FIG YOUNG SURVEYORS CONFERENCE

Welcome Address
An official welcome launching the conference and framing the collective mission of empowering young surveyors to navigate global challenges and build a sustainable world.

Moderator: Marcus Schmitt, Rapporteur: Angela Anyakora

Diane Dumashie - FIG President
Nape Mojapelo -  FIG Congress  LOC Chairperson
Michalis Kalogiannakis - FIG Vice-President and YSN/Council Liaison
Winnie Shu - FIG Vice-President and FIG Foundation Director
Shirley Tendai Chapunza - FIG YSN ChairNozipho Madlala - YSN LOC Representative

Keynote Plenary Session: Navigating tomorrow: Empowering surveyors for a sustainable world
 
Over the past two decades, the YSN journey has demonstrated that a sustainable future for surveying is shaped not only by tools and technology, but also by mentorship, ethics, institutional continuity, and intergenerational collaboration. This plenary session therefore aims to shift the conversation beyond innovation alone, focusing on the people who carry the profession forward. It will explore how professionalism safeguards public trust in an era of rapid technological advancement, and why empowering emerging leaders remains essential to securing the profession’s long-term relevance and impact.

Moderator: Shirley Tendai Chapunza, Rapporteur: Marcus Schmitt

Tim Burch - Director, National Society of Professional Surveyors, USA
Shaaden Salem - EDU Program Manager, Trimble
Craig Hill - Vice President Marketing and Services, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon
David Elegbede - Co-Lead FIG YSN Volunteer Community Surveyor Program

20 Years of YSN Impact, Innovation, and the Geospatial Changemakers Who Mapped the Way

For twenty years, the Young Surveyors Network has been more than a program, it has been a global community built on volunteerism, mentorship, and belief in young professionals. This celebratory session honours the journey, the leaders, and the relationships that turned participation into lasting impact. Through reflections and stories, it highlights lessons in building a network grounded in trust, collaboration, and intergenerational support, celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire the next generation.

Moderator: Angela Anyakora, Rapporteur: Paula Teperino

Enrico Rispoli and John Hohol - FIG Foundation
Kwabena Asiama- FIG Commission 8 Chair
John Brock - The Brock Gift for the Future/AwardCromwell Monalato - FIG Climate Compass Task Force

Geospatial Intelligence for Resilient Infrastructure and Resource Systems

From Data to Development: How Young Surveyors Are Transforming Land Information Systems for Resilient and Sustainable Communities. Young professionals from Uganda, Australia, Denmark, and Nigeria will share how land information and cadastral systems currently function in their countries, highlighting key strengths, challenges, and recent developments. The session will also reflect on how young surveyors can contribute to improving and modernising these systems to support sustainable development and resilient communities.

Moderator: Nandipha Kunene, Rapporteur: Seember Gbargbar

Rebecca Abitimo - Ministry of Land, Housing, and Urban Development, Uganda
Toyeeb OLOWOFAYOKUN - GEOELITE MAPPING COMPANY LIMITED,Nigeria
Simon Reimers - Danish Geodata Agency, Denmark
Ezra Miller - FIG Foundation Grant Recipient, Australia

Strengthening Capacity for a Sustainable Future

A sustainable world requires capable, ethical, and empowered professionals. This session explores how the profession is intentionally building human capacity to meet future global challenges. Drawing on insights from the FIGYSN Volunteer Community Surveyor Program (VCSP), the FIG and NSPS Mentoring Programs, and the IAG Early Career Scientists approach to workforce development, it highlights practical approaches to strengthening leadership, technical competence, and continuity, demonstrating how investment in people keeps the profession resilient and globally connected.

Moderator: Nozipho Madlala, Rapporteur: Iaroslav Zifceac  Zifceac

Angela Anyakora - FIGYSN Volunteer Community Surveyor Program
Franck Ghomisi - International Association of Geodesy-Early Career Scientists
David Elegbede and Nolan Mark - FIG and NSPS Mentoring Programs

Connected Surveying in Practice: From Field Capture to Intelligent Delivery

This sponsored session brings together industry leaders to showcase how modern surveying workflows are becoming fully connected—from real-time field data capture to seamless office processing and final delivery. Through practical insights and live use cases, the session will demonstrate how integrated technologies, automation, and digital tools are improving accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making across the project lifecycle.

Moderator: Alina Khoptar, Rapporteur: Eloi Tandonnet

Lidija Spiranec - Product Manager Monitoring Solutions, Leica Geosystems, part of Hexagon
Lazarus Mampa - Junior Sales Consultant, Optron

Beyond Leadership: Shaping Resilient and People-Centred Institutions

The session will examine evolving global challenges, intergenerational leadership, innovation, ethics, and inclusion, creating space for reflection on how emerging leaders can shape institutions that are resilient, responsive, and people-centered.

Moderator: David Elegbede, Rapporteur: Priscilla Dufie Darko
 
Eloi Tandonnet - Ordre Des Geometres-experts, France
Xiaobin Zhang -  Professor of Land Management, Lanzhou University
Simiso Ntuli - Lecturer and Researcher, Durban University of Technology

Closing Session

Summarize key insights from the day's sessions, and express gratitude to participants, sponsors, and speakers. Encourage further networking among attendees.

Marcus Schmitt - Vice Chair, FIG YSN

FIG YSN-Leica Social Event
Networking event sponsored by

Opening Address

Recap of highlights from Day 1.

Angela Anyakora - Vice Chair, FIG YSN

ESRI Sponsored Session

FIG Foundation Impact

In this session, four Young Surveyors will share their inspiring journeys to the 10th FIG Young Surveyors Conference, made possible through the generous support of the FIG Foundation.

Moderator: Sandy Mufamadi, Rapporteur: Simon Reimers

Priscilla Dufie Darko, Ghana
Ezra Miller, Australia
Feyisayo Sotayo, Nigeria

Future of YSN

An interactive and forward-looking session where participants will creatively reimagine the future of the Young Surveyors Network (YSN). Through dialogue, collaboration, and bold thinking, we will explore new priorities, partnerships, leadership models, and impact pathways to shape the next chapter of YSN.

Shirley Tendai Chapunza - Chair, FIG YSN

Regional Reports

YSN Regional Chairpersons take the stage to present their annual reports, highlighting the milestones, initiatives, challenges, and impact of the past year, showcasing how their leadership has advanced young professionals and strengthened the global surveying community

Moderator: Esther Verlouw, Rapporteur: Nozipho Madlala

David Elegbede - Chair, FIG YSN - Africa
Iaroslav Zifceac - Chair, FIG YSN - Europe
Paula Teperino - Chair, FIG YSN - Americas

Closing Session

This closing session offers an opportunity to summarize key takeaways, express gratitude to participants and organizers, and inspire continued collaboration and action beyond the conference.
 
Marcus Schmitt- Chair- Elect, FIG YSN

What  your sponsorship buys

DIAMOND

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

• Within the Program Booklet

• On presentation transition slides

• Logo with link to organisation’s website on YSN Conference Page

• Listing in congress programme book and congress APP with prior access to congress attendees