Keynote Speakers
The ICC25 keynote series brings together global leaders who are shaping the future of cartography and geospatial science. From digital twins and AI to Indigenous environmental justice and open data ecosystems, these sessions reflect the conference’s core theme: Mapping the Future—Innovation, Inclusion, and Sustainability. This year’s line-up was thoughtfully curated to reflect a diversity of voices and perspectives, with a strong commitment to balanced representation and equity across the program.
Chris Brackley
Chief Cartographer, Canadian Geographic
Chris Brackley is the Chief Cartographer for Canadian Geographic Magazine and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and co-owner of As the Crow Flies Cartography. He grew up in Toronto, Canada spending time adventuring in a nearby valley of the Wonscotonach (Don River), and enjoying summers paddling the lakes and rivers in the Anishinaabe Territory of Algonquin Park.
Working for 13 years as a canoe trip guide and Earth-educator at Camp Pathfinder in Algonquin, Chris fell in love with maps when he experienced the power they possessed to reveal the secrets of what was around-the-bend or over the next hill. Making his own maps was a natural marriage of his love of land his passion for art and design.
He has had the privilege of working on thousands of maps for Canadian Geographic, but none have been more transformative than those he created for the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada (IPAC) in 2018. Since this project his cartographic work has reflected the understanding he gained through IPAC, namely that all lands and waters in Canada have unbroken and foundational connections to local and/or displaced Indigenous people. Today, the maps he designs routinely declare these connections by labelling the land with the local Indigenous Nation’s names or languages, expressly sharing his understanding that colonial claims to land and water are incomplete without recognition of the sovereign connections of First Peoples.
He lives with his wife and two children in the Missinnihe (Credit River) Watershed in a small town near a big forest and a meandering river.
Session: A Cartographer’s Journey: Putting Indigenous Peoples Back on the Map at Canadian Geographic
DATE: Friday, August 22, 2025
Ryan E. Emanuel
Associate Professor of Hydrology, Duke University
Ryan Emanuel is an associate professor of hydrology at Duke University, where he leads a research group that studies the impacts of climate change, pollution, and unsustainable development on water, ecosystems, and people. Emanuel partners with Indigenous communities to understand changing landscapes through the lenses of environmental justice and Indigenous rights. His work aims to build capacity within communities and to amplify voices of Indigenous peoples and marginalized groups in environmental decision-making. Before joining Duke in 2022, Emanuel was Professor of Hydrology and University Faculty Scholar at North Carolina State University. He is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and his book, On the Swamp: Fighting for Indigenous Environmental Justice, was published in 2024 by the University of North Carolina Press.
Session: Mapping for Indigenous Environmental Justice
DATE: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Mike Goodchild
Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of California
Michael F. Goodchild is Professor Emeritus of Geography at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Until 2012 he held the Jack and Laura Dangermond Chair of Geography and was Director of UCSB’s Center for Spatial Studies. He received his BA degree from Cambridge University in Physics in 1965 and his PhD in Geography from McMaster University in 1969. His research and teaching interests focus on issues in geographic information science, including uncertainty in geographic information, discrete global grids, and volunteered geographic in-formation. He has directed or co-directed several large funded projects, including the National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, the Alexandria Digital Library, and the Center for Spatially Integrated Social Science. He was elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2002, and Foreign Member of the Royal Society and Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 2010; and in 2007 he received the Prix Vautrin Lud. He has published over 550 books and articles. He moved to Seattle upon retirement in 2012, and currently holds part-time positions as Research Professor at Arizona State University and as Distinguished Chair Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His full CV is at http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~good.
Opening Session: Digital Earth as a Digital Twin
DATE: Monday, August 18, 2025
Renzhong Guo
Professor, Shenzhen University
Prof. Renzhong Guo is a fellow of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences. He is currently a professor at Shenzhen University, dean of the Institute of Smart City, director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory of Smart City of Guangdong Province, vice chairman of the China Land Society, vice president of the China Society for Urban Sciences, deputy director of the Advisory Committee on the Reform and Construction of “Digital Government” of Guangdong Province, member of the Shenzhen Municipal Planning Commission, and adjunct professor of Wuhan University. Renzhong Guo received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cartography from Wuhan University in 1982 and 1984, respectively, and his Ph.D. degree in geography from the University of Franche-Comte in France in 1990, and taught at Wuhan University from 1991 to 1996. His research interests include spatial analysis, 3D cadastre, and smart city.
Session: Pan-cartography: An Extended Theoretical Framework for Geovisualization
DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Eric Loubier
Director General, Canada Centre for Mapping & Earth Observation, Natural Resources Canada
Eric Loubier, Director General of the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation, has worked for the Government of Canada for the last 25 years as a project manager, program manager and Director at the executive level.
He previously worked as Director of the Science Policy and Partnership Division of the Science and Technology Branch of Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (AAFC).
Prior to joining the public service, Eric worked for a consulting firm in the field of land management as well as a sub-contractor for the Canadian Space Agency.
Eric has significant experience in providing corporate leadership in planning, developing, and implementing complex national geomatics and earth observation programs and strategies. He holds a bachelor in Geography (B. Sc) and a Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA).
Opening Ceremony Talk: Mapping in an era of Change: Perspectives from the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation
DATE: Monday, August 18, 2025
Sandra Aqqaq
Knowledge Co-Production Coordinator for Taloyoak, NU
In her role at SmartICE, Sandra Aqqaq is the Knowledge Co-Production Coordinator for Taloyoak, NU . As part of the Sikumik Qaujimajjuti project, she facilitates ice terminology workshops, where Elders, youth, hunters, and other ice-users collaborate and share their ice Inuit Qaujimajatqangit (IQ). She co-designs communication products and ice travel safety maps to mobilize this knowledge for her community. She loves going out on the land and cares about the environment.
