Michael has extensive relevant experience in business development and strategic and business planning in the private, public and not for profit sectors. Michael has worked with established and growth businesses from start-ups to ASX 200 companies across a wide range of industries, including the agrifood, machinery, pharmaceuticals, tourism and retail sectors.

Michael has also worked with government–industry partnerships, wine regions, regional food groups and tourism marketing committees, state and local government agencies in trade and economic development, agrifood, tourism and regional development, government business enterprises, universities, regional development agencies and national research foundations

Michael has experience and expertise in:

•         strategic and business planning;

•         governance reviews;

•         research, development and innovation management;

•         research, policy development and program evaluation;

•         concept development and project management;

•         industry and regional development;

•         stakeholder relations management, communications strategies and consultation processes;

•         designing, facilitating and evaluating training and development programs;

•         grant application development and sponsorship negotiation;

•         brief preparation and proposal review; and

•         workshop and conference facilitation.

Michael is an experienced board member, and has served on many boards and committees across the private, public and not for profit sectors. Michael has taught strategic management in the MBA program to postgraduate students from the private and public sectors at Adelaide Graduate School of Business.

From 2000–2004, Michael was Chief Executive Officer of Adelaide Hills Regional Development, leaving to found his own consulting business in February 2004. He oversaw several significant projects, including a major forestry investment program, a significant food and wine industry development program and the initiation of strategic regional planning.

Michael holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Adelaide Graduate School of Business. Michael received the ANZ Bank Prize for Corporate Strategy. Michael also holds an Associate Diploma in Human Resource Development from the University of South Australia, focused on workplace training, performance improvement and program evaluation.

Michael is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (http://www.imc.org.au/), the Australian Institute of Company Directors (http://www.companydirectors.com.au/), and the Family Business Association. Michael is currently undertaking the Company Directors’ Diploma.