Tēnā koutou and thanks for taking an interest in my first contribution to the New Zealand Geospatial Strategy website. I'm Mary Sue Severn and I'm the new director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI). Personally, I've never blogged, tweeted or knowingly been "followed" before so I'm covering new ground here. I thought, in this first instalment, you might find it useful to find out what I've been up to during my first 3 weeks on the job. Let me tell you what I've learned so far and what my plans are for the upcoming months (and how it may involve you).

My first task was to come up to speed with the systems, processes, protocols, etc for the New Zealand Geospatial Office (NZGO). With that embedded, I spent quality time with Adam Cooper to learn as much as possible about the development of the CRCSI NZ branch. This has enabled me to hit the ground running but there's still so much to learn! I now have a good understanding of the potential that CRCSI New Zealand offers by way of economic and social benefits for CRCSI participants as well as the wider society. And by the way, some of you will have met with Adam and Michael Ridout (Communications Director, CRCSI, Perth) in the set up phase of the CRCSI branch in New Zealand.

This past week Adam Cooper, Michael Ridout and I met with a number of organisations in Wellington and Christchurch. A common theme ran through these conversations.

• There is a real and pressing need for capacity building in the geospatial sector. Opportunities include:
  • expanding the knowledge of IT people to include geospatial technology
  • offering continuing education (including short courses) to people working in the geospatial sector
  • encouraging more young people to enrol in tertiary educational geography programmes
  • developing a vibrant geospatial industry in New Zealand in order to keep our graduates here and to entice more overseas specialists to our shores.
• We must find ways to move faster in order to not be left behind.
  • We must accelerate important programmes such as the development of a spatial data infrastructure for New Zealand.
  • People are keen to contribute to cross-Tasman opportunities and to take the fine work we produce here and showcase it internationally.  This allows us to draw on expertise from Australian participants.
• Working together across sectors is an essential means to help everyone fulfil their respective needs and obligations.
  • Government wants to find effective ways to improve performance and reduce inefficiencies.
  • The private sector wants to engage better with government and to grow their businesses.
  • Academia wants to participate in valued research and innovations.

It's most appropriate then that the CRCSI is designed to bring together people from these 3 sectors to formulate collaborative research and innovation projects. I plan to meet and listen to people in these sectors who wish to share their ideas and explore how they could participate in CRCSI programmes. Let's get together - you can email me on msevern@linz.govt.nz or call me on +64 4 460 0188. I would love to hear from you.

There has never been a time in history when "geospatial" has been so hot a topic and not only amongst geospatial professionals. Case in point: The 2010 NZ Hi-Tech Awards saw 3 geospatial businesses amongst the top winners (EROAD, TracMap and Navico). Congratulations to each of you (and by the way, I'll be in touch for a chat).

Ka kite anō.

Mary Sue Severn

Director CRCSI New Zealand | www.crcsi.com.au
New Zealand Geospatial Office