On June 18-19, 2019, Ottawa hosted the first GeoIgnite Conference. This event is committed towards motivating and nurturing future diverse talent. In addition to a planned Job Fair, this event took this opportunity to announce the recipient of the annual Diversity in Leadership Award. This awards honours a person or an organization affiliated with the geospatial Industry for their extraordinary and unfailing commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and surrounding communities.

Dr. Nadine Alameh is GeoIgnite’s first Leadership in Diversity Award Recipient. 

Wise leaders know that to become their best, they have to embrace diversity. Diversity also means to create inclusion — creating an atmosphere in which all people feel valued, respected and have the same opportunities as others.  

Dr. Nadine Alameh is a seasoned technical and business professional with a contagious passion for interoperable information exchange, technology and process innovation, and working with diverse motivated teams! 

Nadine is a champion of cross-domain knowledge and functional diversity. She is a graduate of MIT; a Doctor in Philosophy, with PhD in Computer and Information Systems Engineering, a Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a Masters in City Planning – all with specialization in Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Nadine was the Executive Director of OGC’s Interoperability Program, leading initiatives in various domains including earth observation, aviation, public safety and defense. 

Dr. Alameh currently serves as OGC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and is responsible for creating and integrating the strategic direction and business plans of the Consortium in partnership with the OGC Board, members and staff. She is the first woman leading OGC in its 25-year old history. 

She worked in the Private Sector as Chief Architect for Innovation Strategy – Civil Solutions Division. Before that, she ran a couple of small businesses – an international business delivering information management solutions in the Aviation sector; and a consulting business focusing on addressing geospatial interoperability issues for the US federal government.

As a champion of interoperability and functional diversity, Nadine has a proven record of accomplishment of bridging the gaps between diverse people, data and technologies to make people’s lives better. Nadine’s multi-lingual (Arabic, English, French and Sign Language) andmulti-cultural background coupled with her passion for people and networking make her an ideal Cultural Broker.  

With on open, genuine attitude and contagious passion, she continues to break diversity and interoperability barriers while inspiring and motivating others to do the same.