Mike has been a journalist the past 35 years. He trained on suburban newspapers in Melbourne, worked in London and in recent years has written for The Australian and the Herald Sun. He has been a senior media adviser in Victorian and Australian government's, was the International Red Cross media adviser during emergencies and disasters around the world and was media consultant to London and Washington international law firm Amsterdam & Partners. Mike has spoken at many conferences including the Walkley Foundation Annual Public Affairs Convention, the Australian Government Relations Summit at the National Press Club, and the Australian Defence Force Academy, 'Duntroon', Information Warfare conference on the Afghanistan War. He is based in Canberra. Mike believes strongly in the importance and value of community and local newspapers. He is a regular contributor to the Chewton Chat and in recent years did a six month stint as sports editor of the Castlemaine Mail, filling in for the editor who was on maternity leave.