Lord Roger Chorley steps down after 20 years as AGI Honorary President

The Association for Geographic Information (AGI) celebrated its 20 year anniversary on the 26th November in London. Lord Chorley, chairman of the committee that published the seminal 1987 government report on the handling of geographic information, was in attendance and also presented to delegates.

The establishment of the AGI was a result of activity triggered by the Chorley Report's recommendations. Lord Chorley subsequently accepted the position of AGI Honourary President, a role he served in for 20 years, deciding at the time of the 20th anniversary to formally step down.

In awarding Lord Chorley with an AGI Outstanding Achievement Award, John Pepper, AGI Chairman 2009 stated the following:

'The Chorley Report is seen as the catalyst that led to the establishment of the AGI. Whilst the nature of the organisation we see now is due to subsequent developments rather than the letter of the report, Lord Chorley added his stature and credibility to our then fledgling organisation as its first, and to date, only Honorary President. For twenty years Lord Chorley has been happy to serve in this position, to show interest in and represent AGI as appropriate. At this juncture, after a sterling tenure of two decades he has decided to step down and with sincere gratitude and good wishes we now seek to offer Lord Chorley an AGI Special Achievement Award as a small token of thanks marking his significant contribution'.

AGI is extremely grateful for Lord Chorley's great support and interest during its first 20 years and offers him its very best wishes.

About Lord Chorley

Roger Chorley, 2nd Baron Chorley, a chartered accountant, worked for Coopers and Lybrand from 1954 to 1989. Over the years he has been a member of the Royal Commission on the Press, the Ordnance Survey Review Committee, a board member of the Royal National Theatre and the British Council.

From 1985 to 1987 Chorley chaired the Committee on Handling of Geographic Information, known as the 'Chorley Committee' that published Handling Geographic Information: Report of the Committee of Enquiry chaired by Lord Chorley, HMSO, ISBN 0-11-752015-2. He subsequently became Honorary Chairman of the Association for Geographic Information (AGI) between 1989 and 2009.

Lord Chorley inherited his Baronacy in 1978 and is one of the ninety elected hereditary peers to remain after the House of Lords Act 1999. He sits as a cross-bencher.