Chris Hadfield, the guitar-strumming retired Canadian astronaut, gave a keynote speech Wednesday to open a three-day conference hosted by Surrey-based Safe Software Inc.
Hundreds of data experts from around the globe are in Vancouver for the FME International User Conference, or FME UC, which runs from Wednesday to Friday (May 24 to 26) at Vancouver Convention Centre (West).
Hadfield, the first Canadian commander of the International Space Station, met with conference attendees at a book-signing event, and also posed for photos with Safe Software co-founders Don Murray and Dale Lutz.
FME technology, used by utilities, governments, engineering firms and other organizations to integrate enterprise systems and automate data processing, is developed locally by the 140 employees of Safe Software, founded in 1993. Today, the company is one of B.C.’s largest software firms, with 20,000-plus customers in more than 100 countries.
During the conference, presentations based on the conference theme (“shaping our world with data”) will be given by more than 150 speakers from the European Environment Agency, Ordnance Survey, Pitney Bowes, DataBC, Esri USA, Vancouver International Airport and other organizations.
“Data is key to understanding, from business systems, to the environment, to our communities,” stated Murray, president of Safe Software. “Through this understanding, we have the ability to change and shape our world.”
Added Lutz, the company’s VP of Development: “This international user conference is a way for data experts to connect from all over the globe. We come together, exchange knowledge and find inspiration for what can be achieved by leveraging the data that is now so readily available. It’s an amazing experience.”
For conference details, visit fmeuc.com.
Currently based on 132nd Street in Newton, Safe Software will soon move to the HealthTech Innovation HUB, on 96th Avenue near Surrey Memorial Hospital. Last December, company officials said Safe Software will occupy the top four floors of the City Centre 2 building, in 48,000 square feet of space, by January 2018.
“We’re excited about being there, because our current location isn’t conducive to transit, which is key in (attracting) young high-tech employees,” Murray told the Now-Leader at the time.
“We wanted to stay in Surrey.… When we started the company, I lived in a ground-floor condo suite in Whalley, so not too far from City Centre 2, which is kind of full-circle.”
