Michael Hertel is a Senior Vice President with Teneo in the firm’s Sydney office. Prior to joining Teneo, Michael served with the Australian Foreign Service as a lawyer and diplomat, specialising in Chinese politics, economics and trade.  His most recent role was Secretariat of the Advisory Board of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, advising on strategy and governance.  

From 2016-2020, Michael was based at the Australian Embassy in Beijing reporting on Chinese domestic politics, political economy and legal issues.  His reporting helped shape current thinking on China across the Australian government, including on Australia’s 5G guidance and positioning on human rights.  

In 2013, Michael led the development of the Australian Government’s ‘Australia-China Commercial Dispute Resolution Initiative.’  The initiative advised Australian companies on how to manage business risks with China by providing best-practice guidelines for commercial dispute resolution.  The initiative was launched by the then Minister for Trade under the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper. 

Prior to joining the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Michael worked in both state and federal politics, and private legal practice. Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons); a Bachelor of Arts; a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice; and a Master of International Affairs from the Australian National University.  He also holds a certificate in business analytics, financial accounting and economics from Harvard Business School Online (CORe). 

Michael is published in the leading journal for international economic law, The Journal of World Trade, and the Australian Yearbook of International Law.  He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors; an alumnus of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue (the preeminent dialogue for emerging leaders from Australia and China); and speaks Mandarin.