ESRI UK today announced the full agenda for its annual conference 2010 with John Twigg, Group Planning Director, Manchester Airports Group and Carol Tullo, Director of Information Policy and Services at The National Archives completing the guest speaker line up. The two will join Digby Lord Jones, former Director General of CBI and polar explorer Pen Hadow, Director of GeoMission to speak during the plenary on day one of the conference on May 10.

Richard Waite, Managing Director, ESRI UK, commented:

"We are delighted to have such diverse and highly respected guest speakers who can talk with authority about why location matters and the value of geographic information within their particular sectors. We hope our delegates will be inspired to hear these visionary leaders share their own personal insights and observations on the role of GIS as a strategic business system, and in turn how it could support and revolutionise their own organisations."

John Twigg will speak about the value that GIS brings to Manchester Airports Group's strategic planning activities. Manchester Airport has been using GIS for many years across the whole airport space - from safety and security; to marketing and managing customer service. They have an ambitious plan for growth and are using the strategic power of GIS technology across their whole business to help them achieve this.

Carol Tullo's speech will focus on the wide-ranging discussion on 'Mapping the Future', a blog which featured on the Civil Service World website and considered the challenge of making government-stored data publicly available to support essential services such as emergency planning.

The ESRI UK Annual Conference 2010, entitled: 'Shaping your Vision', is a two-day event which will explore how geographic information systems (GIS) technology can improve decision-making across organisations and the wider community. The event aims to attract over 500 delegates across the public and private sector interested in future applications of GIS technology. Alongside the plenary presentations, day one will also include a series of industry based scenarios and a technology showcase featuring ArcGIS 10, ESRI's major new software release.

Day two will see a series of operationally focused break-out sessions designed to encourage ideas between the public and private sector. Topics include developing a new vision for asset management, transforming customer service and insight, shaping a sustainable future and GeoFutures - future themes in GIS.

Speakers on day two include representatives from Birmingham City Council, Ordnance Survey, The Forestry Commission, Sellafield, British Geological Survey, Microsoft and Wessex Water. There will also be a number of dedicated technical sessions in particular, exploring developments in ArcGIS 10 and a Spatial Thinking workshop.

The Conference also features a dedicated Partner Exhibition, offering delegates access to the latest GIS solutions and services, interactive sessions and access to industry specialists. Confirmed major sponsors include Microsoft, IBM and Ordnance Survey.

For further information on the ESRI UK Annual Conference 2010, or to register online before the 30th April 2010, visit: www.shapingyourvision.co.uk