Lon Addison brings over 30 years of leadership in strategic planning and management of digital technology and research in design & engineering, architecture & the arts, heritage & culture, the environment and more. With executive roles spanning the United Nations to Silicon Valley and the University of California, he has spent his career leading cross-disciplinary teams to creatively bring technology to the aid of society.



From authoring the plan for the world’s first long-range 3D laser scanner as VP of Cyra Tech (now Leica Geosystems), to guiding UC Berkeley’s foray into applied new media + virtual/augmented reality as Director of its first Vis. Center, or reforming online knowledge and communications as a Director at the UN, he enjoys sparking digital innovation.  He has led and advised tech startups in areas from reality capture and 3D imaging to VR/AR, biometric security and media delivery. The architect of numerous digital information systems, work ranges from UNESCO’s social media strategy and award-winning World Heritage web, to Microsoft/IDRC's Telecentre, a UN-wide conservation treaty knowledge-bank, and more.



He has built strategic relations and multi-million-dollar alliances with partners from Apple to Google, Panasonic to Nokia, and governments across the globe. He serves as President of the Int'l VSMM Society and on the boards of multiple philanthropies, conferences, and non-profits.  Prof. Addison has authored/edited dozens of books/papers, including "Disappearing World" (HarperCollins, 2007-09) published to acclaim in 9 languages.