PSMA Australia’s Board of Directors paid tribute to Mr Olaf (Ollie) Hedberg AM, who is retiring from his position as Chairman after serving with distinction since 2001.
Mr Hedberg was an inaugural member of the Public Sector Mapping Agencies, which, in 1992, won the contract issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics to build the first digital mapping dataset for Australia.
As the organisation grew and ultimately became the company PSMA Australia Limited in 2001, Mr Hedberg was appointed as the first Independent Chairman.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, the Chief Executive of PSMA Australia, Mr Dan Paull, said, ‘The Board thanks the retiring Chairman, Ollie Hedberg, for his vision, support and guidance to PSMA Australia. Ollie’s knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in the geospatial arena are unparalleled, and his contribution has largely shaped the successful organisation that exists today‘.
‘I thank him for this outstanding contribution to PSMA Australia and for his strong support to me as Chief Executive. Together, over more than a decade, we have worked to see PSMA Australia fulfil its vision. We wish him well in his retirement.’
Reflecting on his twenty years of involvement with the organisation, Mr Hedberg acknowledged the vision of his predecessor.
‘The former Chairman Professor Don Grant AM exhibited remarkable foresight and determination and during these years as Chairman, I have endeavoured to uphold those original ideals,’ Mr Hedberg said.
‘Over the past 12 years, the Directors have worked enthusiastically and cooperatively to expand and improve the breadth and standard of the datasets we make available to Australia and the rest of the world.
‘I compliment my fellow Board members, our Chief Executive Officer Dan Paull and his dedicated staff for their skill and commitment that has made PSMA Australia the thriving enterprise that it is today.
‘I hand the incoming Chairman a dynamic company that will continue to grow and impact on geospatial data and developments around the world.’
Mr Hedberg will be succeeded by Mr Glenn Appleyard, a member of the PSMA Australia Board since October 2011. Mr Appleyard has been a member of the Commonwealth Grants Commission since 2004 and Chairman of the Tasmanian Economic Regulator. He is a former member of the Accounting Standards Board, where he served between 2002-2011.
Two new directors have been appointed to the PSMA Australia Board as representatives of jurisdictions. The new directors are:
- Ms Helen Owens, General Manager, Office of Spatial Policy from the Australian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- Mr Fabio Finocchiaro, Senior Director, Land Information at the Northern Territory Department of Lands and Planning.
Mr Hedberg also thanked outgoing director Mr Vic Stephens for his contributions over many years.
