[Foss4g2008loc] keynote speakers

[Gavin Fleming]

Mark has about as much to do with GIS as Damian Conway (of Perl fame)
has. Damian's message was 'a geek eye for the suit guy' - i.e. what is
the open source message to take to managers and decision makers to
convince them of its business case. He didn't mention GIS once but had a
great message delivered powerfully and entertainingly. 

So, the speaker doesn't have to have a huge connection with GIS although
that would be great, but a connection with Open Source (and/or another
connection to the conference theme) and a great message or story are
essential. And of course great speaking skills. 

Re Paul S' suggestion: Paul R, are you up to it? 

Any opinions on a repeat (with variations) of Damian? 

Gavin 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: foss4g2008loc-bounces at lists.osgeo.org
[mailto:foss4g2008loc-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Paul Scott
Sent: 14 March 2008 10:09 AM
To: FOSS4G2008 local organising committee
Subject: Re: [Foss4g2008loc] keynote speakers


On Fri, 2008-03-14 at 10:04 +0200, Gavin Fleming wrote:
> Please send suggestions and contacts for keynote speakers at
> FOSS4G2008. Damian Conway was fantastic in 2007. I've just found out
> that our hot favourite for 2008, Mark Shuttleworth, can't make it.
> Graeme is following up on a few leads but I want to spread our net a
> bit wider.

What exactly does Mark Shuttleworth have to do with GIS??

How about the folks from Refractions giving a keynote? That at least
would be valuable...

Just my R0.02

--Paul