From Data to Action: SDG Data Alliance at Esri UC 2025

Image: (From left to right) Mark Heine, CEO, Fugro; Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance; Jack Dangermond, President, Esri.

From July 12-18, Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance, joined global leaders, innovators, and geospatial experts at the 2025 Esri User Conference (Esri UC) in San Diego, California. Hosted by Esri, the world’s leading geographic information system (GIS) software provider, the annual gathering, with the theme ‘GIS - Integrating Everything, Everywhere’, explored how geospatial technologies are accelerating action toward the Sustainable Goals.

Dr. Scott began the week participating in two high-level convenings: the Esri National Geospatial Executive Summit and the Senior Executive Summit, where discussions centered around "Leveraging Transformative Technologies to Better Serve Our Stakeholders." These sessions brought together senior decision-makers from government, multilateral institutions, and the private sector to explore how geospatial innovation is strengthening institutional capacity, driving multi-sector collaboration, and enabling evidence-based decision-making.

On Monday, July 14, during the Esri User Conference Opening Plenary, the SIDS Global Data Hub was prominently showcased in the main presentation by Esri President, Jack Dangermond, while the SDG Data Alliance was recognized as one of Esri’s special and strategic relationships, underscoring its significance within the global Esri community.

Image: Jack Dangermond, President, Esri, during the Esri Conference Opening Plenary, showcasing the work of the SIDS Global Data Hub.

Image: Esri User Conference Opening Plenary; showcase of the SDG Data Alliance as a special collaborator with Esri.

Moreover, on July 16, Dr. Scott participated in the Sustainable Development Community Spotlight, presenting the work of the SDG Data Alliance to a global audience. His presentation highlighted how national SDG Data Hubs, shared platforms, dashboards, and storymaps are enabling countries to translate complex datasets into actionable insights that guide planning and policy.

He also joined the Humanitarian and Sustainable Development Special Interest Group (SIG): “Collaborating for Impact”, emphasizing how the SDG Data Alliance fosters collaboration across ministries, sectors, and geographies (from global to local) by leveraging GIS not only as a technical tool, but also as a powerful communication medium.

“We are better together—whether through systems integration, data sharing, or collective storytelling,” said Dr. Scott. “GIS is a communication tool as much as a technical one—and a powerful driver of collaboration.”

Formalizing Public–Private Collaboration for Climate Resilience

Image: (From left to right) Mark Heine, CEO, Fugro, and Jack Dangermond, President, Esri.

A major highlight of the week was the photo opportunity ahead of the signing of a strategic partnership between Fugro and Esri, a founding partner of the SDG Data Alliance. This collaboration aims to address urgent environmental and data challenges in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), beginning in the Caribbean.

“We believe in the power of public–private partnerships to advance resiliency among SIDS and are excited about the potential impact of this strategic collaboration, knowing well that Fugro and Esri exemplify the power of data-driven innovation for resilient prosperity,” said Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance.

“Collectively, as global data and technology providers, they bring to the fore much-needed coastal and marine environmental expertise and solutions that will address and mitigate the urgent climate challenges faced by SIDS.”

“Esri is proud to partner with Fugro, as well as the PVBLIC Foundation and the SDG Data Alliance in helping SIDS to build stronger data governance and management to support better data collection, as well as the protection, transparency, and sharing of these assets,” said Dr. Dawn Wright, Chief Scientist of Esri. “This is how we truly harness the impacts of science and technology and measure progress toward the ABAS goals, ensuring that no one is left behind.”

Image: (From left to right) Mark Heine, CEO, Fugro; Dr. Greg Scott, Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance; Jack Dangermond, President, Esri.

The partnership exemplifies a broader push to unlock integrated, scalable, and decision-ready geospatial solutions. By combining Esri’s GIS technology with Fugro’s capabilities in Earth observation, high-resolution surveys, and predictive modeling, the collaboration provides timely and actionable insights to support smarter, faster, and more resilient planning.

Strengthening the SDG Data Infrastructure

Dr. Scott also took part in a working session with Esri teams on the development of the SIDS Country Data Hub and Map Portfolio applications being developed to support the SIDS Global Data Hub, and later met with Esri President Jack Dangermond to discuss progress and future collaboration under the SDG Data Alliance.

As a long-standing champion of open data systems and geospatial innovation, PVBLIC Foundation celebrates the leadership of the Esri community and the continued progress of the SDG Data Alliance. Together, through collaborative platforms and public–private partnerships, we are turning data into action and partnerships into lasting impact.