Syposium 2015 Booklet

Key Note Presentation

Integrating GIS for Sustainable Development  by Ms Cecille Blake, Team Member, United Nations Global Geospatial Information Management Secretariat

Bio

In August 2012 Cecille joined the United Nations Statistics Division as a member of the Global Geospatial Information Management (UN-GGIM) Secretariat. Her responsibilities include providing secretariat services for the Committee of Experts on GGIM, and the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN). She also has oversight responsibilities on UN-GGIM for countries of the Americas including the regional body UN-GGIM Americas.

From April 1997 to August 2012 she served as the National GIS Coordinator/Senior Director in the National Spatial Data Management Division, now with the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change. There she was responsible for the co-ordination of national GIS activities, inclusive of the development and management of Jamaica’s Spatial Data Infrastructure and the preparation of spatial data management policies, guidelines and standards. Ms Blake successfully led and managed several initiatives aimed at transforming and influencing the capabilities and capacities of numerous government organizations, private sector entities and Professional Groups to deal with GIS and the development of a Spatial Data management Infrastructure in Jamaica.

She previously worked at the then Survey Department in the Land Information System Unit in various capacities and was responsible for the establishment of local area information systems network and the implementation and use of GIS.

Cecille has a first degree from the University of the West Indies – Mona in Geography and Social Sciences and post graduate work in GIS with specialisation in Land Information Systems from ITC in the Netherlands, and Masters in Management Information Systems from University of the West Indies Mona.