Michael is Chairman, Z/Yen Group Limited, the City of London’s leading commercial think-tank and venture firm. It was founded in 1994 to promote societal advance through better finance and technology.
Michael has a distinguished professional, academic and public service career. Amongst his contributions are:
- Creating Z/Yen’s Long Finance, Global Financial Centres Index, London Accord, Global Intellectual Property Index, Farsight Award and other initiatives;
- Developing a £100 million business within the UK Ministry of Defence operating as a senior civil servant (military 2-star equivalent) commercialising defence technology;
- Growing an accountancy consultancy, BDO Consulting, profitably to 100 people with global privatisation, finance, technology, government, services and NGO clients;
- Conceiving and producing the first complete digital map of the world in 1983, Mundocart, as well as the $20 million Geodat consortium cartography project (a 1980’s Google Earth).
His distinguished academic career continues. He is Emeritus Professor and Honorary Life Fellow of Gresham College, the Tudor ‘Open University’ home of the Royal Society; non-executive Director of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (national standards body) and AIM-listed Wishbone Gold plc; Alderman for Broad Street Ward of the City of London Corporation; City & Guilds Council; Trustee of Morden College; Fellow of Goodenough College, Honorary Fellow of King’s College London, Visiting Professor at the UCL Bartlett School of Construction & Project Management, and Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple. Michael has advised numerous governments, including UK departments and the Taoiseach’s Office. Michael has published over 50 journal papers, 200 professional articles, and four books.
Michael was elected one of the two Sheriffs of the City of London 2019-2021; the first time since 1228 that two Sheriffs served consecutive terms. Michael is a Freeman of the City of London, Past Master of the Worshipful Company of World Traders, and a Freeman of the Company of Watermen & Lightermen, as well as an Honorary Liveryman of the Furniture Makers, Water Conservators, Marketors, Tax Advisers, International Bankers, Management Consultants, Security Professionals, Engineers, and an Honorary Freeman of the Educators.
Professor Michael Mainelli and the Aldermen of the City of London are collaborating with Birkbeck to create a long-term partnership between our two institutions, to address Sustainability and Climate Change, in a dynamic and practical way.
The need for flexible education and knowledge on a ‘needs to know’ basis has never been greater and the relevance of updating skills, particularly in the area of sustainability and climate change, has become critical for future generations. There are many opportunities we hope to address together.
