AGI is pleased to announce that the 2010 AGI Annual Conference - AGI GeoCommunity '10 - will be held in Stratford-upon-Avon on September 28th to 30th 2010.

AGI GeoCommunity is the largest and most comprehensive independent conference in the UK digital mapping and geospatial calendar. The conference provides real insight and leadership in current geographic information and location based issues via a range of keynote addresses and conference papers as well as by hands on training and face to face delegate networking.

The AGI GeoCommunity series has a proven reputation as a 'must-attend' event for a range of service delivery managers and information management  and technology professionals. Previous delegates and speakers have been drawn from Central and Local Government, Utilities, Health, Emergency Services, Infrastructure, Insurance, Marketing, Business Intelligence, Finance and Technology sectors.

This year's event will focus on the use of location to deliver operational efficiency savings, identifying and delivering excellence through the use of geographic information and measuring the positive affect spatial technology, data and insight can bring.

The formal AGI GeoCommunity '10 will open on the 29th September and offer two full days of thought leadership, practical education, knowledge transfer and real world best practice and case studies. A pre-conference  'Icebreaker'  evening event will be hosted by popular demand on 28th September 2010.

To deliver this year's event, a new Conference Committee has been established which will be chaired by Simon Doyle. Simon works within PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) Government and Public Sector consulting practice and has been involved with AGI for 15 years. He has served for 7 years on the AGI Council, holding several offices including that of Chair of the Association in 2006.

Attendance at AGI GeoCommunity '09 increased 5% against 2008, attracting 625 people. The residential format, introduced in 2007, is now well established and the event has proven its growth and sustainability.

Feedback from last year's polled delegates and sponsors at a glance;

• 97% said the conference fulfilled their expectations
• 93% preferred the residential conference format run
• 81% rated the venue as 'good' or 'excellent'
• 89% attended the conference for professional networking
• 86% attended for the conference paper programme
• 71% attended for training and hands-on sessions
• 74% came for access to new ideas, methods and technology
• 85% preferred the two day format for the conference
• 77% said 'stay at the Holiday Inn'  in 2010

AGI GeoCommunity '10 will offer a select number of sponsorship spaces to showcase new products and services and network with delegates both at the sponsors' exhibition pods and in the conference sessions and social events. The conference format will offer our sponsors an unrivalled opportunity to meet and network with the key practitioners and influencers across government and the commercial sectors.

Sponsorship packages will be released, along with the activation of the delegate on-line booking system, in February 2010.

'AGI GeoCommunity has become the biggest independent geospatial event in the UK calendar. As in previous years, conference delegate packages will be priced at very competitive rates to minimize any barriers to attend. Content will be sharply focused on what matters to us all now in the economic climate of economic and policy formulation. It will offer excellent value to all delegates, with a focus on delivering excellence through the use of location and digital mapping. We look forward to delivering a lively and appealing event that will build on the successes of the many previous AGI conferences', said Chris Holcroft, AGI Director.