Founded in 2002 by independent GIS consultants Harley Prowse and Tony Elson, GBS is an established and privately-owned location intelligence company.
GBS is powered by high calibre geospatial solution architects, expert geospatial technical consultants and developers, and experienced project managers and business analysts.
GBS is the only Esri Certified Gold Partner in the Asia Pacific Region, having gained gold status in 2013. This means we are recognised experts when it comes to delivering tailored Esri geospatial solutions. Gold status also signifies that we deliver the highest quality GIS solutions to our Esri-based clients, ensuring best practice every time.
We’re great believers in the power of partnership. The more you involve us, the more we can do to build tailored GIS solutions that truly
contribute to your competitive advantage and operational efficiency. Our insistence on a close relationship comes from experience. We know
that a deep understanding of your business leads to the best-possible geospatial solutions.
Alicia is an Esri Technical Consultant. With qualifications including a BSc Honours in Agricultural Engineering (Spain) and MSc in Natural Resource Management (UK), Alicia appreciates the versatility that GIS tools and platforms provide to make spatial data accessible and meaningful to a wide audience.
When she is not busy working at GBS, Alicia enjoys dancing, cooking and exploring new places.
Jade completed her Postgraduate diploma in GIS at the University of Auckland and has extensive experience in mapping, spatial data manipulation and GIS programming. She has coded extensively using Python and Java Scripts, and is skilled in C# and Angular.
Outside of work, Jade loves the NZ climate and nature, exploring new places and playing squash in her free time. Since arriving in New Zealand, she has now converted to being a rugby lover and a fan of the All Blacks of course!
Catherine joined GBS USA in 2021.
Catherine’s goal is to bring GIS to non-GIS users so they can make sound business decisions and provide efficiencies in their workplace.
Based in Lakewood, Colorado, Catherine works closely with Mark to help support him with projects in the USA.
An outdoor enthusiast keen on skiing, swimming, camping and mountain biking, Catherine hopes to return to New Zealand (with her family next time) to continue her sightseeing travels that she started at the beginning of her GIS career.
Jade’s enthusiasm and bright personality, combined with her BSc Honours in Geoinformatics from Pretoria University make her the ideal candidate as an Esri Technical Consultant. Jade is very passionate about her role, is a quick learner, and is keen to gain as much experience as she can. Jade has always had an eye for spatial related innovative thinking and new ideas. In her spare time she is truly creative and likes to dabble in art, writing, crochet and gardening.
Heath has over 20 years experience working in IT, with over half of that time in GIS. Throughout his career, he has served in a variety of roles such as computer repair technician, desktop support engineer, network administrator and software developer. These days he is primarily involved in GIS software development and GIS design and implementation using ESRI technology.
Outside of work, Heath runs a Taiko drumming school where he also teaches and performs. In his spare time, he enjoys weightlifting, locksport, woodworking and computer programming.
Mark returned to New Zealand after 8 years overseas honing his skills in various disciplines involving property, agriculture and local government. His strengths lie in tweaking systems and pressing Esri’s buttons to solve GIS and business problems – something that will come in very handy at GBS.
Now living on a rural property in South Auckland, Mark is enjoying the country air, time at the beach, hiking and camping.
Brendon qualified with a MSc in GIS and Environmental Geography at Stellenbosch University and has spent the past 12 years gaining experience in various GIS and PM based roles. He joins the GBS delivery team as a Delivery Lead/Consultant and is excited to be part of the team.
Moving to New Zealand in 2020 with his wife and two young boys, Brendon has quickly become involved in leading his sons local Scout group and enjoys spare time at the nearby hobby shop.
Mike has over 20 years of experience in GIS and more recently Project Management and Agile methods. He has worked across many sectors from government, research and engineering/environmental consulting. These include organisations such as NIWA, WSP and the University of Auckland. This varied background allows him to quickly understand client needs. Mike is qualified with a MSc in Geography and recently was certified as an Agile Practitioner (ICP).
A fan of the outdoors, Mike can regularly be seen out on the water sailing, surfing or spending time with his family hiking and cycling.
Jo has a background in sales and accounting. Her role at GBS, is managing the office, ensuring the team is looked after, and to take the administrative load off Harley and Tony so that they can concentrate on client needs.
Jo is an effective multi-tasker who knows how to get things sorted and keep them that way. Joining GBS in 2010, she’s a mother-of-two who enjoys music, camping and keeping fit.
With a wealth of local government experience in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom and over 15 years in the Geospatial industry, Michael brings his valued and varied skills to his role as Solutions Manager.
A keen fisherman and hockey player, Michael is also a family man with two young children .
Shane’s role as GIS Architect and CTO revolves around being technical lead and resident applications expert; he’s also highly proficient with .NET, ArcGIS Enterprise and Mobile GIS. Shane is responsible for much of the solutions architecture work for our clients.
His outside interests take him outdoors, where he runs trails, snowboards, swims and hikes (with kids these days!).
One half of GBS’ owners and directors, Tony is one of the co-founders of GBS which started in 2002. Carrying on from his consultancy work back in the 1990’s, Tony was pretty hands-on when it came to technology, and also in terms of being very client/people facing. The latter part hasn’t changed but Tony’s days on the tech have long gone (as he says, “there’s better people to do that than me!”). Tony concentrates on business development (both here in NZ, but also internationally), governance and strategy. GBS is an SME, so the directors get to wear many hats.
Tony is proud that GBS has built up a long-standing and loyal client base, and that GBS has built a high level of GIS capability and credibility, whilst always looking for new opportunities and ideas. Tony can often be seen at a variety of conferences, and he’s built up a considerable network of contacts around the world.
Outside of work, Tony loves the beach and is still getting out amongst the waves on his growing collection of surfboards. A proud father of four daughters, and now with five grandsons (karma!), family and friends are an important part of his life.
Mark is the CEO of GBS USA and Director of GBS NZ.
Mark’s passion is focused on leveraging Esri and GIS technologies to strategically add value and operational benefits to businesses and organizations. His vast range of experience across multiple industries and business acumen makes him an excellent platform to look beyond the obvious and draw on his past knowledge and strategic thinking. More recently, Mark has been leading projects and upskilling efforts within the Utilities Practice at GBS.
Mark opened the affiliate GBS USA office in February 2020, now located in Kalispell, Montana. Mark serves as the CEO/Managing Member and has remained as an integrated resource for projects and support with the GSB NZ and GBS Korea offices.
An avid skier and nicknamed ‘Snowman’, Mark moved to northwest Montana to be closer to the slopes and a more kiwi way of life after his stint in Auckland, NZ. However, he and his family will be travelling back and forth to New Zealand as often as possible for business and leisure.
From a study foundation of physical geography, Harley has mastered all aspects of GIS software design and development. Before establishing GBS with Tony Elson, he worked in GIS-related roles at Environment Waikato, Genasys and Geographic Technologies Ltd.
Harley enjoys the process of understanding client challenges, then developing innovative GIS solutions that save time, money and frustration. Harley’s role within GBS is ‘off the tools’ these days, with a focus on business development through sales and account management.
Beyond work, Harley gets to grips with geography through mountain biking and skiing and attempting to instill a sense of geography in his two kids!
