Location Wales 2012

It was my privilege again this year to chair AGI Cymru, bringing my tenure as chair to an end. It has been a pleasure to contribute to the group as chair for the past two years and network with AGI steering group members who always show enthusiasm and excitement for all things spatial. It has been a really enjoyable personal learning experience and several spin off projects have resulted from this professional network of people.

As usual, the thrust of our efforts in the latter half of 2012 has been towards the winter conference which this year moved to a new venue at the SWALEC stadium. The new venue along with a top line up of speakers contributed to an excellent conference with a packed agenda. We also had excellent representation from a great range of exhibitors. An enormous thanks to all who contributed.

If you‘d like to catch up on any presentations you missed during the day, or if you couldn’t make the event at all, they are available from the AGI website here.

As well as highlighting an excellent conference, the other reason for writing this blog was to mention the AGI volunteer of the year award. At this years conference we had the pleasure of the company of Peter Capell (AGI Chief Executive) who presented AGI Cymru’s Sue Beetlestone with the award at the conference opening (pictured below).

Sue commented on the award : "I am honoured to be awarded the AGI " Volunteer of the Year" Award for 2012. I feel passionately about the value of Geographic Information and about the importance of the role that the AGI plays in promoting its’ use. In addition to my own fairly long association with the AGI, my former colleagues at Powys County Council have made significant contributions to the work of the AGI." Its great that Sue has received this recognition for her years of hard work, the award is well deserved, so congratulations to Sue from all at AGI Cymru.

On reflection over the past two years, it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience, with minor frustrations, thankfully stemming from a lot of enthusiasm at meetings but not enough time to complete tasks…..if only there were more hours in the day ! I look forward to continuing my support to AGI Cymru in 2013 and beyond.

Geraint Davies
(AGI Cymru Chair, 2012 – 2013)