Introducing our Brand Ambassador Mike Stapleton from Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Where did you study? University of Cape Town (Surveying), University of Technology, Sydney (Planning)
What are the requirements to be a surveyor in your area? ACT – there are a range of surveyor categories. For a registered surveyor, a four year surveying degree is required followed by a graduate program through the Board of Surveying and Spatial Information (BOSSI NSW)
How did you get into surveying? My father was a surveyor. I went out with him on field trips from my early teens and was aware of his night-time calculations to process observations.
How long have you been in the industry? 42 years post graduation.
Are you part of any associations or organisations you would like us to mention? Institute of Surveyors NSW and Country Surveyors Association (previously SSSI)
Why do you want to be a GKiS Brand Ambassador? The profession needs good quality people to become surveyors
Why is it important for kids to know about surveying and the wider geospatial industry? Enabling kids to see the attractions of the professions, associate their science mathematics, geography and other studies with a job which can provide them with a secure career path.
What are you going to do as an ambassador for GKiS? Talk to kids, presentations, careers events, publicity opportunities.
What are your hobbies? Sport, mainly rugby union and cricket. Researching cadastral related issues to surveying
If you/your company had a GKiS character, what would it be? Maybe Popeye (always looking through telescope)!!!
What poster or resource would you like to see next from GKiS? For teenage kids – a summarised poster showing where surveying can be studied, ATAR required, etc
For early teenage kids, posters associating standard maths/physics etc learning with surveying, such as Pythagorus, reflection and refraction of light etc
For all posters showing surveyors in exciting environments (Antarctic etc), or in current topical situations (post fire recovery surveys, climate related surveys)
Anything else you want to add that you think our audience (surveyors, teachers, parents) would be interested in? I have done numerous presentations to schools in Canberra and was a STEM ambassador last year at a local High School.
How cool is this Newspaper article that Mike has also sent through… from 1985! It seems whilst there was a shortage of surveyors back then, the same is repeating itself in the current day. Lets promote getting kids into survey, it is a great career.
