[OSGeo Oceania] FOSS4G Hobart - Elephant in the room ESRI

[Andrew Jeffrey]

Hi All,

I hope everyone that was able to attend the FOSS4G SOTM Oceania Hobart
conference had a great time. I'm still very much bummed that I wasn't able
to make it down there and my only start at the OO conference remains
Melbourne in 2018. I plan on improving my numbers as best I can into the
future, but from the outside looking in, it looked like all those that
attended had a blast - well done conference committee and OO board.

I am writing to the list because I have a question that has been bugging me
ever since I talked to a colleague who attended the event. That question is
"What's the deal with ESRI being a sponsor?". I have genuine curiosity when
it comes to the decision process in having them on board. I understand
these things take money to put on and the conference needs to turn a
profit, a healthy conference makes for a healthy OO which allows the
organisation to do many of the great things that they do. However, I think
this sponsorship from ESRI should be reconsidered in the future.

Just to be clear, I am not opposed to speakers who work for ESRI coming and
talking, from all reports the keynote from Kate Fickas was amazing (as were
all the keynotes from what I hear) and these are the industry people that
we all crave to hear from - top job in landing that line up! But as for
sponsorship I feel that ESRI is putting their brand on a community that a
lot of us turned to when looking for refuge from them.

I acknowledge that my opinion on this is biased as a QGIS advocate and
trainer. But something about this just feels off! I don't see what's in it
for the FOSS4G community having ESRI involved in our conferences, to me it
looks more of a cheap way for them to buy some good news without doing
anything to improve the relationship with the FOSS4G community.

However, I know I wasn't there, and I could be wrong about the whole thing.
Maybe the overwhelming opinion is that it's a good thing and this is a step
in the right direction? I would be interested in hearing what people think
and even hearing from someone on the conference organising committee that
has more knowledge about this. Is this something the conference would do
again? Is there a limit to their involvement? What would have happened if
they were a platinum sponsor and got the primary logo placement + verbal
mention at opening and closing of the event?

Thanks
Andrew
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