Meet The Experts - Adam Loader
Wednesday, 16 July, 2025
How do you map invisible systems to solve visible problems?
Armed with a sharp eye for spatial patterns, a healthy respect for data accuracy, and just enough NFL fantasy league obsession to balance the serious stuff, Adam Loader turns complex geographies into clear, actionable insights.
In this edition of our Meet The Expert series, we sit down with Adam to explore how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can shape better environmental decisions—from subsurface modelling to salmon habitat restoration. Discover what drew him from surveying to spatial analytics, why he believes communication is just as important as computation, and how a drone flight over the Snowy Mountains became one of his proudest career moments.
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1. How do you explain your job to someone at a party?
This is always a tricky one, I usually say I work with maps and data to help solve real-world problems. Whether it's tracking environmental changes, planning urban development, or managing resources, I use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to visualise and analyse spatial data.
2. What inspired you to pursue a career in GIS?
I was always curious about how different places are connected and how we can use technology to understand and improve our world. GIS seemed like the perfect blend of geography, technology, and problem-solving. Having said that, I did decide to focus on GIS after failing engineering maths as part of a surveying degree.
3. Can you tell us about your role and what inspires you to do this work every day?
In my role, I analyse spatial data to support decision-making in various projects. My day can vary significantly dependent on project challenges and tasks; it might be a simple as dots on a map to building a complex subsurface model to help understand geological compositions and groundwater interactions. The knowledge that in some way, my work might make a difference and influence critical decision making is enough to inspire me to come into the office.
4. What are some of the key challenges you tackle in your role?
One of the main challenges is ensuring data accuracy and consistency. Spatial data can come from various sources and integrating them into a coherent dataset requires attention to detail. Another challenge is communicating complex spatial analyses to stakeholders who may not be familiar with GIS.
5. What’s the most fascinating project you’ve ever worked on, and why? (Or, What professional achievement are you most proud of, and why?)
There are many that I am proud of, I was heavily involved in the reference design for the Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project- analysing pedestrian severance, utility interaction and relocation and groundwater and surface water influences. Some of the smaller projects are just as exciting to, I was involved in restoring salmon breeding habitats in the Snowy Mountains using drone technologies to identify breeding patterns and restore artificial habitat to encourage spawning.
6. What’s your one expert tip for teams working on projects?
Effective communication is key. Ensure that everyone understands the goals, processes, and outcomes of the project. Regular updates and clear documentation can prevent misunderstandings and keep the team aligned.
7. What’s one change you’d like to see in GIS and the environmental industry in Australia over the next 10 years?
I'd love to see more integration of real-time data and AI in GIS. This could enhance our ability to monitor environmental changes and respond quickly to emerging issues.
8. Have you had any mentors who shaped your career? (Or What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?)
Many people have helped me throughout my career, although no one stands out specifically, the common message is to communicate through issues or problems to really understand the problem. There are always numerous layers that need to be unwrapped prior to being able to find a solution.
9. What’s a book, podcast, or resource you’d recommend to someone?
Does Netflix count?? I've recently enjoyed the first two seasons of Tires.
10. What’s something you geek out over?
I’m a big fantasy football, exclusively NFL. It consumes me for 6 months of the year.