We select individuals based on their unique stories, expertise. We firmly believe that our program’s integrity relies on the quality and authenticity of our speakers.
Modernization: Always be Innovating, Always Be Learning
In a world where change is the only constant, we're here to say complacency is just not in our dictionary. We're all about sparking creativity and celebrating the kaleidoscope of big ideas that fuel our journey.
Meet the Conference Facilitator
Competition is fierce and opportunities evolve constantly, there's no room for complacency. The geospatial industry must constantly be on the lookout for innovative ways to lead, succeed, and achieve greatness. We recognize that in the geospatial industry, there is no one-size-fits-all path to the future.
In the dynamic world of geospatial technology, NORTH51 Conference stands as a beacon of inspiration and guidance, presenting a theme that encapsulates the very essence of our industry's evolution.
The conference will feature discussions on competing visions of the future, offering diverse perspectives on where the industry is headed. Keynote speakers will present big ideas, inspiring attendees to think creatively and embrace the multifaceted future of geospatial technology. Industry sectors like finance, insurance, energy, and forestry are rapidly evolving and demanding more from geospatial technology than ever before. Attendees will learn what these industries need from the geospatial community and discover how modernization is reshaping their landscapes.
The central message of the conference is that there is no period of time when you can't be innovating or learning. Here, professionals come to connect, collaborate, and contribute to a collective vision of success. We have big ideas about the future of geospatial and know you do too. Attending is more than just that, it’s about sharing, challenging and pushing the status quo.
NORTH51 is safe place to collide big geospatial ideas together; a crucible for open innovation.
2024 KEYNOTES
Dr. Brianna R. Pagán is the Deputy Manager at NASA’s Goddard Earth Sciences Center now Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Marymount University, Board Member of Footprints - a non-profit incubator for climate action within the outdoor industry and an ultra runner for NNormal. Dr. Pagán is also a strong advocate for open-source science efforts and teaches courses on the intersection of technology and climate/social justice issues.
Steven C. Wofsy, the Abbott Lawrence Rotch Professor of Atmospheric and Environmental Science at Harvard University, is a renowned figure in the field. As a Faculty Associate at the Harvard University Center for the Environment and the Area Chair for Environmental Science & Engineering, his influence extends far beyond the classroom. Professor Wofsy conducts pioneering research focusing on measuring, modeling, and mitigating the vast impacts that human beings have on the atmosphere.
Robin Thurston is the CEO and founder of Outside Interactive, Inc., the world’s leading creator of outdoor content and home to iconic brands like Outside Magazine, Warren Miller, Pinkbike, GaiaGPS and others. With a mission to Get Everyone Outside, it is the leading platform for outdoor activity and home to 80 million of the most active consumers in the world by creating an experience for both longtime adventurers and those just getting started.
PROGRAM
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
4:00 pm
Hotel Check-in
Check-in to the hotel and get settled before conference activities kick off. Don’t forget to book your hotel with the N51 discount code.
The N51 kick off! Pick up your badge and catch up with colleagues over a drink and snacks.
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Welcome Drinks
Thursday, April 25, 2024
7:00 am - 8:45 am
Breakfast
Breakfast is served at your leisure in the Stirling Lounge. This is your opportunity to schedule a breakfast meeting with a new colleague, attend to your inbox, or simply enjoy breakfast alone. Vouchers for breakfast are provided when you pick up your badge.
9:00 am - 9:15 am
Opening Remarks from the Co-Chairs
The conference kicks off with an introduction to the theme: Modernization.
Will Cadell
CEO, Sparkgeo
Jonathan Neufeld
Partner, GNO-SYS
Fireside Chat with Bill Perkins
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
Keynote: From Competition to Connection: Geospatial Technologies and the Path to Climate Justice
“Nature shrinks as capital grows. The growth of the market cannot solve the very crisis it creates.” - Vandana Shiva. Technologies that are rooted in the relentless pursuit of market expansion are incompatible with genuine environmental stewardship, this irony is much more explicitly felt when thinking of the role of geospatial tech in solving the climate crisis. This talk provides a reflection of historically dominative approaches shaped by efficiency and competition while advocating for a shift towards leadership and solutions infused with connection and interdependence, including examining the roles of open-source communities, government, and private entities. This reimagining leverages geospatial technologies not just for economic gain, but as tools for cultivating a more equitable and environmentally resilient world.
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Brianna Pagán
Deputy Manager – ADNET/GES DISC, NASA
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Break
Get some air, stretch your legs, and have a coffee with a new industry friend.
