Michael is Director of the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA). He has scientific research interests in the nutrition and health of farm livestock and has held numerous research and teaching appointments around the world after he obtained his PhD in 1993. He has a particular interest in the widespread on-farm adoption of research advances, and the difficulties that this can present. He also has an interest in the pedagogy of teaching in higher education.
Michael led the development of the strategy for TIA, 2021–2026, which emphasises the connection of TIA’s research with industry, both in the shaping of the research questions and also with the industry development that follows that research. The strategy also emphasises the connection of TIA with the other agricultural education providers in Tasmania, with the aim of articulating the provision and exciting more people to consider a career in agriculture.