy
- Precise point positioning (PPP)
- PPP and RTK
- Autonomous Systems
- Resilience
- Infrastructure
- GNSS reflectometry
- Navigating Our Future: Unlocking Australia’s positioning potential
The AIN has been around for 76 years, and is a part of the International Institutes of Navigation (including the US Institute of Navigation and the Royal Institute of Navigation), which have taken a leading role in PNT research, developments and practice.
With the merger of the two bodies, a new PNT Sub-Committee has been set up within AIN, to be led by:
- Prof. Andrew Dempster: Vice-President of AIN & Chair of the PNT Sub-Committee
- A/Prof. Craig Roberts: Deputy Secretary of AIN & Secretary of the PNT Sub-Committee
- Prof. Allison Kealy: Deputy Treasurer of AIN & Treasurer of the PNT Sub-Committee
“This merger marks a new chapter for the community, including the transformation of the internationally renowned IGNSS Conference into PNT2026, which will now be conducted as an official AIN event,” said Professor Kealy.
“This partnership strengthens our ability to advance PNT research, innovation, and collaboration across Australia and globally.”
PNT2026 will be held in Sydney from 4 to 6 February 2026.
