Mike spent his first 14 years in the full time work force working in the advertising industry in Australia and in the United Kingdom. Commencing as a marketing cadet with GMH, he then moved to advertising agencies in Australia and in the UK, working on consumer and industrial products.

A desire to work closer to the coalface led him to work in manufacturing industry, as the Australian sales manager for the launch of a range of leisure products for the Australian subsidiary of a European metal fabricating company. Success in this role led to an assignment to improve customer service in one of the jobbing manufacturing arms of the company. This brought him to the role of Victorian factory manager, with a peak workforce of 120 people; training in production, financial and manufacturing management was undertaken and he later became a general manager of a smaller division.

He then became national sales manager of a UK owned Australian manufacturer of industrial textiles, entering new markets for the company and exporting to China, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

As National Marketing Manager, and later Divisional General Manager of a UK owned service industry company he was successful in improving sales, profitability and market share to the extent that the company was purchased by its larger Australian competitor, which saw him, after amalgamation of production and distribution facilities, made redundant.

After a short period as freelance consultant he became General Manager of a privately owned company with a range of interests in beverage manufacture, property and marine products. This involved export, product development and financial and cash flow management as well as sales, marketing and business planning.

Some 9 years ago he joined the Victorian Government, working on economic development, and then from 1998 until 2006 he was Business Manager with the Victorian Department of Justice, looking after manufacturing industries in Victorian Government prisons – this covered metal working, furniture manufacture, printing, woodworking and industrial coating.

Mike has a passion for customer service and a strong belief in the viability of small business directed to niche markets.