SWIGIS was founded in 1999 in response to the need for an organization for women employed or studying geographic information systems (GIS). Historically underrepresented in the field, women now are making strides in the field of GIS.      SWIGIS members come from all fields and are employed in many areas: government, academia, not for profit and the private sector.

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SWIGIS Vision Statement:

SWIGIS will serve as an organization of mutual support to all women employed in GIS. It will strive to improve the recruitment, retention, and education of women in the GIS field.

Objectives of the organization:

A. Promote opportunities for women so that the GIS field may adequately reflect the diversity of the GIS workforce.

B. Promote the retention of women in GIS by providing a support network where female members of the GIS community can find out about current happenings in the field, educational opportunities and discuss GIS technologies.

C. Build coalitions with like-minded organizations in order to promote common objectives.