On 17 November 2000, Locus was born. A small idea dreamed up by a few friends over beers at the Veranda Bar & Grill in Parnell (yes, I’m talking about VBG and the Auckland institution it was!). We were intrigued by a Finnish company called Benefon, which had a revolutionary cell phone range, including one with a flip antenna that could capture GPS signals.
Little did I know that it was the beginning of what would become the Locus name and brand. Over time, the name and brand has grown to become recognised and well regarded not just in New Zealand, but around the world in the FME community and wider industry. That’s something that’s made the late nights worthwhile.
Getting back to the bit where I talk about Benefon… Early on, we had some exciting near misses, including vehicle tracking at the NZ Women’s Tennis Open. We sipped a few beers in the sponsor’s tent (common theme?) thinking we’d cracked it but it turns out Benefon was just ahead of its time. Those early experiments sparked a bigger idea; how could we take our curiosity about location and turn it into something real, something that could actually change the way people worked with data?
Fast forward a few years, and that curiosity led us to Safe Software and FME. At that time, there were only a handful of licenses in New Zealand and no local partner. We applied, Kirsta Schelesiger-Wright and the Safe Software team gave us the thumbs up, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Since then we’ve watched FME go from niche to a trusted, everyday BAU tool, supported businesses overseas, trained hundreds of people and helped/seen people build careers around it. Working life with data has got that bit easier with FME and knowing that we were the first partner to bring FME to market in New Zealand is pretty special.
Along the way, we’ve proudly sponsored and exhibited at every Safe Software Conference (now The Peak of Data & AI), taken the FME World Tour across New Zealand, and been honoured with multiple Safe Software Partner awards. Supporting the FME community in this way has been both a privilege and a lot of fun!
To our first believers in FME – and that’s you Rotorua Lakes, thank you. And a very special thank you to Greg Bennett for taking the leap of faith. And Bruce Harold – thank you also for the quiet endorsement of FME.
Our relationship with Safe has matured over the years and just saying thanks to Don Murray and Dale Lutz , the masterminds behind Safe Software and FME seems not quite enough. What an accomplishment to change the way business operates globally. Something you can both be truly proud of for life, together with the entire Safe Software team.
In the last couple of years, we’ve seen Safe, under Don’s leadership advancing the FME journey – how exciting it has been to be a part of that. The future is bright!
Over 25 years countless talented people have shaped Locus. Every single one has contributed to what we’ve built, with dedication, integrity and care. Do we get everything right all the time? Hell no. But do we give it our best? You bet. Would I do some things differently? Oh goodness yes. It hasn’t been perfect – a bit like life in general. Perhaps most importantly, we’ve always tried to do the right thing, supporting clients, helping people climb the FME ladder and working honestly with heart.
In concluding, I am grateful for the relationships and fond memories I have with so many in the world of FME, and of course the Locus team, past and present.
So thanks everyone who’s been part of the ride. Here’s to 25 years and the future. Onwards.
