The GITA is very pleased to announce that Ward Chapin, chief information officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will deliver the keynote address at GITA’s 2010 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference.

Aurora, Colo. -The Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) is very pleased to announce that Ward Chapin, chief information officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, will deliver the keynote address at GITA’s 2010 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference, slated for April 25-29, 2010, in Phoenix, Ariz. This will be a joint keynote address with the American Congress and Surveying and Mapping and Arizona Professional Land Surveyors’ Annual Conference, which is co-located with GITA’s Solutions Conference in 2010.

“We are very excited to have Ward Chapin as our keynote speaker,” said 2010 Solutions Conference Chair Ralph Anhold, ESRI. “His support of the geospatial community indicates that our technology is a fundamental element of the information systems of NOW and the future, which ties in nicely with our theme - not your father’s GIS conference!“

Chapin leads a team of more than 1,200 staff managing the accreditation, communication, security, and transportation systems for all participants of the Winter Games. The team is also charged with coordinating the timing and scoring systems, and will work with the immigration and security officials to ensure seamless integration between respective information systems. Just two months after the entire world watches the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games-taking place Feb. 12-28, 2010-GITA attendees will receive a behind the scenes look at technology integration for the world’s largest sports event.

“These will be the most technologically advanced Games yet, and that’s exciting for the entire information technology industry” said Chapin. “Geospatial professionals who work with data and various systems every day understand the significance of successful integration, and I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences with this audience.”

A longtime executive with HSBC Bank, Chapin built a progressive career with the financial services company in Canada and abroad. Prior to joining VANOC, he was responsible for Information Technology Operations for the HSBC Investment Bank in London, England. He also spent more than three years in Paris as director of IT Operations, assisting with the integration of HSBC’s acquisition of CCF Bank, a federation of 11 banks. During his tenure with HSBC Bank Canada, Chapin served as vice president, Technical and Corporate Services, and also held various IT-related roles in information systems auditing, systems development and IT operations.

Online registration for the 2010 Geospatial Infrastructure Solutions Conference is now open. Registration fees start at $379. Exhibits-only passes are $35. Full details about the conference are available at www.gita.org/gis, or by contacting GITA headquarters at 303-337-0513; e-mail info@gita.org.


The Geospatial Information & Technology Association, or GITA, is the professional association and leading advocate for anyone using computerized mapping for the extraction of data to own, operate, maintain, and protect the infrastructure. GITA is the source for professional best practices, education, and employment.