Mike is a Distinguished Professor in the Marine Biology and Aquaculture group of the College of Science and Engineering at James Cook University (JCU), Australia. He has published extensively on the ecology of reef fishes, biological oceanography, climate change and jellyfishes. His projects have encompassed a range of latitudes and he has edited three books on tropical and temperate ecology. He is a Chief Investigator with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovative Coral Reef Studies. A major focus of his research has been on reef fish ecology and demography, connectivity of reef fish populations, the ecology and behavior of larval fishes, the utility of Marine Protected Areas, environmental records in corals and fishes and the ecology of deadly box jellyfishes. In addition to research and multiple senior leadership roles, he teaches undergraduate students and supervises many postgraduate students. He had thirty five years research experience of studying fishes in temperate and tropical regions of Australia and other parts of the world.