London, 4 June 2026 – The Association for Geographic Information, the membership group for organisations and individuals working in the geospatial sector, is delighted to announce its 2026 annual award winners. Presented at the GEO Business event in London yesterday, the awards celebrate excellence in the sector, recognising innovation, achievement, and best practice.
“We have once again been inspired, and even humbled, by the quantity, quality, diversity, and impact of the submissions and nominations received for this year’s awards,” commented Fergus Craig, Chair of the Association for Geographic Information. “We are delighted to showcase so many exceptional talents and innovative projects and we look forward to working with the award winners to share these examples of geospatial excellence with a wider audience.”
In honour of the former Chief Executive of the AGI, the Chris Holcroft Award was presented to Denise McKenzie, Managing Partner at the PLACE Trust. In the words of AGI Chair Fergus Craig, ‘this award recognises an exceptional and sustained contribution to the geospatial profession, demonstrated through more than 25 years of international leadership and advocacy’. He added, ‘through her ability to connect communities, influence global thinking, and embed ethical principles into practice, Denise has made a lasting, and meaningful impact on the profession, making her a highly deserving recipient of this award’. As this award acknowledges Chris’s legacy and his own contributions to the Association and wider industry, it is fitting that Denise is also a former Chair of the AGI.
The second new category for 2026 was the AGI GeoCommunity Champion, which was awarded to Bruce Gittings, Senior Lecturer in Geographic Information at the University of Edinburgh, and Chair of AGI Scotland. Voted by the AGI Council, this award recognises Bruce’s ability to bring people together, champion talent and strengthen the geospatial ecosystem. In the words of the judges ‘Bruce has made a lasting and highly valued contribution to the AGI GeoCommunity, making him a deserving inaugural recipient of this award’.
The AGI Foresight Award, another new category for 2026, was presented to Cassie Pepers, GIS Specialist at The Crown Estate for the Marine Delivery Roadmap initiative. Aligned with the highly acclaimed AGI Foresight Report 2030, and the themes and calls for outcomes contained within, this award looks at future partnerships between government, industry and regulators. It was described by the judges as ‘an impressive foresight approach to model seabed use to 2050 for long-term impact’.
Other winners of the 2026 AGI Excellence in Geospatial Awards include Dr Andy Brewer, Development Manager at Idox Geospatial, who was presented with the Geospatial Professional of the Year Award for his work on Natural England’s award-winning Green Infrastructure Map, and Gabriella Edghill, Geospatial Analyst at Rebalance Earth, who received the Early Career Professional of the Year Award for her work on a Geospatial Predictive Analytics Platform (GPAP), advancing climate risk methodology and making the case for nature-based investment.
The Environment and Sustainability Award was presented to Andrew Young and Xiyu Phoon on behalf of the Arcadis SuDS Project team. Applying advanced geospatial workflows to analyse London’s streetscape and rank over five million potential drainage opportunities, it is hoped this will support the delivery of greener, more climate-resilient urban environments. Described as a ‘first of its kind 3D BIM to GIS workflow’, the Innovation in Geospatial Technology Award was presented to Louise Huby, Principal GIS Consultant at AtkinsRéalis, on behalf of the Sizewell C SDP GIS Team. Turning complex nuclear design into accessible 3D information, this project will transform how 3D engineering data is accessed, validated, and shared, so that it is accessible to all.
In addition to the annual award presentation hosted by Ben Blowers and supported by award presenters and presentations from winners, the AGI took centre stage at GEO Business. Presentations included a panel discussion titled ‘Who Ate My Lunch? The AGI Foresight Report 2030 Six Months On’, and a panel discussion with audience engagement to explore and discuss how 3D geospatial demonstrates value across multiple sectors and applications. The AGI Early Careers Network hosted a session focused on building confidence and capability in networking, and the AGI Education and Skills Network brought together geospatial apprentices, who shared honest reflections on their journeys into the sector.
About the Association for Geographic Information
The Association for Geographic Information is an independent and impartial organisation that represents the UK geospatial sector. Working with members and the wider community, the Association successfully works alongside government policy makers, delivers professional development opportunities and provides leadership for best practice across the industry. Established in 1989, members of the Association for Geographic Information enjoy unrivalled networking opportunities, a framework for learning new skills, and the support to progress professional development.
