Keynote Speakers

Bio: Paul Ramsey is a Geospatial Architect at OpenGeo. He has been working with geospatial software for over ten years,as programmer and consultant. He founded the PostGIS spatial database project in 2001, and is currently an active developer and member of the project steering committee. In 2008, Paul received the Sol Katz Award for achievement in open source geospatial software. Paul speaks and teaches regularly at conferences around the world.

Keynote: Open source is everywhere now. In our phones, in our cars, on our laptops, on the web, in the wires. It is part of a wider transition in society from hierarchical top-down structures of communication and control to shallower networks of coordination and collaboration. How does open source information our business, and how should we approach the future using our knowledge of open source?

Bio: After serving as the Agency’s Implementation Lead for achieving goal of “OnLine, On-Demand” services, Mr. Barber returned as the Director, National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) Expeditionary Architecture Integrated Program Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). As the Director, National System for Geospatial-Intelligence (NSG) Expeditionary Architecture Integrated Program Office at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), he coordinates the efforts of Acquisition, Enterprise Services, InnoVision and Source Operations and Management in support of deployed forces and first responders.

As the Agency lead for implementing the National Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) goal of achieving “OnLine, On-Demand” services, Mr. Barber provided clarity, definitions, a roadmap and strategic plan for early adoption and realization of the goal to “put the power of GEOINT” into all users hands. His insight into NGA customers’ needs for access to agency content, expertise, support, and application were critical to establishing plans.

He resides in Leesburg, Virginia with his wife Felicia, son Kilian and daughter Erin.

Bio: Byrne is the Geographic Information Officer (GIO) for the Federal Communications Commission.  He is the technical lead for the National Broadband Map.  He has been instrumental in ushering in the open government functions at FCC for geospatial a ctivities in particular with the development of http://www.fcc.gov/developer.He work has significantly contributed to the  Data Innovation Initiative at FCC and lead numerous data and analysis activities supporting FCC policy reform.He is the former GIO for the State of California and an expert in the design, development, implementation, and use of GIS for research and policy. He has served as chair of the California GIS Council, a member of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, and on the board of directors for both GreenInfo Networks and the National States GIS Council.Byrne holds a masters in geography from the University of California at Davis and is a certified GIS professional.

Josh Berkus