Jumping Ship

As an ambitious, competitive kid from a public school, who grew up in a country town in Victoria, Michael Traill converted privileged education opportunities in the hallowed halls of Melbourne University's Trinity College and the Harvard Business School into a highly paid and successful career at Macquarie Bank, often called the millionaire's factory. But a career devoted to money-making - for himself and his clients - was never going to satisfy Michael's deeper yearnings: his passion for social justice; his determination to make the world a better place.

So at the peak of his career and only in his early forties he decided to leave merchant banking behind. His vision was to bring the rigour and hard-headedness of the world of finance to the world of philanthropy and social entrepreneurship. In Jumping Ship Michael Traill tells the candid and inspiring story of the journey that took him from a modest small town in Morwell to the millionaire's factory and then on to founding a unique Australian non-profit success story.

This led to being a key architect, along with a group of financial high-fliers, who found a way to run a multi-million dollar business devoted entirely to the creation of social good rather than profit. In the process they were at the forefront of addressing social disadvantage and reshaping the Australian non-profit landscape.

About the Author

Michael Traill grew up in the mining town of Morwell, in country Victoria. With a state-school education, and a strong sense of engagement with the local community, he developed an awareness of disadvantage and deprivation in the town. The opportunity to study at one of the most respected universities in Australia as well as the Harvard Business School led to a highly paid and successful career at Macquarie Bank, often called the millionaire's factory.

Michael spent 15 years in merchant banking and was a co-founder and Executive Director of Macquarie Group's private equity arm, Macquarie Direct Investment. However in 2002 he decided to 'jump ship' and joined Social Ventures Australia as founding CEO, reshaping the Australian philanthropy and not-for-profit landscape. In partnership with other not-for-profit organisations, Michael was one of the architects behind the establishment of Goodstart Childcare chain, created out of the ashes of ABC Learning, and now one of the largest social enterprise organisations in the world.

Michael is currently Chair of Goodstart Childcare Ltd, Chairman of the Opera Australia Capital Fund, Assetic Pty Ltd, and a Director of M H Carnegie & Co. In 2017 he won the Ashurst Business Literature Prize.