Sharing the art of the possible
Katherine Green didn’t plan on a career in geospatial analysis. Yet, a subject during her university years gave her a glimpse into a multifaceted world full of incredible possibilities. Today, as Esri Australia’s Head of Solution Engineering, Katherine leads her team to share “the art of the possible” every day. Find out how this humble leader is supported to learn, develop her expertise and drive positive outcomes for our clients and communities.
‘These are the smartest, most driven and passionate people I’ve ever met - and I get to work with them every day’
A rich landscape of learning
When Katherine Green joined Esri Australia in 2019, she felt a little starstruck. As a former client, she had been using our GIS (Geographic Information System) technology daily and had attended several of our presentations.
“I had a bit of a moment where I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, these are the people I’ve seen on stage talking about all of this cool stuff!’” Katherine says. “It was really exciting.”
Katherine had already established herself as a GIS expert. She’d spent 10 years as a geospatial advisor for various federal government departments and agencies, supporting teams to incorporate location information into their data analysis and, in turn, their policy decision-making.
“I worked with GIS technology all day, every day,” Katherine says. “I loved it and was so passionate about it. But I also knew there was a lot I didn’t know. So, when the opportunity to join Esri Australia came along, I knew it would help me discover and learn that knowledge.”
Katherine has been on a rich learning journey at Esri Australia ever since.
Joining as a Senior Consultant within the Solution Engineering team, she found herself collaborating with some of the brightest minds in Australia and the world. She rapidly expanded her expertise, and in 2022, progressed to a Team Lead role. Six months later, with the support of mentors, Katherine stepped up to Head of Solution Engineering.
I’ve had so many opportunities to develop and grow at Esri Australia. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but everyone was so welcoming and willing to share their knowledge. If you ever have a question, someone here will always have the answer.
Complex challenges, meaningful impact
Katherine was introduced to the world of geospatial technology during a GIS module for her science degree, although it wasn’t something she clicked with immediately. However, a role in geospatial data cleansing opened her eyes to what was possible.
“I came to understand GIS wasn’t just maps; it was about location underpinning almost every decision made by individuals and organisations. I learnt about climate change analysis and reforestation mapping, and how location is fundamental for healthcare decision making. I loved that GIS could make such a big difference, and I got really excited about it.”
It was an early education into some big issues. Now, many years later as Esri Australia’s Head of Solution Engineering, Katherine helps facilitate innovative solutions for some of the most complex challenges facing our clients.
“Often, a client wants to work with geospatial technology, but they don’t quite know where to get started,” Katherine says. “Our Solution Engineers will have a conversation with them to understand what they want to achieve, and we may present them with ‘the art of the possible’., as we call it. It’s about translating their requirements into a tech-driven solution for ongoing success.”
The organisations we work with are as diverse as they are interesting, and Katherine has collaborated on some truly impactful projects. She helped develop a map that displays the geographic distribution of chronic disease in Australia to help guide the planning and development of critical community health services. She was also involved in a spatial technology solution that streamlines the emergency response operations of our states and territories during natural disasters.
Although Katherine is less client-facing in her role now, the support she provides her team members means she’s never far away from our positive impact.
“Knowing a conversation I’ve had has helped a client modernise how they use geospatial technology to get better outcomes for people and the environment - I feel proud to play a part in that.”
United to make a difference
When asked what she loves most about her role at Esri Australia, Katherine’s answer is immediate: “That’s an easy one - the people.”
“My team is full of just phenomenal people, and the same rings true across the organisation,” Katherine adds. “These are some of the smartest, most driven and passionate people I’ve ever met - and I get to work and hang out with them every day. That is extraordinary to me. Everyone here wants to make a difference.”
As Esri Australia is part of Boustead Geospatial, Katherine also gets to connect with colleagues in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia across South Asia and beyond.
“If there’s something we don’t quite have the skills or knowledge for, we can rely on our international counterparts and vice versa. We’ve got inroads to all these experts globally, which is fantastic.”
Are you interested in mapping a rewarding career alongside Australia’s most passionate geospatial professionals? Katherine says you’ll find the support, expertise and growth you need at Esri Australia.
“The breadth of what we do is huge. We have touchpoints in every industry, in every sector and in every community. There are so many opportunities to get involved in different things. It’s a fun and exciting place to be.”
Are you ready to make big ideas happen?
Explore a career with Esri Australia today