Visionary Leaders in Geospatial Technology, 2025 | FM Conway
Anneke Thackrah isn’t just charting the landscape—she’s transforming how we understand and improve it. As a GIS Analyst for FM Conway, a leader in infrastructure services across the UK, Anneke stands at the intersection of sustainability, smart technology, and data-driven urban planning. Her role, nestled within the company’s Digital Urban Solutions division, exemplifies how spatial intelligence is no longer confined to maps—it’s a central force shaping safer, smarter, and more sustainable communities.
With more than two decades of experience in agriculture, climate systems, and infrastructure, Anneke’s journey reflects both the evolution of geospatial technologies and their growing influence on the future of global development. “What really stands out to me is the value of accurate data,” she says. “It doesn’t just tell us where things are — it gives us powerful insights that can drive real change.”
From Agriculture to Infrastructure: A GIS Journey Across Continents
The seeds of Anneke’s geospatial journey were sown in the farmlands of South Africa. Starting her career as an agrometeorologist at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), she was tasked with determining crop suitability based on climate and soil data. But it didn’t take long for her to realise that this was only part of the puzzle.
“Crop suitability isn’t a point-based concept — it’s inherently spatial,” Anneke explains. The breakthrough came with the rise of desktop GIS technology, allowing her to interpolate point data with contextual variables like topography and proximity to oceans. “That early integration of spatial data changed the game—it allowed us to move from isolated data points to landscape-level insights.”
Anneke went on to develop a pioneering CD-based GIS tool that helped agricultural advisors identify optimal crop types for specific regions—a powerful example of making complex data accessible and actionable. Her growing expertise in GIS found further validation when she led the geospatial components of a major Brown Locust Early Warning System for Southern Africa—a project that, for the first time, linked climate variability with pest outbreaks.
“It was a defining moment in my career,” Anneke recalls. “Working alongside entomologists, soil scientists, and remote sensing experts showed me how GIS can unite diverse disciplines. It gave me a deep respect for the role of spatial intelligence in solving complex, real-world problems.”
From forecasting agricultural patterns to mapping infrastructure networks, Anneke’s transition to Esri South Africa allowed her to expand into multiple industries—mining, utilities, sanitation, and energy. Each step further refined her capacity to deploy GIS not just as a technical skill, but as a strategic enabler of growth and resilience.
Building Smart Cities: The Digital Urban Solutions Vision
Today, Anneke is part of FM Conway’s Digital Urban Solutions team—an ambitious division combining electrical systems, lighting, smart technology, and GIS to revolutionise how councils and stakeholders manage their urban assets.
FM Conway, with more than 60 years of infrastructure excellence, is not your typical construction firm. It’s a self-delivering powerhouse with a focus on end-to-end lifecycle management—from inspection and design to construction and long-term maintenance. Its mission is both clear and future-focused: to transform the built environment through sustainable practices, innovative thinking, and high-quality services.
Anneke’s role as a GIS Analyst is essential to realising that mission. “We’re not just plotting streetlights or manholes,” she says. “We’re helping councils unlock data and insights that guide smarter investment, extend the life of assets, and ultimately create more resilient communities.”
Her work goes far beyond static maps. By integrating real-time data from sensors, digital twins, and AI-powered predictive models, Anneke and her team are shifting GIS from being a historical record to a dynamic, decision-driving platform.
“The future of GIS is in movement—not just where assets are, but how they’re performing now and what they’ll look like tomorrow.”
This real-time intelligence is particularly vital in an age of aging infrastructure and tightening budgets. With a deep understanding of geospatial dynamics, Anneke supports clients in making proactive decisions—whether it’s targeting investment where it matters most or forecasting asset degradation before it becomes a crisis.
Spatial Intelligence as a Catalyst for Climate Resilience
Anneke’s long-term commitment to environmental impact is evident in every project she touches. With climate change redefining infrastructure planning, the role of GIS in sustainability is more critical than ever.
From early work in locust tracking—where shifting rainfall patterns revealed the fingerprints of climate change—to her current focus on sustainable asset management, Anneke sees geospatial intelligence as a frontline tool in the fight against environmental degradation.
“GIS allows us to visualise, analyse, and understand complex environmental data. It’s about seeing patterns that are invisible to the naked eye,” she says. “It supports everything from carbon reduction to resource optimisation.”
FM Conway itself has an industry-leading sustainability ethos, recycling nearly all material removed from highways and producing low-carbon recycled asphalt. The company also operates a drainage treatment plant that cleans millions of gallons of gully water annually. GIS plays a pivotal role in tracking, measuring, and improving these sustainable processes.
But for Anneke, sustainability is also about social equity and future-proofing. One of the most transformative projects she has supported is the UK’s National Underground Asset Register (NUAR)—a bold attempt to digitally map the UK’s subterranean infrastructure. By providing a single source of truth for utilities and construction teams, NUAR reduces accidental strikes, cuts down project times, and boosts safety.
“NUAR isn’t just a tech upgrade—it’s a model of how geospatial data can deliver real social and economic value at scale,” Anneke says.
"Spatial intelligence is the lens through which we see challenges—and the key to unlocking solutions."
A Vision for the Future: Ethics, Innovation, and Inclusion
In an age of AI, cloud computing, and sensor fusion, the role of the GIS Analyst is rapidly evolving. But for Anneke, staying grounded in purpose is key.
“While the rapid pace of technological advancement is impressive, it’s the way technology is applied—and the tangible impact it has on people’s daily tasks—that truly makes a difference,” she says.
She envisions a future where equity, access, and inclusion drive innovation. Emerging sectors like climate science and public health, and underserved geographies across the Global South, will shape the next chapter of geospatial transformation.
And what defines visionary leadership in that future? According to Anneke, it’s not just about building new platforms—it’s about who benefits, how it’s governed, and whether it solves humanity’s most pressing challenges.
“True innovation in geospatial tech isn’t just about new tools—it’s about solving real-world problems,” she advises. “Stay curious, be user-focused, and never stop learning.”
Her leadership style, rooted in transformational leadership, focuses on empowering teams, fostering creativity, and building a shared vision. Open communication, ethical responsibility, and consistent upskilling are non-negotiable in her book.
Anneke also believes in the power of cross-sector collaboration. Whether it’s working with engineers at FM Conway, government clients, or data scientists, she sees partnership as the secret sauce in building scalable, sustainable solutions.
Leading with Purpose, Mapping with Vision
Anneke Thackrah’s journey is a testament to how far geospatial technology has come—and how far it can still go. From helping farmers in rural South Africa choose the right crops, to enabling British councils to manage their assets with pinpoint precision, her career is driven by a singular idea: that location isn’t just a place—it’s a perspective.
At a time when climate volatility, rapid urbanisation, and digital transformation are reshaping the world, Anneke offers a steady hand and a bold vision. Her work with FM Conway and the Digital Urban Solutions team is not just about maintaining infrastructure—it’s about reimagining it for future generations.
As she continues to shape the built environment through data, innovation, and purpose, one thing is clear: Anneke Thackrah isn’t just analysing the map—she’s helping to redraw it.
“Spatial intelligence is the lens through which we see challenges—and the key to unlocking solutions.“
