Dr Peter Woodgate as has been formally ratified as President of the new Geospatial Council of Australia. Image courtesy RMIT.

The new Geospatial Council of Australia (GCA) has held its inaugural Board Meeting, during which it formally ratified Dr Peter Woodgate as President.

The GCA is being formed as a result of the merger of the Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) and the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA|GITA).

The inaugural meeting was the first opportunity for the Board to come together and begin preparations for the GCA’s official launch in March 2023.

The Board also ratified the appointment of Paul Digney and Alistair Byrom as Deputy Presidents. Both Deputy Presidents will provide support and strategic guidance and act as President when required.

In addition, Jacinta Burns, Kate Ramsay, Darren Mottolini and Roshni Sharma were ratified as Directors of The Geospatial Council.

Dr Woodgate thanked members for putting their trust in him to lead the new industry peak body and said it is an exciting time for the sector as it is on the cusp of substantial growth.

“In order for us to take advantage of all the opportunities ahead we need to build a strong foundation for the Geospatial Council so we can dedicate our time and resources to the areas that really matter for our members,” Dr Woodgate said.

“The one critical issue that unites our industry is the need to build industry capability and capacity and as such Workforce Development will be our initial core focus,” he said.

Dr Woodgate said that over coming weeks the GCA’s Board will focus on setting the strategic direction for the Council and ensuring it effectively represents both individual and organisation members.

As the transition to the GCA proceeds, members of the former SSSI and SIBA|GITA will be notified of how their existing membership will transfer to the new body.