Scott Simmons
Open Geospatial Consortium

Mr. Simmons is OGC’s Chief Standards Officer. In this role, he provides oversight and direction to the Consortium’s technical and program operations and deliverables. Mr. Simmons also continues to lead the OGC Standards Program, where he ensures that standards progress through the organization’s consensus process to approval and publication. Preceding his time as a member of OGC staff, Mr. Simmons was an active member of OGC, promoting best practices in 3D Information Management (3DIM) as chair of the OGC 3DIM Domain Working Group and chairing or participating in numerous OGC infrastructure, mobility, and web services working groups. His OGC-related research has focused on data lifecycle management, integration, and dissemination.

Mr. Simmons was formerly an Executive Director for CACI International, Inc. (CACI). At CACI, Mr. Simmons responsibilities included alignment of new business opportunities with fielded or researched capabilities in the geospatial domain. CACI acquired TechniGraphics, Inc. in 2010 where Mr. Simmons was the Chief Technology Officer. From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Simmons worked as a consulting geologist in the areas of structural geology, seismic risk, and geochemistry for GeoSyntec Consultants, where he also founded and managed the firm’s geospatial operations.

From 1988 until 1993, Mr. Simmons worked as an exploration and production geologist in the oil and gas industry where he had particular expertise in redevelopment of declining oil and gas fields as well as the practical application of geospatial technology. Mr. Simmons has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Wooster, on the Advisory Board of the GIS Cluster at the Rocky Mountain Innosphere, and as a subject matter expert for seminars at universities and conferences around the World. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the University of Texas and a Master of Science degree in Geology from Southern Methodist University.

Dr. Tingbao Xu
Australian National University

Dr. Tingbao Xu have been actively engaged in spatio-temporal analysis and modelling in natural resources, environment, climate, agriculture since early 1980s, and have gained extensive experience in climate data interpolation and analysis; climate change impact assessment; environment and natural resources inventory and mapping; agriculture bioclimatic environment analysis and crop yield forecasting; and other relevant applications. Dr. Xu also has a solid background and productive application experience with GIS, Remote Sensing and computing. Dr. Xu has a rich experience of supervision on Master and PhD students, and undergraduate student projects.

  • Senior Manager (Research) 2011 – present (Senior Modeller 2005 – 2010), Fenner School of Environment & Society, ANU
  • Research Scientist 1999-2005 and Manager for spatial data management and modelling 2001-2005, AGRECON, University of Canberra.
  • Senior GIS officer 1998-1999, ERIN, Department of Environment and Heritage of Australia.
  • PhD Student 1994-1997 and Research Officer 1995-1997, CRES, ANU.
  • Visiting Fellow 1992-1993, CRES, ANU.
  • Assistant Professor 1985-1991, Institute of Remote Sensing and GIS, Beijing University.

(More keynote speakers to be announced soon!)