Lynn Moorman
Professor, Mount Royal University
Dr. Lynn Moorman is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Mount Royal University, in Calgary, Canada, where she teaches spatial data science and physical geography. Her research interests lie at the intersection of physical geography, learning sciences, and applied geospatial and visualization technology, including cartography and virtual and augmented reality. She is a founder of an operational sea ice safety mapping program with SmartICE, working with Inuit in Canadian Arctic communities to use near-real time satellite imagery and weekly community-based cartography to map sea ice conditions and keep community sea ice travel safe.
Lynn contributes to national and international geography education organizations including Canadian Geographic Education, National Geographic, the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo), and is a Canadian representative for the International Commission on Geographic Education. She is a Fellow and past Chair of the Research Committee of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and a Canadian Geographic Adventure Ambassador. Lynn recently received the RCGS Camsell and Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medals for her contributions as well as the Canadian Association of Geographers Teaching Excellence Award.
Opening Ceremony Talk: Contemporary Cartography as Agency for Climate Change adaptation in the Canadian Arctic
DATE: Monday, August 18, 2025
Rylan O’Krane
GIS Analyst, The Firelight Group
Rylan (he/him) is a member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation in Manitoba. He is part of the Mapping & GIS team at Firelight and works remotely out of Saskatoon. He earned his BSc in Geology with a minor in Geomatics from the University of Saskatchewan and then further developed his GIS skills through the Advanced Diploma in GIS Applications program at Vancouver Island University. Prior to working at Firelight, Rylan gained several years of experience in the geotechnical industry working throughout Saskatchewan. At Firelight, Rylan has worked closely with First Nations and Inuit communities, mapping their traditional and current activities and occupancies across territories or assessing impacts. Additionally, he has extensive experience developing curriculums and conducting training sessions on mapping and GIS techniques for First Nations.
Session: First Nations, Inuit and Métis Spatial Data Sovereignty and Governance
DATE: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Amy Rose
Technical Director, Overture Maps Foundation
Amy Rose is the Chief Technology Officer at the Overture Maps Foundation where she is responsible for guiding Overture’s technical roadmap, infrastructure design, and data interoperability strategy. Her previous work in the geospatial domain spans nearly 30 years, designing, building, and deploying geospatial data and technology solutions for human health and security, environmental remediation, logistics, and transportation planning projects. Amy has worked for multiple organizations across the academic, private sector, and government ecosystems, most recently at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where she worked with interdisciplinary teams to model and map both the built environment and highly resolved estimates of human population at global scale. Amy received her PhD in Geography from The University of Tennessee, and an MS in Geography with a graduate minor in Logistics and Transportation.
Session: From Data to Discovery: Open Maps, Open Minds, and Endless Possibilities
DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2025
Sonia Talwar
Director-General, Geological Survey of Canada
Sonia Talwar is the Director-General of the Geological Survey of Canada at Natural Resources Canada, where she leads national geoscience initiatives that support sustainable resource development and climate resilience. With over two decades of experience in federal science leadership, Sonia has held key roles advancing Indigenous partnerships, geographic information systems, and strategic policy integration. She holds a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of British Columbia, and her work continues to shape Canada’s approach to geoscience and environmental stewardship.
Session: Geological mapping through time – from ocean floor to mountain top – consistent progress for an innovative and inclusive future
DATE: Friday, August 22, 2025
Evan Thornberry
Head and Curator, David Rumsey Map Center, Stanford University Libraries
Evan Thornberry is the Head and Curator of the David Rumsey Map Center at Stanford University Libraries, where he supports teaching, research, exhibitions, and public engagement with cartographic materials and geospatial technologies. His work explores how digital tools can deepen our understanding of historical maps, landscapes, and cartographic practices. He is particularly interested in the ways that technology can reveal new insights into historical geography, support spatial literacy, and broaden access to map collections. Prior to joining Stanford in 2023, Evan was the Geographic Information Systems Librarian at the University of British Columbia Library (2017–2023), where he led initiatives to enhance map and geospatial data services and co-led national and institutional projects to improve access to geospatial research data. He also served as the Reference and Geospatial Librarian at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library (2012–2017), where he directed an NEH-funded project to build a spatial discovery interface for historical maps and helped integrate GIS into public library programming. Evan has been active in professional organizations related to cartographic collections, including the Western Association of Map Libraries and the California Map Society. He holds an MLIS from the University of Washington and a BA in Geography from Western Washington University.
Session: Transforming Historical Maps with Computer Vision, VR/AR, & AI
DATE: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Alexander Zipf
Professor and Chair of GIScience, Heidelberg University
Prof. Dr. Alexander Zipf is chair of GIScience (Geoinformatics) at Heidelberg University (Department of Geography) since late 2009. He is member of the Centre for Scientific Computing (IWR) and founding member of the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE). He was speaker of the graduate school “CrowdAnalyser – Spatio-temporal Analysis of User-generated Content“. He is also member of the editorial board of several journals and organized a set of conferences and workshops.
Before coming to Heidelberg he led the Chair of Cartography at Bonn University and earlier was Professor for Applied Computer Science and Geoinformatics at the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz, Germany. He has a background in Mathematics and Geography from Heidelberg University and finished his PHD at the European Media Laboratory EML in Heidelberg. There he also conducted further research as a PostDoc for 3 years.
Session: Beyond user-generated maps – where crowd intelligence meets artificial intelligence
DATE: Thursday, August 21, 2025
