Dr Naser El-Sheimy is Professor at Department of Geomatics Engineering, at the University of Calgary. He holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Mobile Multi-sensor Systems and the scientific director of Tecterra Research Centre. His research expertise includes GPS/INS integration, multi-sensor systems, and mobile mapping systems. Prior to joining the University of Calgary, Dr. El-Sheimy held the position of VP R&D with VISAT Technologies Inc., a high-tech company in Montreal.

Dr. El-Sheimy published a book and over 350 papers in academic journals, conference and workshop proceedings, in which he has received over 20 national and international paper awards. He organized and participated in organizing many national and international conferences. Dr. El-Sheimy is the president of Commission I on “Sensors and Platforms” of the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS).

Prof Dr George Cho AM is Professor of Geographic Information Systems and the Law, University of Canberra. Dr Cho has an Honours Degree in Arts from the University of Malaya, a Masters Degree from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from the Australian National University (ANU). As well he also holds a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from University of Canberra and an LLB from the ANU and is admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT and NSW and the High Court of Australia.

Prof Cho has published numerous books and journal articles on law and geography topics, including Geographic Information Science: Managing the Legal Issues (London: John Wiley & Sons, 2005); Cyber Law: Australia. International Encyclopaedia of Laws (with E Clark and A Hoyle), The Hague: Kluwer Law International 2004; E-Business Law and Management for the 21st Century (with E Clark and A Hoyle), Canberra: Info-Sys Law International Publications 2001; Marketers and the Law (with E Clark and A Hoyle), Sydney: Law Book Coy. Information Services 2000); Y2K: Avoiding the Legal Byte. A Guide for Managers and Legal Assessors (with E Clark and A Hoyle), Sydney: Prospect Publications 1999; Geographic Information Systems and the Law, London: John Wiley & Sons, 1998

Dr Luiz Paulo Souto Fortes, holds a BSc in Cartographic Engineering (Engineering Military Institute – IME, 1981), a MSc in Computer Science applied to Cartography (IME, 1997) and a Ph.D. in Geomatics Engineering (University of Calgary, Canada, 2002).

Currently, He is working as Associate Professor at University of State of Rio Janeiro (UERJ), Brazil. Earlier, he was working for the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics – IBGE. He currently holds the position of Director of Geosciences. He also holds the position of Associate Professor at the Cartographic Engineering Department of the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro. He is President of the Permanent Committee for Geospatial Data Infrastructure of the Americas – CP-IDEA, member of the Open Geospatial Consortium Global Advisory Council, and Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Cartography, in Brazil. Dr. Fortes has more than 50 papers published in journals, magazines and proceedings in Brazil and abroad.

John Hannah completed his BSc (Surveying) in 1970 at the University of Otago, and then a Postgraduate Diploma of Science in 1971. He became a Registered Surveyor in 1974. In 1976 he began study at The Ohio State University, completing an MSc in 1978 and a PhD in 1982. From 1982 until 1988 he was Geodetic Scientist, and then subsequently, Chief Geodesist/Chief Research Officer with the Department of Lands and Survey, New Zealand.

After a 17 month appointment to the Chair in Mapping, Charting and Geodesy at the US Naval Postgraduate School, California in 1989-1990, he returned to New Zealand as Director of Geodesy and subsequently Director of Photogrammetry for the Dept. of Survey and Land Information. In 1993 he joined the School of Surveying, as Professor and Head of Department, becoming its Dean in 2001. He relinquished this administrative role at the end of 2004. He was President of the NZ Institute of Surveyors from 2005-2007.