Greg Scott, Executive Director, SDG Data Alliance at the FOSD Summit 2023
As we kick off the new year, we are excited to share that Greg Scott will be joining PVBLIC Foundation as the Executive Director of the SDG Data Alliance, bringing with him over 30 years of experience in the geospatial domain.
In this role Greg will lead the execution and expansion of the SDG Data Alliance into an exciting new phase, which includes increased engagement with Small Island Development States (SIDS) as part of PVBLIC Foundation’s recent agreements with the Association of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the government of Antigua and Barbuda to establish a Global Data Hub for SIDS. The Global Data Hub will help Antigua and Barbuda and AOSIS Member States establish or improve national data centers and create SDG Data Hubs to enhance decision-making, build capacity, track progress, and strengthen the amount and quality of public, private and international development finance.
In his previous role, Greg provided the lead Secretariat support to the United Nations Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM), created in July 2011 by ECOSOC. This included the establishment and growth of UN-GGIM, providing strategic policy advice and leadership, and guiding the development, coordination and implementation of the substantive content for UN-GGIM, including its World Geospatial Information Congresses, High-Level Forums, international technical capacity development workshops, and other international fora.
He also played a pivotal role in architecting the global geospatial framework that guides the work of the SDG Data Alliance and numerous countries worldwide.
"As a United Nations partner, I've been privileged to witness the SDG Data Alliance's journey from its inception, observing its unique role in driving SDG implementation in developing countries, including some of the world's least developed. Now, as part of the PVBLIC family, I'm thrilled to lead the SDG Data Alliance into its next phases. The contagious dedication and passion within PVBLIC, coupled with the established trust, commitment, and collaboration of the SDG Data Alliance, sharpens our focus on making a real impact as we walk hand-in-hand with countries” said Greg.
With a remarkable record of leadership and achievement, Greg has consistently demonstrated a passion for addressing contemporary societal challenges.
A major focus for Greg over the past 5 years has been leading the development and implementation of geospatial information frameworks and guides within the umbrella of UN-GGIM. This included the United Nations Integrated Geospatial Information Framework (UN-IGIF), a multi-dimensional Framework aimed at strengthening national geospatial information management in countries, developing countries in particular, to support national development priorities and global development agendas – such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including environmental management, natural hazard risk assessment, disaster response modeling, national security mapping, and the delivery of decision support tools. His contributions have been recognized globally, marking him as a thought leader in the geospatial field.
“As we embark on this new chapter with Greg Scott, we are confident that his leadership will not only steer the Data Alliance towards success but will also contribute significantly to our collective vision of a more sustainable and equitable world,” shared Stephen Keppel, President of PVBLIC Foundation.
“Greg's vision, strategic insight, and experience make him the ideal leader to guide the Data Alliance through its next phase of growth and impact.”
Greg has ambitious plans for 2024 as the SDG Data Alliance starts the year by hosting a series of workshops in Aguascalientes, Mexico January 24-26 and builds up to the launch of a Global Data Hub for SIDS at the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) in May. Greg’s global perspective and hands-on approach underscore his commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation on a global scale.
A closer look at the SDG Data Alliance:
The SDG Data Alliance is an open, community-driven, multi-stakeholder partnership comprising the private sector, foundations, UN organizations, and local and national governments. The Alliance was created to bring geographic information systems, or GIS, technology and capabilities to developing nations in order to accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Data Alliance does this by supporting the creation and strengthening of geospatial Country-level Action Plans and SDG Data Hubs across developing countries.
The SDG Data Alliance is made possible through the collaborative efforts of key partners, including PVBLIC Foundation, Esri, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the UN-GGIM Secretariat.