BIOGRAPHY
After being diagnosed with THE muscle wasting disease Muscular Dystrophy (MD) aged just 18 in 1984, Michael made history 20 years later by becoming the first disabled person to lead expeditions to BOTH the North and South Poles.
At the age of just 18yrs, Michael was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy. A proud Oxford Brookes alumnus, Michael graduated with a 2:1 in 1988 from the Department of Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Management.
Some sixteen years later, Michael became the first disabled person to lead expeditions to both the North (April 2002) and the South Poles (Jan 2004). He was recognised by the Queen in 2004 for his 'contribution to national life' and included in the Christmas Day broadcast to the nation by Her Majesty reinforcing diversity as a strength. Michael planted the Oxford Brookes flag in Antarctica at 90⁰ South, in addition to key sponsors DHL, Hilton Hotels and Virgin. In 2005, Michael received the prestigious Business Traveller of the Year Award presented to him by Kate Adie in Dubai. Seven years on, Michael proudly carried the London 2012 Paralympic Torch.
Today, Michael is a sought-after motivational speaker; he has been invited by businesses from across various industry sectors including Roche Pharmaceuticals, Shell, PwC and HMRC. As of Jan 2020, he has delivered >18 speaker keynotes for different NHS Trusts across the UK. Invited by academic institutions, schools and places of learning, Michael not only inspires and motivates but also shares his life learning’s. Invited to close Europe’s largest 2018 TEDx event themed ‘Dare to Defy’ at the University of Warwick, he revealed a vulnerability never shared publicly before.
Leadership, courage and trust combined with resolute self-belief, confidence, teamwork and a singularly focused obsession towards achieving desired outcomes were critical success factors – Michael draws on these experiences, giving wider business and life lessons.
Michael provides specialist advisory services for public & private sector organisations, working particularly closely within the hospitality sector. On a voluntary basis and for over 10yrs, he has been a Cateys Judge, one of the most sought-after accolades in UK Hospitality, organised by The Caterer. He helps operators leverage difference by recognising but also driving the revenue generation opportunities and guest loyalty derived from the purple (disabled consumer) pound.
Michael founded The Muscle Help Foundation (MHF) a national charity that delivers transformational experiences in the UK called Muscle Dreams to children and young people (8-28yrs) with muscular dystrophy & allied neuromuscular conditions. MHF’s growing impact is being felt by beneficiaries & their families across the UK; from improved confidence, greater self-esteem, and an increased sense of hopefulness to a powerful shared identity that connects families, giving a platform to share knowledge, memories and establish lasting friendships. As of Oct 2021, the charity has delivered 424 of its 657 goal, one for every muscle in the human body, leaving a further 233 to go!
From interviewing Al Pacino, inspecting an Airbus A380, hanging out with Lewis Hamilton or getting up close with the England football team at St George's Park, the charity’s impact speaks for itself and its reach continues to grow - in 2017, the charity announced a new three year partnership with British beverage brand Upbeat Drinks and in 2015, the charity was named the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team’s official Charity Partner for 2015/16.
Michael is affectionately known as the 'Chief Muscle Warrior' – he has personally hosted the delivery of every ‘Muscle Dream’ experience since the charity’s inception in 2003. Among other awards, MHF is a three-times winner of the 'Inspiring Hertfordshire' Award for Best Social Enterprise of the Year. A role model, Michael’s life mission is MHF’s work, underpinned by a desire to not only enrich the lives of others with muscular dystrophy, through powerful shared interventions but also elevate knowledge, understanding and awareness of the disease.
For the past four years (from 2019), Michael has been included in the Power 100 list as one of Britain’s most influential people with a disability. Within the UK-wide charity sector, he received the respected Inspiring Communicator 2016 CharityComms National Award.
Sept 2018 saw Michael awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Hertfordshire at a ceremony held at St Albans Abbey (Herts) in recognition of his motivational and inspirational work for persons with a disability.
In July 2019, Michael was appointed to represent the Crown as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL), a voluntary role, in the county of Hertfordshire, and in Sept 2019, he was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA).