Michael Sharpe is a successful business leader from Australia’s leading state, New South Wales, with a strong background in infrastructure and manufacturing.
Michael is involved in a wide range of organisations across engineering, infrastructure, energy, environmental sustainability, the space industry, academia, and the nuclear industry.
He is extremely well connected with Australia’s manufacturing, industrial and political leaders, as well as the country’s top universities active in the nuclear and AUKUS spheres.
Widely regarded as one of the most connected people in Australian industry, with a strong focus on business transactions. Michael is focussed on transformation – helping countless businesses to access new export opportunities and enter adjacent markets such as traditional engineering firms entering the space and defence industries.
Michael is the eldest son of Ron Sharpe, who was recognised for his service to the local community and business as Gosford City's Citizen of the Year in 2005. In 2006 Ron received the Order of Australia Medal for community service and social welfare support.
Michael joined the family company and gained valuable hands-on experience working in the infrastructure industry for Sharpe Bros, a multi award winning leader in the roads industry, providing innovative services for road surfacing and maintenance operations throughout Australia. The company can trace its roots back over four generations and more than 70 years.
During his time in Sharpe Bros the company developed patents and trademarks for advanced road machinery technologies and won a series of awards, including the NSW Family Business of the Year, while supporting local artists by donating $25,000 in art prizes.
Michael joined the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) in 2017 as the National Director for Industry. The organisation is an industry-led, not-for-profit group supporting the development of advanced manufacturing in Australia.
He was a Board Member at the Central Coast Local Health District, including Gosford and Wyong Hospitals.
Michael is a former Chairman of HunterNet, a co-operative of companies in Newcastle, the Hunter and Central Coast, widely recognised as the most successful industry ‘cluster’ of its type nationally. HunterNet includes about 200 companies active in national and international infrastructure and asset management, energy and resources, defence and advanced manufacturing supply chains.
He is the Steering Committee Chairman of the Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub, part of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program. For the past six years the organisation has delivered practical environmental outcomes through almost 400 successful science projects, while helping to shape the nation’s environmental science agenda.
At the University of New South Wales, Michael is a Member of the Industry Advisory Network for the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering.
Michael is an energy advocate and founder of the Nuclear Skills Forum, with a brief to boost Australia’s ability to support global supply chains in the nuclear industry. He is a Member of the American Nuclear Society, the Australian Nuclear Association, and the Australian Institute of Energy.
Michael is a Fellow of both the Institute of Managers and Leaders; and The Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce. He has completed executive education in the Leadership Initiative at Harvard Business School and is an Associate Member of the Harvard Club of Australia.
Michael and his wife Elizabeth have been married for 27 years and have three children.