Profile
Simon Ross
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About Me:
I live in Oxford with my wife, three kids, one dog and two cats! Outside of work we run, climb, row and bike.
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I first got started in a career in mapping through a childhood spent hiking, climbing and orienteering. I loved to see different maps in different countries and how they used different techniques to represent the physical environment.
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My pronouns are:
he/him
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How I use Geography in my work:
I work for a company that makes mapping software (Geographic Information Systems). We support our customers to use the software and to make sure they have high quality, accurate, reliable data in their maps. This supports a huge range of different location based activities including farming, flooding, water management, power generation, construction and infrastructure planning.
One of our biggest projects at the moment is helping to build the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR). This provides a single national collection of underground infrastructure: power cables, sewers, water pipes, internet lines etc. This will help reduce the number of times roads need to be dug up and reduce the risk of breaking lines or pipes when roadworks take place.
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My Work:
I have worked with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for mapmaking and location analysis my entire career and now lead a team of 50 consultants that help our customers with managing their geographic mapping data.
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Today my main involvement in projects is reviewing work completed by others and making sure we provide the highest quality services to our customers so we can live up to our brand as ‘The Geospatial Data Experts’.
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My Typical Day:
I work mainly from home and go to our main office a few times per month. After getting kids to school I’m at my desk most of the day with a good break at lunch to walk our dog Eddie.
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I always try to fit some exercise into my day and that often revolves around getting my kids to their various sports clubs where I help out with running the local rowing club and coaching football. I’ve recently taken up rowing (following my kids lead) and I’m enjoying spending time out on the River Thames in the middle of Oxford.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I’d like to do something that combines geography and sport – so perhaps working with a local school to make an orienteering map they could use in PE lessons.
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a Geographer! Mission Completed!
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Wasn't everyone? :)
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
If I was starting my career again I think I might try something like Sports Science
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Muse
What's your favourite food?
Lasagna
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