Mike joined the British Antarctic Survey in 1990 and has sailed on the RRS Bransfield, RRS James Clark Ross,  RRS Ernest Shackleton and is currently working on the RRS Sir David Attenborough.

In 2004 Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  awarded him the Polar Medal.

During his time Mike has operated Maritime Mobile on the amateur radio bands using the callsigns GM0HCQ/MM and VP8CMH/MM
In addition Mike has also operated from a number of bases in Antarctica,  using the base calls VP8ROT (Rothera), VP8SIG (Signy) and VP8SGK (South Georgia).