Dr Peter Woodgate. Image courtesy RMIT.
Dr Peter Woodgate has been appointed Director and President designate for the proposed new geospatial peak body that is expected to form in a merger between the Surveying & Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) and the Spatial Business Industries Association (SIBA|GITA).
The announcement was made today by the boards of both organisations.
Dr Woodgate has had a career in the space and geospatial sectors that has spanned more than 30 years.
He is currently Chair of the SmartSat CRC, Chair of the Steering Committee for the 2030 Space and Spatial Industries Growth Roadmap, Chair of the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network, and Chair of Canthera Discovery (a national cancer therapeutics research organisation).
He is also a member of the Australian Space Agency’s Space Industry Leaders Forum, a Board member of Geoscape Australia and an Honorary Fellow of SSSI.
The merger of SSSI and SIBA|GITA will be voted on by members at the SSSI AGM on 10 November 2022 and the SIBA|GITA AGM on 11 November 2022.
If the vote is positive, the inaugural Board will comprise representatives from both the current SSSI and SIBA|GITA Boards, other esteemed members and independent directors, who will help guide the development of the new organisation.
“It is an exciting time for our sector, and we look forward to capitalising on the emerging opportunities with geospatial being an increasingly important component of the national economy,” said SSSI’s President, Paul Digney.
“The SSSI Board believes the positive response received at our Extraordinary General Meeting held earlier this year, where members indicated their confidence in us to continue the conversation with SIBA|GITA about a potential merger, was a strong indication of support for the formation of a peak geospatial body.”
SIBA|GITA Chair, Alistair Byrom, said the new Board would benefit greatly from Dr Woodgate’s many years of commercial experience plus his strong business acumen.
“The time is right to establish a geospatial peak body which truly represents and advocates on behalf of individuals and organisations and is a champion for positive change within our sector,” he said.
More information regarding the merger can be found on the SSSI and SIBA|GITA websites, or by emailing consultation@sssi.org.au.
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