In a world where change is our only constant, join us for an invigorating panel discussion that explores the pivotal role of geospatial services in meeting the ever-evolving needs of diverse markets. Engage in a forward-thinking conversation where complacency has no place, and innovation is the compass guiding our journey. Discover how geospatial solutions are reshaping industries, from forestry and utility to insurance, government, and climate sectors. This session is not just about modernizing; it's about navigating the complexities of diverse markets and contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Evolution for Diverse Markets
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Zac Deziel
Project Operations, Development Seed
Moderator
Kate Van Dam
Strategy & Growth,
Skyfi
Get some air, stretch your legs, and have a coffee with a new industry friend.
2:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Break
Will Cadell
CEO, Sparkgeo
Bill Perkins
Hedge Fund Manager & Venture Capitalist
The Social Summit is a highlight of NORTH51! Continue discussions around your big ideas for the geospatial industry over great food & drink at Bridgette Bar Canmore.
NORTH51 Social Summit
Breakfast is served at your leisure in the Stirling Lounge. This is your opportunity to schedule a breakfast meeting with a new colleague, attend to your inbox, or simply enjoy breakfast alone. Vouchers for breakfast are provided when you pick up your badge.
7:30 am - 8:45 am
Breakfast
Friday, April 26, 2024
9:00 am - 9:05
Opening Remarks
Public or Private: The Future of Global Positioning
Building the most sophisticated GNSS constellations and positioning services has become great power competition. GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou all provide global positioning services representing the United States, European Union, Russia and China respectively. Galileo and BeiDou are investing heavily in next generation LEO constellations and sophisticated augmentation/security services. The United States has left a gap that is rapidly being filled in by private ventures. How will these differing strategies impact the future of global positioning and all the services that depend on them.
9:05 am - 9:30 am
Redefining Horizons: The Power of Modern Mapping
Join industry leaders, technology experts, and mapping enthusiasts as we showcase the power and potential of modern mapping solutions. In a world where complacency has no place, this session delves into the latest advancements, from real-time data integration to artificial intelligence-driven cartography. Be part of the conversation as we navigate the exciting landscape of modern mapping, unlocking new possibilities and charting the course for the future of geospatial technology.
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Maggie Cawley
Executive Director, OpenStreetMap US
Moderator
Linda Stevens
Advisor, FELT
Rachel Olney
CEO, Geosite
Sam Acheson
COO, Teren
Dilshan Kathriarachchi
CTO, Riskthinking.AI
11:30am - 12:00 pm
Global Monitoring from Space – Ongoing challenges to Facility and Activity Monitoring and what the Geospatial Industry is doing about it…
Monitoring large numbers of activities and facilities from Space has long been an aspirational “Holy Grail” for satellite remote sensing. But lack of observational cadence, collection capacity, sufficient resolution, multi-source capabilities, and contextual understanding of monitored sites has meant that true monitoring has been limited to just a handful of key facilities and mission use cases. Will we as an industry be able to overcome current challenges and turn Site Monitoring into a mainstream geospatial capability? And if we do, is there a profitable business opportunity? Scott will explore a number of key trends and new developments related to the promise of Global Monitoring from Space.
Scott Herman
Chief Product Officer, Maxar
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
Enjoy lunch and networking (conversation starter: Who is your favorite speaker so far?)
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Why the remote sensing industry is broken (and what we can do to fix it).
For over a decade, those of us in the industry have been waiting for a breakthrough, a seminal moment where all of the use-cases remote sensing "could" unlock, are unlocked. Yet over the same period of time, and after billions of dollars in private investment, this moment remains elusive. During this talk, we'll take a raw look at the challenges that have consistently held us back, and the things that only we as an industry can do to fix them.
John-Isaac Clark
Head of Product, Array Labs
Keynote: Addressing methane emissions with geospatial data from MethaneAIR and MethaneSAT
Concentrations of methane in the atmosphere have tripled since pre-industrial time, contributing to human-caused warming of the climate. This talk will introduce MethaneSAT and MethaneAIR imaging spectrometers intended to observe methane emissions from the oil and gas value chain and other sources (landfills, intensive agriculture), with the goal to provide actionable data to mitigate methane emissions.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Steven Wofsy
Professor of Atmospheric & Environmental Science, Harvard University
Seeding the Connection: The Rise of Geospatial Investments
During this session, capital experts and investors will share insights into the diverse areas capturing attention and financial support within the geospatial domain, spanning from cutting-edge technologies to innovative applications. They’ll discuss the variables influencing investment decisions in geospatial technologies and gain foresight into their perspectives on the future of the geospatial landscape. Join us for an essential conversation that seamlessly bridges the gap between geospatial innovation and strategic investments, offering a unique opportunity to navigate the dynamic geospatial ecosystem.
