Mike’s career started early, helping out in his family’s country pub, where a simple meat raffle poster sparked an interest in how ideas can bring people together and get them to act.
 

Today Mike is Head of Marketing and Communications at Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), where he leads a team of 10 across marketing, communications and individual giving. He has held senior roles across government, for purpose and higher education in Sydney, London and Newcastle.
 

The part of the job he enjoys most is helping people understand complex work and why it matters to them. At HMRI that means helping researchers share what they’re learning with patients, families, supporters and the wider community.

His team’s work has earned the 2025 AMI Award for Brand Revitalisation and the 2026 AMI Award for Experiential and Event Marketing.
 

Mike’s experience spans:

• Brand, marketing and communications strategy

• Media relations, issues and crisis communications

• Individual giving and fundraising communications

• Community engagement and audience insight

• Stakeholder and government relations

• Team leadership, budgets and agency partnerships
   

He sets ambitious goals and thinks carefully about how to reach them and the people they affect. He uses data to decide where effort will count and is honest about what is and isn’t working. He has recently completed further study through RMIT University on how artificial intelligence can support better planning and decision-making.
 

Outside work you’ll usually find Mike running, gardening, or spending time in Newcastle with his partner Sarah, son Morris, cats Burrito and Taco, and dog Kuma.