Jun 1, 2015 -- EuroGeographics today announced that Mick Cory from Land and Property Services, Northern Ireland, is to be its new Secretary General and Executive Director.

He will succeed Dave Lovell OBE who has led the membership association for the European National Mapping, Land Registry and Cadastral Authorities since 2007. He will officially hand over to Mr Cory at the organisation’s 2015 General Assembly in Belgrade.

Mr Cory, who is currently the Director of Mapping and Chief Survey Officer in Northern Ireland, has held a number of senior-level policy positions. He brings experience and expertise in, surveying, developing and implementing policy, delivering spatial data infrastructures and organisational development.

In particular, he has an in-depth understanding of the INSPIRE Directive, having led the development of Northern Ireland’s geographic information strategy, established and chaired the UK Location User Group and also as a member of the Open Data User Group, which advised UK Government on achieving the greatest economic return and social benefit from the release of public sector open data. From 2005 to 2012, Mr Cory represented Northern Ireland on the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and was responsible for delivering its 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games activities, including the Torch Relay, in Ireland.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Cory said: “I love maps. In fact I loved them so much as a youngster that I decided to become a mapmaker at the age of 17. In the 40 years since, I have mapped many parts of the world, worked for three National Mapping and Cadastral Authorities, and an International Mapping Agency. The biggest lesson I learnt in this time is that, although maps are culturally and aesthetically wonderful, it is what you use them for that matters most.”

“EuroGeographics’ members fulfil a unique role in Europe by providing the most accurate, up-to-date, high-quality geospatial and land information. Policy-makers do not always fully understand or appreciate the power of this data — or how to unleash it.”

“I look forward to helping to promote and realise the full potential of members’ geospatial information, particularly through the delivery of The European Location Framework which provides a unique, user-friendly gateway to their data.”

Ingrid Vanden Berghe, President of EuroGeographics said: “Mick has extensive experience of working across national, cultural and professional boundaries so he is more than equal to the task of representing the 61 organisations from 46 countries that make up our membership.”

“I know that I speak for them all when I say we look forward to working with him and benefitting from his skills, enthusiasm and passion for all things geospatial.”

Contacts:
Rhian French 
+44 1264 300126,
+447892 698 350 (mobile)
email: Email Contact

About Mick Cory
Mick Cory is a Fulbright Scholar and studied the challenges faced by organisations with a public sector ethos and culture when commercial operations have been introduced. He has also participated in the USA’s Office of Personnel Management’s Senior Executive Service flagship programme “Leadership in a Democratic Society”, holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Company Direction from the University of Ulster and a Masters (MPhil) in GIS.

His career, which started out in the Directorate of Overseas Surveys, includes senior positions at Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Ireland, and Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland. Between 2005 and 2014, Mick was Director Sports Museums and Recreation Division, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Belfast, where he led the development of policy and strategy in sport, museums, libraries, inland waterways and inland fisheries.

About EuroGeographics
Connecting you to the authoritative geo-information framework for Europe
EuroGeographics is an international not-for-profit organisation (AISBL/ IVZW under Belgian Law, BCE registration: 833 607 112) and the membership association for the European National Mapping, Land Registry and Cadastral Authorities. It brings together 61 members from 46 countries.

Company Contacts:
EuroGeographics
www.eurogeographics.org

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