Ahmed Abukhater, Ph.D., GISP, leads Esri’s global marketing strategies in planning and economic development. In his role as Esri's Community Development Industry Manager, he works to advance the industry agenda through his vision of enterprise GIS, smart growth, business attraction and economic gardening and revitalization. With over a decade of proven leadership in various executive management roles in the US and overseas, he is a noted expert in a number of areas including of GIS solutions and strategic marketing in planning and community development applications, environmental science, sustainable development and conflict resolution and mediation.

 

As a planning practitioner, he strives to promote a holistic approach to addressing community development needs through the creation of effective planning and economic development solutions. His passion for data-driven analysis and decision making shaped his vision of geo-intelligence, promoting GIS as the industry standard technology around the globe. 

 

Abukhater holds a Ph.D. in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering. Throughout his career, Ahmed has authored numerous publications, served on many governing and advisory boards, and received over 20 prestigious awards for his work. He is married and a proud father of three children.