He was a graduate in mathematics from University of Sydney. In 1980, he graduated from the University of Oregon with a PhD in biomechanics. His thesis was titled A kinematic and kinetic analysis of selected parameters during the support phase of running. From 1980 to 1982, Mason was a Lecturer at the University of Wollongong.
Mason was appointed the inaugural Head of Australian Institute of Sport Biomechanics department in 1982. In 1982, he was joined at the AIS by Dr Dick Telford, Co-ordinator of Sport Science, Dr Peter Fricker, Sports Physician, Craig Purdam, Physiotherapist and Jeff Bond, Sport Psychologist. In the early days of the AIS, Mason described his role a jack of all trades in biomechanics. He assisted golfers refine their swing and track and field athletes with their technique. As the AIS developed, he focussed on swimming. Mason and his team developed wet-plate analysis, which offers real-time assessment of athletes in the pool. Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mason worked withs swimwear maker Speedo's to develop its "Beijing suit", a superfast polyurethane-coated bodysuit. The swim suit became known as LZR Racer. In July 2009, FINA changed its rules was banned ban all body-length swimsuits due to the large number of world records being broken by the new high tech swimsuits. In 2006, Mason became Head of the AIS's Aquatic Testing, Training and Research Unit, a position that he held until his retirement in September 2014. During this period, Mason was responsible for designing $17million the AIS Aquatics Centre, which opened in 2007. The pool has a range of high-tech performance analysis devices and biomechanical systems including instrumented start blocks and turn walls, timing gates, filming trolleys and strategically placed cameras. Mason has worked with leading :Category:Australian Institute of Sport swimmers|AIS swimmers including Olympic gold medallistsPetria Thomas, Michael Klim and Alicia Coutts. From the early 1990s to 2004, Mason worked with the Australian Swim Team including Olympic gold medallists Ian Thorpe, Kieren Perkins, Grant Hackett, Susie O'Neill and Jess Schipper.
Recognition
1998 and 1999 – Outstanding Contribution to Swimming in Australia by Australian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.
