Michael has been the CEO of Connect ‘n’ Grow® since he co-founded it in 2012 with his wife, Dr. Naomi Gleadow. He has led the RTO’s growth by being involved in everything from planning content to conducting stakeholder meetings. His efforts in changing the negative health outcomes of Indigenous Australians led to the formation of the not-for-profit called Seed Foundation Australia in 2015.
He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from James Cook University and has used his background in education for philanthropic work. His work secured $2.5 million for Seed Foundation Australia to provide wrap-around support for Indigenous students at Connect ‘n’ Grow®. Michael has been involved in education and training for the past 15 years. He was awarded the NQ Community Leader of the Year award by the Institute of Managers and Leaders in 2017.
Amongst other things, Michael once worked as a tour guide on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. He has also been the Head of Department for Sport and Vocational Education and Training (VET) at secondary schools in North Queensland. He is very proud of our RTO and believes that Connect ‘n’ Grow® resources “are second to none and remain committed to investing in their continual improvement and ensuring they meet the changing needs of the industry and our learners.”
