Introduction

Opening remarks from GEO Co-Chairs and the GEO Secretariat Director for an overview of the event, progress over the past year, and how to get involved in the GEO Pledge Campaign, a way to contribute financially to the work of GEO.

Speakers

GEO Co-Chairs & GEO Secretariat Director

Show your support for GEO during the kick-off of an online fundraiser to raise contributions for the GEO Trust Fund. GEO Members, Participating Organizations and Associates are encouraged to get involved with pledges for voluntary contributions to support GEO’s Engagement Priorities and the realization of GEO’s mission.

Discover new initiatives, commitments and policies in GEO Member Statements. GEO Member Statements will be hosted here showing videos, photos and quotes from GEO’s Members.

Videoconference for Executive Committee Members only.

Videoconference for Executive Committee Members and other GEO Member Principals to adopt decisions on selected topics.

Meet the winners of the second annual GEO Individual Excellence Awards and the Earth Observations for the Sustainable Development Goals Awards (EO4SDG Awards). Learn about their projects and get inspired from their stories using Earth observations for impact.

“A conversation with GEO Principals: Deriving value from GEO.”

Learn how countries are addressing national priorities and building resilient societies and economies by leveraging Earth observations and their membership in GEO. This discussion will feature expectations from GEO Principals from countries not typically featured in Plenary sessions.

There will be 2 sessions to cover most of the geographical areas timewise

Moderator: Steven Ramage - GEO Secretariat

Speakers

Representation from Australia, Switzerland, Ukraine and Vietnam

• Australia: Trevor Dhu is Branch Head for the National Earth and Marine Observations at Geoscience Australia
• Switzerland: Dr. Karine Siegwart, Vice Director of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)
• Ukraine: Nataliia Kussul, Professor, Deputy Director of Space Research Institute of National Academy of Sciences and National Space Agency of Ukraine
• Vietnam: Dr. Vu Anh Tuan is currently the Vice Director General of Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC) of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)

Moderator: Steven Ramage - GEO Secretariat

Speakers

Representation from Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica and Morocco

• Canada: David Harper, Director General of the Monitoring and Data Services (MDSD) within the Meteorological Services of Canada (MSC), Environmental and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
• Colombia: Yolanda Gonzalez Hernandez, Director of the Institute of Hydrology, Meterology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM)
• Costa Rica: Rafael Monge, Director of National Center of GeoEnvironmental Information (CENIGA), a technical unit of the Ministry of Environment and Energy in Costa Rica
• Morocco: Driss Elhadani, Director of the Royal Centre for Remote sensing (CRTS), Morocco

“Challenges and approaches to data sharing: The future of open data”

Panelists discuss approaches to open data, expanding access to ­in situ data and analysis ready data for continued integration in the digital economy and sustainable development, including experience from GEO Initiatives and Flagships.

There will be 2 sessions to cover most of the geographical areas timewise

Moderator: Data Working Group Co-Chair Anastasia Wahome - RCMRD

Speakers

Benefits of data sharing

• Prof/Dr Xiang ZHOU: "In-situ Data Collection Network and Practices for Land Observation Satellite Product Validation"
  Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Best practices for data provision (successes and challenges)

• Adam Lewis: "Global supply chains of ARD"
  (CEOS / Digital Earth Africa)

Digital economy and sustainable development (including experience from GEO Initiatives and Flagships)

• Mir Matin: "GEOGLOWS enhancing flood early warning in the Hindukush Himalaya region"
  International Center for Integrated Mountain Development, Theme Leader, Geospatial Solutions, Science and Data Lead, SERVIR-HKH

Regional perspectives

• Toshio Koike: "River Basin Disaster Resilience and Sustainability by All in Asia and Africa"
  Executive Director, International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) / Professor Emeritus of the University of Tokyo

Moderator: Werner Kutsch - ICOS

Speakers

Benefits of data sharing

• James Rattling Leaf Sr.: "Every Tribal Nation has a data story: Challenges and Opportunities moving forward"
  GEO Indigenous Alliance, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Best practices for data provision (successes and challenges)

• Conor Delaney
  (EMODnet - The European Marine Observation and Data Network)

Digital economy and sustainable development (including experience from GEO Initiatives and Flagships)

• Fabio Andres Bernal: "Advantages of data sharing and Earth observation products in the hydrological forecast in Colombia – data economy perspective"
  Coordinator of hydrological and forecasting modelling group, Hydrology division, Institute of Hydrology Meteorology and Environmental Studies, IDEAM (Colombia, GEOGLOWS)

Regional perspectives

• Henrik Steen Andersen: "Copernicus - Europe's Eyes on Earth. Data sharing successes and challenges"
  Contract Manager - Copernicus In Situ Data, European Environment Agency (EEA)