Michael is internationally recognised for his work on leadership, culture, and team performance, particularly in healthcare.

Over his career, he has authored, edited, and co-authored 20 books and published more than 200 articles on leadership, innovation, and organisational effectiveness.

He has played a key role in shaping leadership development in the NHS and beyond. He led the English Department of Health’s Policy Research Programme into cultures of quality and safety and was instrumental in developing the NHS National Staff Survey. He also contributed to national leadership strategies, including ‘Developing People, Improving Care’ in England and the ‘Collective Leadership Strategy for Health and Social Care’ in Northern Ireland.

He is currently supporting Health Education and Improvement Wales in shaping a national strategy for compassionate leadership in health and social care.

A Fellow of multiple professional bodies, including the British Psychological Society and the Academy of Social Sciences, Michael has been widely recognised for his contributions to leadership research and practice.

His latest book, ‘Compassionate Leadership’ (2021), explores how wisdom and humanity can sustain high-quality care.

In 2020, he was awarded a CBE for his services to compassion and innovation in healthcare.