He has a long history of public service, with expertise in policy development, corporate strategy and planning and risk management.  His career has to date focused on enabling and driving good governance, the promotion of democratic rights and values, the development and application of codes of conduct and behaviour and working to ensure compliance with both statutory provisions and constitutional conventions. 

Michael holds a Master of Public Management and BA (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington and is a graduate of the EY/Darden School of Business Programme, and the Executive Fellows Programme of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.