Inaugural geospatial leadership awards presented in Melbourne

L-R: Professor Qin Yan, Mrs Rose Nairn, Dr Eng. Mohammed AlSayel, Mr Drew Clarke and Professor Abbas Rajabifard. Picture: Supplied
L-R: Professor Qin Yan, Mrs Rose Nairn, Dr Eng. Mohammed AlSayel, Mr Drew Clarke and Professor Abbas Rajabifard. Picture: Supplied

The University of Melbourne honoured three leaders in the geospatial field with the inaugural Gary Nairn Leadership Medal during a special ceremony at the 2025 Geospatial Leadership Training and Global Forum, held in Melbourne from 1–3 April.

Established to recognise exceptional contributions to the geospatial sector, the medal honours the late Honourable Gary Nairn AO (1951–2024), a visionary figure in geospatial policy and innovation.

This year’s inaugural recipients were:

  • Mr Drew Clarke (Australia), former Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism and former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, was recognised for his exceptional leadership and contributions to advancing geospatial information management and policy both within Australia and internationally.
  • His Excellency, Dr Eng. Mohammed AlSayel (Saudi Arabia) was recognised for his instrumental role in establishing a new UN Global Geospatial Information Management Centre of Excellence in Data Ecosystem in Riyadh, and for his profound, lasting impact on the global geospatial community.
  • Professor Qin Yan (China) was honoured for her groundbreaking advancements in 3D Real Scene and remote sensing mapping technologies, as well as her active role in shaping national and global policy and research initiatives.

The awards were presented by Professor Abbas Rajabifard, Director of the Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration, which is based in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, with Rose Nairn, wife of the late Gary Nairn, joining the ceremony and assisting in the presentation.