This week we’re celebrating International Women’s Day 2025 coming up on 8 March showcasing outstanding individuals who are helping to shape Australia’s geospatial sector.
In this interview we speak with Aurora Foo, Senior Geospatial Analyst working in Geoscience Australia’s National Location Information Branch. Foo was awarded the Diversity and Inclusion Award in the recent ACT round of the national Geospatial Excellence Awards.
Please tell us about your current role and responsibilities.
I specialise in spatial data manipulation and transformation using FME. I work in partnership with the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation to contribute the development of national foundation spatial datasets, and to identify and transform civilian spatial data for defence use. I have also been involved in the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability, having led the technical development of the National Bushfire Boundaries data service Geoscience Australia produces, which brings together bushfire mapping undertaken by the states and territories into a suite of nationally consistent datasets.
How did you get into this field and what attracted you to it?
After finishing high school in Sydney, I went to uni in Canberra. Initially I wanted to be a political journalist. In the very Canberra way, my casual job to get me through uni was with the government. More specifically, I worked in what was then the Australian Government’s Crisis Coordination Centre (CCC) — the 24/7 monitoring and reporting function of the then Emergency Management Australia (now the National Emergency Management Agency’s National Situation Room).
My ‘Ahah!’ moment came in mid-2020. There was flooding in NSW at the time, and I saw some of Geoscience Australia’s amazing spatial people embedded with us in the CCC take Copernicus satellite imagery of these floods and run it through the Australian Exposure Information Platform.
It blew my mind. Being able to identify population demographics — how many businesses, roads, schools, critical infrastructure were affected — all from working with a satellite image. To someone who at the time was non-spatial, the fact that this was possible was astonishing and inspiring. It led me to reconsider my studies during COVID, and the rest is history!
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I really enjoy problem solving. Doing data manipulation where my main goal is to try and put a square peg (or several) into a round hole, and figuring out how to do that, is quite rewarding.
Are there any personal qualities or attributes that are helpful to have in this field?
Curiosity, empathy and kindness. There’s always something new you can learn, be it a technical or soft skill, a new way of thinking, or a new perspective. Having the kindness and empathy to engage with people, learn from them, lead them and be led by them… that is really important in any sector. But given the fundamentally multidisciplinary nature of GIS — it being a vital component of emergency management, policy development, defence, environmental management, mineral resources, and so many other sectors that are critical to the economy —practitioners need to come to the table with a curious, kind and empathetic mindset.
What makes you most proud about your role and achievements?
The nationally significant, life-saving work that the National Bushfire Intelligence Capability does is inspiring, and seeing how the Bushfire Boundaries data service is being integrated into so many important functions across governments and the private sector is incredible.
However, I am most proud of being able to advocate for trans people like myself. Representing Geoscience Australia on an interdepartmental panel for IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) was a real honour. Likewise when I gave an acceptance speech for the Bushfire Boundaries work’s win at APS Data Awards, being able to use that platform to advocate for trans people in a room full of senior government leaders, and having people come up to me throughout the night — parents with trans kids, fellow trans people at the awards, or even random strangers — and thank me for my words, and for being a visible trans woman. That makes me proud.
Have you had any struggles during your career? Conversely, have you had support?
As a transgender woman I have had tremendous support from my colleagues and the niche of the geospatial community I work in. Coming out as an adult was a terrifying experience, which could have had incredibly profound negative consequences if it went wrong. However, I have received nothing but support and encouragement from my colleagues, unlike so many fellow trans women.
I am lucky that there are a lot of incredible women around where I work. My direct manager, Kat Owen, is absolutely lovely and we work together incredibly well. Having Lisa Bush and Maree Wilson as senior leaders is really inspiring.
My managers and teammates — for many of whom I am the first trans person they’ve met — have gone out of their way to learn and understand the best practices for working with and managing trans colleagues, which makes me feel welcomed and a valued member of the team.
However, it is still far too common that I am the only woman, or women are a small minority, in the room in spatial and emergency management workplaces.
We need more women in the geospatial sector. Do you have any ideas?
People have been saying that the geospatial sector needs better marketing for years now, so I won’t labour that point. However, I do believe that the geospatial field needs to be humanised. We need more diverse people telling impactful, human stories about the power of spatial. If you gave me the typical pitch for a geospatial career in high school, I would’ve been scared away. It is only through directly seeing how powerful spatial capabilities are in action that I was inspired to pursue a spatial career.
We need to better showcase the kinds of problems that GIS and geospatial can solve and do so in a way that can connect with people who don’t have the same kind of technical or data literacy we do. We also need align what we do with the socially conscious mindset of the next generation, and better highlight that we as a sector value diversity and inclusivity.
What would you say to young women who are considering a career in geospatial?
Be courageous, be curious, be bold. There are so many fascinating and incredible places a geospatial career can take you that that careers fairs won’t tell you about.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I believe that it is important for employers and leaders in the sector to demonstrate their commitment to inclusion and valuing diversity, especially in this political moment. People are at their best when they can bring their whole, authentic self to work. We are living in a time when the words ‘transgender’ and ‘queer’ are being systematically erased, research grants that contain the word ‘women’ are being defunded, and life-saving gender affirming healthcare is being banned. People need to know that they can feel safe at work, and that their sector values who they truly are.
A recent industry-wide survey has shown that 15% of Australia’s geospatial community are LGBTQIA+. Now more than ever it is important that this 15% feel safe, secure and welcome at work in our geospatial community. As a sector, we need to show that we support women, LGBTQIA+ people — especially trans and gender diverse people, or anyone from a diverse background, by raising our voices and making clear that we are an inclusive and welcoming community.