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Luke Fischer
CEO, Skyfi
Moderator
Shawn Gervais
VP, Foresight & Talent Development, DIGITAL
Dan Lopez
Co-Founder, Neural.io
Paul Meier
Partner, Cultivation Capital
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wherever you are, start making your way to the Edinburgh Room for the first session of the day. Don’t worry, we’ll have coffee.
8:45 am - 9:00 am
Travel Time
Bonny McClain
Conference Facilitator
Sean Gorman
Co-Founder & CEO, Zephr.xyz
Allan Walker
Head of Solutions Architecture, Mapbox
Stephanie May
Ex-Director - Geospatial at Stamen
10:30 am - 10:45 am
Break
Get some air, stretch your legs, and have a coffee with a new industry friend.
Innovative Thinking, Unconventional Organizations
This session is a celebration of the unconventional, spotlighting geospatial pioneers bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the forefront. Join a captivating discussion with leaders from unconventional geospatial organizations as they share their unique journeys and challenges. Gain insights into strategies and technological approaches that break away from the ordinary. This session is a must-attend for those curious about emerging players in the geospatial arena, eager to learn how unconventional thinking drives innovation, and excited to discover the untapped potential within the world of spatial technologies.
10:45 am - 11:45 am
Jed Sundwall
Executive Director, Radiant Earth
Ian Schuler
CEO, Development Seed
Tee Barr
Director of Product - Geospatial, Verisk - Extreme Event Solutions
Priscilla Cole
Senior Solutions Engineer, ICEYE
Ivan Buendía Gayton
Product Innovation Specialist and Humanitarian Advisor, Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team
11:45 am - 12:30 pm
The Evolution of Consumer Geospatial Tech in Outdoor Adventures
Robin Thurston, Founder & CEO of Outside Interactive, Inc, will share the historical progression of consumer geospatial technology, from early iterations to the widespread accessibility we see today. He will discuss the impact of geospatial technology on outdoor experiences and future trends at the intersection of geospatial technology and outdoor recreation, particularly within the next 3-5 years.
Robin Thurston
Co-Founder & CEO, Outside
Closing Remarks from the Conference Facilitator
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm
Bonny McClain
Conference Facilitator
Past Contributors
Sean Gorman
Co-Founder and CEO
Zephr.xyz Inc.
Tee Barr (They/Them)
Director of Product - Geospatial
Verisk
Matt Hanson
Geospatial Engineering Lead
Element 84
Marc Prioleau
Executive Director
Overture Maps Foundation
Alex Miller
President and Founder
ESRI Canada Limited
Janine Yoong
COO
Remedy Robotics
Maggie Cawley
Executive Director
OpenStreetMaps US
Benjamin Tuttle
CTO
EOI Space
Michael Jeffe
Sr. Manager, Product Manager
Maxar Technologies
Luke Fisher
Co-Founder and CEO
SkyFi App
Joe Morrison
VP of Commercial Experience
Umbra
Shay Strong
VP of Analytics
ICEYE
Johnny Dyer
CEO
Muon Space
Stephanie Germain
President
GHGSat Inc.
Sponsor Code of Conduct
At NORTH51, we are committed to providing a platform where sponsors can share their insights, experiences, and perspectives with our audience. We firmly believe that our program’s integrity relies on the quality and authenticity of our speakers. To ensure a meaningful event, we have established this sponsor code of conduct.
We do not sell speaking slots. We select individuals based on their unique stories, expertise and the relevance of their content to our conference theme.
Sponsors should clearly communicate their affiliations with our event, and any sponsored content should be presented as such. Transparency is essential to maintain the integrity of our event.
We encourage networking and collaboration, sponsors are not permitted to engage unsolicited solicitation of attendees.
All attendees will have access to the official attendee list, which is based on consent from the individuals. Copying this list into corporate databases or sending mass marketing emails is prohibited. This attendee list is there to foster one-to-one collaboration.
Stay Updated!
We’ll send you important event updates including sposnorship opportunities, registration deadlines, and speaker updates. Don’t worry, we ‘ll only send you one a month.