Candidate for Board - Karen Stewart, GISP
Candidate for Board
Karen Stewart, GISP
Statement to the Membership:
I am honored to be considered as a candidate for the URISA Board of Directors. During the formative years of my career, and to this day, I have looked up to the URISA board members, considering them to be knowledgeable, hardworking, dedicated, self-sacrificing and inspiring. These are all qualities I can only hope to bring to URISA. It takes great leadership to run such an important organization for our growing profession. It would be an honor to have a part in shaping our future in GIS and URISA.
The Geomatics industry has the ability to change the world. We wouldn’t be where we are today in this profession if it weren’t for the dedicated people who have led the way. I have always believed that industry professionals need a strong association to call ‘home’. During my career this is what I found URISA to be. We are pioneers to the younger generation as well as to organizations new to GIS. Being involved in URISA gave me the opportunity to network, enhance my skills and abilities and then provide that knowledge to others through URISA committees as well as via opportunities to present at various events.
The board of URISA is instrumental in shaping this organization and profession by working together with all chapters, listening to its members, focusing on improving communications, business processes and liaison with all chapter executives.
I am a big advocate of the GISP and mentorship programs as well as outreach to students and new users of GIS. I plan on listening to the membership through means available to me, such as the Chapter Relations Committee (CRC), to work with the rest of the board members to support your needs.
During the past several years I have built and developed successful teams and programs for various organizations. I am passionate about my work and have proven marketing and public speaking abilities. After successfully leading the development of innovative corporate and enterprise GIS programs for the City of Surrey and the Township of Langley I have been able to use my knowledge, skills and abilities to help other organizations do the same. Under my leadership the profile of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) in British Columbia improved. Regular seminar attendance and revenues improved significantly and in 2005 URISA BC was awarded Chapter of the year by the International Association.
URISA has brought many professionals together in the past for future growth of this industry.
I looked to URISA for guidance when building my career in local government and then several years ago became involved and committed at the chapter level, on the CRC as well as the conference planning committee. I have also signed up on the mentorship program, which I am sure will be a great success.
The experiences of my career and work with URISA as well as other professional associations and educational institutes have provided me with enough background knowledge and experience to help URISA move forward, improve the organization and build stronger relations between its chapters and members. I would like to help URISA continue to have a strong position in the future and provide vision and guidance to its members.
I look forward to continuing to be involved with URISA and GIS community. I anticipate great advances in future IT and GIS technologies and the impact URISA will have on these advances.
I will continue to work hard and be committed to URISA regardless of my success to the board. I wish the best to all candidates.
Professional Experience:
2007 to Present
Industry Manager Public Works, ESRI Canada Limited, Toronto, ON
2006 to 2007
Manager, Information Technology Division, Township of Langley, BC
2004 to 2006
Manager, Geomatics Services Department, Township of Langley, BC
1998 – 2004
Manager, Spatial Information, City of Surrey, BC
1988 – 1998
GIS Supervisor, City of Surrey, BC
1984 – 1988
GIS Technician, City of Surrey, BC
1981 – 1984
Computer Drafting Leader, Fraser Valley Gas, Surrey, BC
Education:
Bachelor of Technology – Geomatics/Geographic Information Systems, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, BC, 2001
Diploma, Graphic Design, Art Instruction School, Minneapolis, Minn., 1982
Diploma, Basic Arts, Art Instruction School, Minneapolis, Minn., 1980
Various Continuing Education Courses and Workshops (IT, GIS, Geomatics, Operations Management, Marketing, etc.) - BCIT, ESRI, URISA, Kwantlen University College, SAFE Software, Bentley, Autodesk
URISA Activities:
URISA BC
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2005 to present – Executive Member, Liaison
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2004 to 2005 – Past President/Webmaster
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2003 to 2004 – President
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2002 to 2003 – Vice President
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2002 to Present – Presenter, Various URISA BC Events
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2001 to 2002 – Executive Member
URISA International
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2007 to Present – Member and Liaison, Chapter Relations Committee (CRC)
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2007 to Present – Member, GISCI Mentoring Program
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2006 to 2007 – Chair, Chapter Relations Committee (CRC)
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2005 to 2006 – Co-Chair, Chapter Relations Committee (CRC)
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2005 to Present - GISP
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2003 to 2005 – Member and Liaison, Chapter Relations Committee (CRC)
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2006 to 2008 – Member, Annual Conference Program Committee
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2006 to Present – Workshop Instructor, Reviewer, Updater, Annual Conference
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2002 to Present – Presenter and Moderator, Annual Conference
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2002 to Present – Member, URISA
Other Professional Activities:
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2004 to Present – Chair, Geomatics Advisory Committee (Geomatics Degree and Advanced Diploma GIS), British Columbia Institute of Technology
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2002 to Present – Executive Member at Large, Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA PNW)
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2002 to Present – Member, Geospatial Information & Technology Association
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2004 to 2006 – Member, Integrated Cadastral Information Society (ICIS) Technical Committee, British Columbia
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2004 to 2006 – Member, Drafting/CADD Technology Program Advisory Committee, Kwantlen University College, BC
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2002 to Present – Various presentations at conferences including at ESRI, AUTODESK, URISA BC, GeoAlberta, GITA PNW, Public Works in Local Government, AEC Science and Technology, GIAC, MISA BC, GIS in Action and Bentley International User Conference events.
Publications:
Prospering Township of Langley takes GIS to a Higher Level: Professional Surveyor Magazine, 2006
Marriage of CAD and GIS; Linking CAD and Specifications: AEC Science and Technology, 2005
What Exactly is CAD and GIS Interoperability, Earth Observation Magazine, 2005
GIS in Public Works; Using CAD Tools for GIS: Maintaining a Municipal Infrastructure Dataset, 2003
ESRI Canada 2001 Map Gallery, Fraser River Flood Control
Awards:
URISA International – Chapter of the year Award: URISA BC, 2005
ESRI Canada – Innovation in the field of Geographic Information Systems, 2000
Fraser Institute/Financial Post Economy in Government Competition Award: City of Surrey - “COSMOS” - City of Surrey Mapping Online System