Michael Whitehead
Mr Michael Whitehead
Director, MAWNSH SS Pastoral CompanyI was born, raised and still live in undoubtedly the finest corner of the world, Western Victoria. After eventually completing a BA in Politics at La Trobe University, I worked in radio journalism before succumbing to the dark side to work as a Media and Research Adviser in Federal Politics for three years. Following a stint in consulting, I spent several exciting years running one of Australia's largest Regional Economic Development Organisations, the Greater Green Triangle REDO, an organisation encompassing around 20 shires across 80,000 sq km of Victoria and South Australia.
In 2001, I returned to study to complete an MBA at the Melbourne Business School and the Rotterdam School of Management. Since mid 2002, I have lived on sheep and cattle property near Hamilton.
Among the highlights of my lifelong fascination with Asia has been playing a key role in establishing Australia's first sister region relationship between the GGT and Yangzhou in China, an agreement which has resulted in a number of important links in education, governance, health, trade and agriculture between the two regions. Today in the rural area, I am continuing to pursue a number of opportunities for agricultural cooperation between Australian and Chinese primary industries.