Michael Sharpe
Industry Specialist, LAVO

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.

He has a personal contact base of over 100,000 people across Australian industry, with more than 3400 members of the AUKUS Forum and 30,000 LinkedIn connections, with many more built over his time on projects for infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and research activities. He has an extensive range of industry networks assembled over the last three decades.

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.

This gives him an unrivalled ability to connect with key decision makers, to facilitate contacts between Australian and overseas manufacturers, establish joint ventures and establish supply chains. Several major US corporations have reached out to him recently to find local suppliers.

He is the Founder of the Nuclear Skills Forum, Chairman of the Australian Research Council's Micro Recycling Hub, Advisor to the National Space Industry Hub and Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Australian Government’s Sustainable Communities and Waste Hub.

Michael has vast experience in politics, industry and manufacturing, having served as the National Director for Industry at the Australian Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre and Chairman of the HunterNet Co-operative, a very successful industry cluster based in the Newcastle area of New South Wales.

Michael is a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, a Fellow of The Royal Society for the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce and has completed courses in Leadership at the Harvard Business School.