After starting his career in banking and international business with Westpac in Sydney, it was Michael’s experience of being a child sponsor with World Vision that led him from the dark side into the light of the non-profit sector in the late 1980’s. Since then, his career in non-profits has spanned thirty years, which has included managing the 40 Hour Famine for World Vision in NSW, where he developed their global youth leadership conventions, inspiring many thousands of young Australians to make a difference to global poverty. He moved from the dark side again in 1997 when he made the wise decision to leave NSW to live in the sunshine state, where Michael took on the role of Queensland State Manager for World Vision and then National Operations Manager. Michael was one of four finalists for the 2006 Queenslander of the Year Awards for his contribution to the alleviation of poverty. That year, Michael moved into the role of CEO with Life Education Queensland and his boss is now a giraffe by the name of Healthy Harold. In the years since then, Michael has helped to build Life Education Queensland from a team of 12 to more than fifty staff, and grown their annual turnover from $1 million to $6 million. More importantly, Life Education Queensland now delivers vital health education to more than 200,000 young Queenslanders each year.