Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

Hyginus Gene Leon is a Saint Lucian national and an International Development advocate for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He focuses on access to adequate and affordable finance to achieve resilient prosperity in those countries. He is currently the Executive Director of the Development Bank for Resilient Prosperity (DBRP), a new development bank for SIDS. In 2024, Dr Leon was appointed Ambassador-at-Large for the Government of Saint Lucia, focusing on development finance and SIDS-related issues.

Dr Leon served as the sixth President of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the regional development finance institution based in Barbados, where he championed a systems approach to economic development based on the notion of social justice. With over 30 years of experience in economic development, Dr. Leon has directed macroeconomic and financial policy support to government authorities in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Caribbean. A former Associate Professor, Dr. Leon worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more than 24 years, functioning as Mission Chief in parts of Africa, The Bahamas, and several Gulf States, as well as IMF Senior Resident Representative in Jamaica and Nigeria. Dr. Leon also served as Director of Research at the Central Bank of Barbados and was Country Economist at CDB.

Dr. Leon's academic background is a testament to his expertise and credibility in the field of economics. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom (UK) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc.) in Economics from the University of London.

Greg Scott is the Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance in PVBLIC Foundation, where he leads the expansion of the Data Alliance's next phase of execution and growth, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through PVBLIC's recent agreements with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to establish a Global Data Hub for SIDS.

Greg previously spent 12 years in the United Nations as the strategic advisor and Secretariat lead in the establishment and development of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Greg spent 25 years in Geoscience Australia, Australian Government's national geoscience research and Earth sciences Agency. Spanning several key roles, he delivered Australia's national topographic mapping and derivative geospatial programs, and provided independent scientific analysis and advice in the use of geospatial information for environmental management, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection.

Greg possesses formal qualifications in Cartography and Survey Mapping from New Zealand, a Graduate Diploma in Geography from the Australian National University, and PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the University of Melbourne.

Greg Scott is the Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance in PVBLIC Foundation, where he leads the expansion of the Data Alliance's next phase of execution and growth, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through PVBLIC's recent agreements with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to establish a Global Data Hub for SIDS.

Greg previously spent 12 years in the United Nations as the strategic advisor and Secretariat lead in the establishment and development of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Greg spent 25 years in Geoscience Australia, Australian Government's national geoscience research and Earth sciences Agency. Spanning several key roles, he delivered Australia's national topographic mapping and derivative geospatial programs, and provided independent scientific analysis and advice in the use of geospatial information for environmental management, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection.

Greg possesses formal qualifications in Cartography and Survey Mapping from New Zealand, a Graduate Diploma in Geography from the Australian National University, and PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the University of Melbourne.

Greg Scott is the Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance in PVBLIC Foundation, where he leads the expansion of the Data Alliance's next phase of execution and growth, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through PVBLIC's recent agreements with the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to establish a Global Data Hub for SIDS.

Greg previously spent 12 years in the United Nations as the strategic advisor and Secretariat lead in the establishment and development of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) in New York.

Prior to joining the United Nations, Greg spent 25 years in Geoscience Australia, Australian Government's national geoscience research and Earth sciences Agency. Spanning several key roles, he delivered Australia's national topographic mapping and derivative geospatial programs, and provided independent scientific analysis and advice in the use of geospatial information for environmental management, emergency management, and critical infrastructure protection.

Greg possesses formal qualifications in Cartography and Survey Mapping from New Zealand, a Graduate Diploma in Geography from the Australian National University, and PhD in Geomatics Engineering from the University of Melbourne.

Prof. Dr. Zaffar Mohamed-Ghouse, Vice President and Director-Advisory and Innivation at Woolpert, is a globally recognized leader in the Spatial and Space sector, with over 28 years of experience spanning government, research, and private industry. He has led multi-million-dollar national mapping programs and advises on spatial strategy, policy and geospatial ecosystems in Asia, Middle East, Oceania and North America.

He currently serves as Chair of the UN-GGIM Geospatial Societies, Chair of the UN-GGIM Asia Pacific Private Sector Network, Vice Chair of the OGC Board of Directors, Program Board Member, Group of Earth Observation, and Senior Advisor to the SmartSat CRC, Industry Advisory Committtee Member to Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network among many other roles.

Prof Dr Zaffar is also one of the founding members of the Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) and has been recognized internationally for his leadership, innovation, and contributions to digital earth, geospatial policy, strategy, spatial data infrastructures and standards. He serves as Professor in Australia and India's reputed Universities and Research Institutions and holds Fellow status with several international and national peak professional bodies.

Dr. Lesley Arnold is a geospatial strategist and data governance specialist with over 30 years' experience working with governments, international organisations and academia to strengthen national spatial data infrastructures. She is the founder and Director of Geospatial Frameworks, a consultancy that works globally on SDI strategy, data governance and implementation planning. Lesley is one of the lead authors of the UN-IGIF and has advised the United Nations and World Bank on geospatial policy, governance models, country action plans and the future geospatial information ecosystem. She is a Non-Executive Director of AuScope and the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network, and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Curtin University. Her research focuses on knowledge on-demand ecosystems, data as critical infrastructure, and using geospatial intelligence to support sustainable development and decision-making.