AGI Northern Ireland celebrated a landmark success with its largest-ever annual conference held on Thursday, 12th June 2025, at the historic Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.
With over 170 registered attendees, the event brought together geospatial professionals from the UK and Ireland, highlighting the growing importance of spatial data, collaboration, and interoperability in the region.
Under the theme “Bridging the Divide: Advancing Geospatial Collaboration and Interoperability,” this year’s conference addressed the unique challenges and opportunities in Northern Ireland’s geospatial landscape. With data inconsistencies and fragmentation across jurisdictions still a major concern, speakers and delegates explored practical ways to build bridges—technological, organisational, and professional—across both islands.
Programme Highlights
The event featured a rich and diverse programme, combining keynotes, plenary discussions, focused breakout tracks, technology demonstrations, and poster sessions. While a few technical hiccups occurred, they were met with good humour, and the day carried on smoothly. Highlights included:
- Keynote Address – Ed Parsons (OGC): Ed Parsons, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors at the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), opened the day with a compelling keynote, “It’s All About the Data – Next Steps on the Voyage of Interoperability.” His insights set the tone for the day, focusing on the future of open standards, integrated platforms, and the importance of geospatial governance.
- Real-World Impact – The HALO Trust (John Cartledge, KOREC): John Cartledge from KOREC delivered a moving presentation on the work of The HALO Trust, showing how advanced geospatial tools are used to locate and remove landmines in conflict zones—highlighting the tangible humanitarian impact of spatial data.
- Earth Observation in Action: Sara Stewart from Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) introduced their new Earth Observation platform, OREO NI, demonstrating how this innovative tool will enhance regional data capabilities. Claire Young from DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) also showcased practical applications, including how remote sensing is employed to monitor blue-green algae in Lough Neagh, vital for environmental protection.
- Interoperability in Practice: Sessions explored interoperability challenges and solutions across critical sectors such as utilities, infrastructure development, and environmental planning. A notable lightning talk by KPMG presented a compelling case study using AI to evaluate factors impacting cycling route safety in inner-city Dublin, illustrating practical data integration.
- Building Geo-literacy and Skills: Alastair Hamill from Lurgan College shared truly inspiring work by his students, demonstrating how they are building geo-literacy to engage and empower local communities through geospatial projects. This session was a real highlight, underscoring the importance of nurturing future geospatial talent. Glen Bambrick and Richard Dzikiti also presented insightful findings from the 2024 GIS Skills & Salary Survey for Ireland, offering a timely snapshot of geospatial career trends and opportunities.
- Women in Geo: Join the Movement: Marion Murphy, Chairperson of the Irish Chapter of EUROGI Women in Geospatial, invited attendees to connect with the group to learn more about their work fostering a supportive and inclusive community for women in the geospatial sector. The chapter organises regular meetups, webinars, and networking events aimed at empowering women and promoting diversity across the industry. Attendees were encouraged to get involved, discover new opportunities, and help grow this vibrant community.
- Academic and Research Contributions: The conference included a significant influence from academia, including a presentation by Dr. Christopher Rushton from the University of Leeds on “Dashboards for Communicating and Disseminating Air Quality Data,” providing valuable insights into effective data visualization and public engagement. Furthermore, institutions such as Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University, and others contributed through both oral presentations and a wide array of cutting-edge research showcased in dedicated poster presentations.
- Technology Demonstrations and Exhibits: Throughout the day, various vendors and tech partners hosted live demonstrations and exhibits, offering attendees hands-on exposure to the latest geospatial tools and software, fostering practical knowledge exchange and showcasing market innovations.
- Panel Discussion – The State of Interoperability: A panel of experts from academia, industry, and the public sector shared candid insights into the current state and future prospects of data interoperability within Northern Ireland’s geospatial ecosystem, sparking lively debate.
- Poster Presentations: A vibrant and dedicated poster area showcased a diverse variety of geospatial projects, innovative case studies, and academic research, encouraging informal discussion and valuable networking among attendees.
The day concluded with the popular GeoBeers networking reception, allowing delegates to relax, forge new connections, and continue conversations in a friendly and informal atmosphere, further strengthening the community spirit.
A huge thank you to all our sponsors, 1Spatial, Esri Ireland, IMGS, KOREC, LANDCLAN, Mallon, Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) and Geolytical, your generous support made this event possible. Your investment in the geospatial community is helping shape the future of collaboration, innovation, and professional development in the sector. We are sincerely grateful for your partnership and commitment.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 AGI Northern Ireland Conference was more than just an event—it was a dynamic platform for exchange, innovation, and connection. As the region continues to strengthen its geospatial capacity, the momentum from this year’s conference will continue to build bridges across disciplines, sectors, and borders.
Watch this space for details on our end-of-summer social and upcoming webinars! We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 AGI Northern Ireland Conference!
Members can visit our AGI Member Resources, for presentations, posters and event photos.