Michael has a strong background of training and experience in economics, finance and accounting and tax. He also has a familiarity, from over 37 years of work experience, most of it in the private sector with the realities-of-life faced by households, entrepreneurs, business executives and employees in all sectors, including the public and not-for-profit sectors. He has maintained a lifelong interest in public policy as well as in emerging technologies that can contribute to greater sustainability and to an improved quality of life.

Michael has been an active volunteer for more than 30 years, and has served at Board level in numerous non-profit organizations focused on environmental protection and on harmonizing economic policy for prosperity with the imperatives of protecting the environment (natural capital assets). He has previously run as a candidate for the Green Party of Canada in Vancouver-Granville in 2015, and as a candidate for the BC Greens in Vancouver-Quilchena in 2017 and 2020.