TheMapMan (Mark Reed) studied Cartography at RMIT University and has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Land Information - Honours), and a Masters of Business (eBusiness & Communication) from Swinburne University.

Mark worked at Sensis Pty. Ltd. (Yellow Pages, White Pages, Whereis) for 15 years. Some of the mapping projects included:

Participated in the development of Australia's 1st in-car navigation database,

Co-founded then managed Whereis.com in its first few years of operation,

Managed mapping for the 1997 and 1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht races,

Developed and managed interactive online real-time mapping for 2001 Targa Tasmania car rally,

Developed and managed interactive online real-time mapping for the 2000 Herald Sun Bicycle Tour.

Over the last few years at Sensis the focus was on the acquisition and management (including planning and budgeting) of content for all of Sensis' online properties; via various Content Management Systems. This included a number of extensive documentation activities such as preparing and reviewing responses to tenders (Requests For Proposals - RFPs) and conducting internal IT policy audits.

As a Web Producer Mark was constantly writing Functional Specifications, Business Requirements and User Guides (for Helpdesk staff), reviewing User Experience documents and Test Plans, and participating in major IT initiatives. For example managed the Y2K verification, documentation and testing for all mapservers at the time.

Throughout time at Sensis interest in Cartographic activities has been maintained through participation in the MSIA (Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia) and the SSSI (Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute). Activities and awards have included the following:

MSIA National President

MSIA Regional President, Bulletin Editor

Conference convenor & organiser

SSSI Regional Committee Member

Part of the foundation team of the SSI

Co-founder of the SSSI Young Professionals in Victoria

President of the Victorian Region SSSI Young Professionals

Asia/Pacific Young Spatial Professional of the Year

Victorian Young Spatial Professional of the Year

SSSI Student Mapping Excellence Award

Information regarding specific roles and duties at Sensis can be viewed on LinkedIn.