Steven Ramage leads external relations at the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat, this involves focussing on the interfaces between science, technology, policy and decisions. He is on the Governing Board of Digital Earth Africa and the Advisory Board of EO4GEO. Steven was an owner/director of 1Spatial before taking on a role as Executive Director of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), and then Managing Director of Ordnance Survey International. Steven is a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Future Cities, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and SASNet Fellow at the Urban Big Data Centre at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He's also a member of the OGC Global Advisory Council and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS).

Alex is a certified spatial professional with extensive experience in software development, DevOps and project management. Alex is a founding Director and the current Chair of OSGeo Oceania and has spent time volunteering for the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute, GovHack, GeoRabble and gets paid in stickers to do GeoHipster interviews. When not writing code, or at least talking to people about writing code, he shares care of his three kids and loves a great craft beer. Alex works at Geoscience Australia, leading a team of software developers and data wranglers helping people to more easily access and analyse Earth observation data.

Tony Alexander has worked as an economist in New Zealand since 1987, initially with Westpac, then a share broking firm before almost 26 years with the BNZ as Chief Economist. He went out on his own late in 2019 and spends considerable time writing about the NZ economy with an emphasis on the housing market and explaining key economic developments in layman’s terms.

He is a columnist for the Sunday Star-Times and frequently delivers webinars as well as presentations in person.  

JANNAT MAQBOOL

With a focus on leveraging technology in innovative ways to benefit individuals, organisations and communities, Jannat Maqbool is the Smart Cities Advisor at Hamilton City Council, Principal Advisor for Asia Pacific in IoT, Agritech and Fintech with Ecosystm, Director NZ at the Smart Cities Council ANZ, and NZ Lead at the Centre for Data Leadership, which includes the Digital Twin Hub.  Jannat is also actively engaged in other areas within the NZ technology sector supporting initiatives promoting and building digital capacity. 

SAMANTHA GADD

Samantha Gadd is Founder and CEO of Humankind, a business with the vision to create the best employee experiences in the world. Humankind (formerly HR Shop) was a 2015 Deloitte Fast 50 winner, and named fastest growing services business in the Wellington region in the same year.

Samantha is obsessed with Employee Experience and the difference it can have on business performance. Samantha has advised hundreds of organisations over the last 15 years on leadership, culture, performance and all things people. She is passionate about the future of work and the importance of modern leadership to attract and retain top talent. Samantha is currently focused on growing Humankind and recently launched  the first Employee Experience Awards programme in New Zealand. Also Mum to three young boys, Samantha is experienced at blending life and work.