Michael Mainelli has worked with Z/Yen since 1994 on strategy, technology, finance and business development.  Michael began his career as a research scientist in aerospace (rocket science) and computer graphics which led to him starting companies in seismology, cartography and energy information for a Swiss publishing firm.  In the early 1980’s Michael created a multi-million dollar oil industry consortium which culminated in the development of a complete digital map of the world, MundoCart, along the way having to build laser line-following digitisers.  Michael spent several years as a partner and board member of one of the leading accountancy firms directing consultancy work in the UK and overseas and served on the board of Europe’s largest R&D organization, the UK Ministry of Defence’s Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.  Michael has worked in the public sector on privatisations and strategy; in the private sector in a variety of industries (banking, insurance, manufacturing, media, retail, utilities, television, distribution) on problems ranging from strategy through information systems, quality, human resources, environmental systems and R&D; and in the voluntary sector on a number of assignments to improve performance.  Michael’s acclaimed humorous risk/reward management novel, Clean Business Cuisine: Now and Z/Yen, written with Ian Harris, was published in 2000.

Gresham College is an independent educational institution, governed by a Council with the Lord Mayor of London as its President.  The College is named after Sir Thomas Gresham.  Sir Thomas’ fine mansion in Bishopsgate was the first home of Gresham College.  In later years, lectures were given in various places in the City until the construction of a new Gresham College, opened during opened during 1842 in Gresham Street.  Gresham College has been based at Barnard’s Inn Hall in Holborn since 1991.  In addition to free public lectures, the College also runs occasional conferences and seminars and provides support to initiatives, by the Gresham Professors and others, which seek to interpret the ‘new learning’ of Sir Thomas Gresham’s time in contemporary terms.  For details of Gresham College lectures, please visit the website on www.gresham.ac.uk.