The recipients of this year’s Geospatial in School Awards were announced during a gala celebration at the combined FIG Working Week/Locate25 conference in Brisbane last week.
The Awards, which are organised by She Maps and supported by the Geospatial Council of Australia and The Surveyors’ Trust, recognise excellence in both the teaching and learning of geospatial topics within Australian schools.
According to She Maps, “our independent award judges were blown away by the calibre of nominations this year. The level of achievement and impact in geospatial teaching and learning is outstanding, and we are proud to have such an incredible pool of talent in Australia.”
The recipient of the Outstanding Geospatial Student Award 2025 is Zoe Zhao, who attended Ormiston College in Queensland.
Zoe, who has just completed Year 12 at Ormiston College, was named dux of geography and biology in 2024, having excelled in geospatial technologies, using ArcGIS to analyse data and create land-use maps.
Zoe’s field research on gentrification and environmental conditions demonstrated her commitment to real-world geography, leading to her receiving the QUT Faculty of Engineering Award for excellence in geography in 2023.
She hopes to work in geographic and public-sector economics in the future.
The recipient of the Emerging Geospatial Teacher Award 2025 is Dylan Brown from Grace Lutheran College in Queensland.
Dylan is a passionate geography and geospatial educator who transitioned into teaching from a career in urban and regional planning. He has enriched geography programs for Years 9–12, focusing on real-world geospatial applications in contemporary education.
In 2024, he introduced an innovative Senior Geography Camp on North Stradbroke Island, using drones and GeoNadir for student-led mapping of mining rehabilitation impacts on landcover.
He also integrates ArcGIS and StoryMaps in the classroom to explore issues such as coastal management, landcover transformation and liveability challenges.
His dedication has inspired many students to pursue university studies in spatial science, geography and urban planning.
The recipient of the Innovative Geospatial Teacher Award 2025 is Brett Dascombe from Wavell State High School in Queensland.
Brett is a senior geography teacher and geospatial education specialist who uses geospatial technologies such as GIS platforms drones, and a range of innovative technologies to enhance student project-based learning.
His contributions to curriculum development have been recognised through his work with the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and in 2025 he was a finalist in the Top 10 Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize and a 2023 Teaching Fellow in the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award.
Brett also leads professional development workshops and shares resources via his Geospatial Connect YouTube channel.
