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Geography isn't just about coloring in maps anymore. Honestly, if you still think it’s all about memorizing capital cities and tracing river bends, you’re living in the wrong century. Ask Nigel Clifford.
In 2023, the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) was right in the middle of a massive identity shift, and Clifford was the one holding the compass. He wasn't your typical academic figurehead. He’s a guy who spent years running the Ordnance Survey—the people who actually make the maps—and leading tech companies like Symbian. That’s why his 2023 tenure as Royal Geographical Society president Nigel Clifford was so pivotal. He brought a "data-first" business brain to an institution that’s nearly 200 years old.
Turning the RGS into a Powerhouse of Data
Clifford’s 2023 was a year of bridging the gap. On one hand, you’ve got the traditional explorers and the PhDs studying glaciers. On the other, you’ve got a world that’s obsessed with "geospatial data"—basically the tech that makes your Uber find you and helps governments plan where to build hospitals.
Basically, he wanted to make sure the Society didn't get left behind in the digital dust.
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In September 2023, Clifford oversaw a huge move: a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Association for Geographic Information (AGI). This wasn't just some boring piece of paperwork. It was a strategic alliance designed to beef up the "Professional" side of geography. He was pushing for more people to become Chartered Geographers.
The goal? To prove that being a geographer is a high-level professional career, like being an architect or a chartered accountant.
The 2023 Medals: Celebrating the "Hidden" Side of Science
If you walked into the RGS headquarters in London during June 2023, you would have seen Clifford doing the "glittering ceremony" thing. But the awards he handed out that year actually said a lot about where he was taking the Society.
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- Andrew Mitchell got the Founder’s Medal. Why? Because the guy basically invented the concept of "natural capital"—the idea that a rainforest is worth more alive than dead because of the "services" it provides to the planet.
- Professor Felix Driver landed the Patron’s Medal. Clifford specifically pointed out Felix’s work on "Hidden Histories." It was about looking at the Society’s own past and admitting that local guides and indigenous people did a lot of the heavy lifting during those famous Victorian expeditions, even if they didn't get the credit at the time.
It’s a bit of a balancing act. You have to honor the history while also being "woke" enough to realize the history wasn't always perfect. Clifford seemed to handle that tension without breaking a sweat.
Why Nigel Clifford Matters for the Future
By the time the 2023 AGM rolled around, Clifford was looking toward the finish line of his three-year term (which ended in June 2024). He’s since moved on to become the 40th Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford. Talk about a career trajectory.
But his legacy at the RGS is really about relevance.
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He spent 2023 shepherding a governance review and a new strategic plan. He even pushed for the recruitment of new roles focused on fundraising and commercial activities. He knew that for the Society to survive another 200 years, it couldn't just rely on dusty archives and membership fees. It needed to be part of the conversation on climate change, urban planning, and the "geospatial" revolution.
The Takeaway: How to Use This in Your Own Career
You don't have to be the president of a royal society to learn from what Clifford did in 2023. Whether you're in business or academia, the lesson is the same: interdisciplinary is the only way to win.
If you want to follow in those footsteps, here’s how to pivot:
- Get the "Chartered" status: If you’re in the geographical field, look into the CGeog accreditation. It’s the gold standard Clifford pushed for.
- Learn the "Geospatial" language: Don't just study the environment; study the data behind the environment. Look into GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and how location data drives modern business decisions.
- Bridge the gap: Clifford succeeded because he spoke "CEO" and "Professor" fluently. In your own work, try to find the intersection between your technical skills and the big-picture business value.
Nigel Clifford's 2023 was a masterclass in modernization. He took a classic institution and made it feel like it actually belonged in the age of satellites and AI. And honestly? That's a map worth following.