Michael is a former Australian Army Infantry officer who served extensively in Timor-Leste from 1999 to 2011. Michael worked intimately with the Timorese military and President Jose Ramos-Horta in various unique roles. He is a fluent speaker of the Timorese language. Michael founded Timor Awakening in 2016 and has created a number of initiatives, including the Australian Veterans Scholarship Timor-Leste and Riak Retreat. Michael is passionate about supporting veterans, education for the poor and contributing to peace in our region.