During his IT career at Eagle Technology Group in New Zealand, Parker identified a number of software applications to import, sell, and support locally, including the GIS developed by US-based Environmental Research Systems Institute (ESRI).

From the late 1980s, he was involved in many ESRI GIS implementations across central, regional, and local government, DSIR/CRIs, and universities. When Parker retired from Eagle Technology 13 years ago, he founded GIS in Conservation (GiC), a non-profit charitable trust that provides GIS and other IT specialists and software to non-profit conservation and iwi groups at no charge.

In the Wellington region, GiC has supported organisations including Zero Invasive Predators Ltd (ZIP), Zealandia, and Capital Kiwi.

Parker’s talk will present real New Zealand examples showing how GIS has enabled a new way of understanding the world by putting the “where” into data.

This event is supported by voluntary donations. Please consider making a donation when reserving your ticket.

Biography

Parker was raised and worked on his grandparents’ Angus beef and cropping farm in Gloucester, Virginia. In 1976, he graduated from Methodist University, North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Administration, intending to continue towards becoming a Chartered Accountant.

He was instead recruited by Burroughs Corporation to work in IT sales for accounting solutions. Parker emigrated to New Zealand in 1983 and joined Pr1me Computers—now Eagle Technology Ltd—as an Account Manager, where he worked for 29 years until his retirement.

Parker has been a volunteer trapper for 22 years and continues to serve on both the GiC and MIRO committees. At MIRO, he coordinates the protection and study of the endangered Wellington Region banded dotterel population, assists with the little blue penguin project, and manages volunteer trapping at Parangahau Lakes.

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