Michelle is currently the Manager of Vessel Operations at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), where she leads a multidisciplinary team focused on improving vessel safety across Australian waters. Her responsibilities cover marine incident data analysis and reporting, safety education, safety management systems, industry engagement, crewing, and seafarer welfare. She was instrumental in leading the review of international fatigue guidelines at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Before joining AMSA, Michelle worked with the Defence Science and Technology Group, leading research in human systems integration and fatigue in support of the Royal Australian Navy.

She holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons) from the University of Malta, a Master of Science in Marine Technology from the University of Newcastle (UK), and a PhD in Human Factors Psychology from the University of Queensland, where her research focused on fatigue and workload at sea.

Michelle is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Queensland and a regular speaker on maritime safety and human factors. She has published extensively in the field, including authoring a book and contributing to multiple book chapters. She is a strong advocate for systems safety and continues to champion the integration of human factors into maritime safety practices.