As Canada’s geospatial sector faces new challenges and opportunities, GeoIgnite 2025 provides the ideal platform for professionals, academics, and industry leaders to come together and discuss the country’s future. Happening May 12-14, 2025, at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre, the event, popularly known as Canada’s National Geospatial Leadership Conference, will focus on strengthening self-reliance and reducing dependency on external sources.

GeoIgnite 2025 will feature several programs, including forums, discussions, panels, keynotes, and presentations that aim to shape the future of Canada’s geospatial technology. The programs will explore topics like innovation, security, and fostering growth within the geospatial sector, all while building a more self-reliant Canadian industry in response to a rapidly changing global landscape.

Explore the full range of Team Canada programs below and get ready to be part of the conversation at GeoIgnite 2025.

Keynote: Beyond Borders: Charting Canada’s Geospatial Future in a Shifting World

May 13, 8:30 AM

For decades, Canada’s geospatial ecosystem has thrived through strong integration with the U.S. However, today’s shifting geopolitical and economic realities — trade conflicts, supply chain vulnerabilities, and data sovereignty concerns — are forcing Canada to rethink its reliance on the U.S. In this keynote, Jonathan Murphy, Founder and CEO of GoGeomatics, will explore Canada’s geospatial legacy and its potential to forge new global partnerships, expand into emerging markets, and drive homegrown innovation. The session will highlight how Canada can lead through Earth observation, digital twins, AI-driven geospatial solutions, and more, all while prioritizing risk, sovereignty, and public-private collaboration.

Canadian Data at the Crossroads: The Need for Other ‘Pipelines’

May 13, 10:45 AM 

In this keynote, Prashant Shukle, Member of the Board of Directors, buildingSMART Canada, and Board Chair, OGC, will explore the challenges and opportunities that Canada faces in the data landscape. With data now recognized as the “new oil,” the country must address the limitations in its infrastructure that prevent data from driving innovation. This session will delve into the pressing need for the right data pipelines, focusing on geospatial and building information data, and the infrastructure investments required for Canada to remain competitive in the global data economy.

Keynote: How Space Can Help Canada in an Uncertain World

May 14, 9 AM

As the global space economy evolves, Canada faces complex international challenges and opportunities. Brian Gallant, CEO of Space Canada, will kick off the Earth Program with a keynote on how space can help address geopolitical and national challenges, while emphasizing what Canada must do to stay ahead in a rapidly changing global landscape.

Digital Twins in Canada: Defining, Scaling, and Standardizing for the Future

May 14, 2:00 PM 

Digital Twins hold enormous potential for Canada’s building and infrastructure sectors, but their widespread implementation faces several challenges. This panel discussion explore what a Digital Twin truly is, the lack of consensus within the industry, and how to manage scalability for various projects. Key to success is standardization, data governance, and interoperability. This session will also highlight the Digital Twin Domain initiative launched by buildingSMART Canada (bSC), which aims to establish a clear roadmap for scalable, interoperable Digital Twins in the built environment.