Michael Schildberger
Company Founder

Michael Schildberger co-founded Business Essentials Pty Ltd in 1983. Together with the respected economist Professor Neville Norman, (who has provided an extensive account of BE's Foundations), Michael saw a gaping need for small business operators in Australia to receive a regular source of practical, accurate and well presented business information to help them run better and more profitable businesses.

Michael spent the next 26 years filling that void, first with the flagship monthly audio series, Business Essentials, and then going on to produce audio and video programs covering virtually all business markets in Australia, with some overseas productions too.

Michael also introduced a media training service with renowned former broadcaster and presentation skills expert, Geoff McComas. With Geoff, Michael has media trained people from all walks of life, from leading politicians, to senior executives, academics, negotiators, even school leavers seeking their first job. The service continues today.

Michael brought to Business Essentials a long and highly respected career in journalism and broadcasting.

He began working in the media industry in 1955 as a copy boy and served his cadetship with Melbourne's The Sun News-Pictorial. He joined GTV-9 in 1958 and remained with the Nine Network for 20 years. During that time he became Director of News GTV-9/3AK, Chief of the Nine Network News Bureau in Canberra and producer and host of "Federal File" with the late Alan Reid.

He was probably best known as Executive Producer and host of the national "A Current Affair" on the Nine Network in the 1970s.

Michael was also Director of News ATV-10 and 3FOX-FM before joining the ABC. For several years he presented a high-rating morning program on ABC-Radio 3LO - 774.

Michael's astute insights about the delivery of news and information brought quality to every audio or video produced by the company. Business Essentials today is highly regarded for the quality of its productions.

Michael's involvement in community services included his role on the Board of Andrology Australia - the Australian Centre for Excellence in Male Reproductive Health.

He also published an autobiography, "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" - a collection of anecdotes tracing his personal and professional life, featuring stories of humour, drama and intrigue involving many of Australia's most powerful people.

After a long battle with prostate cancer, Michael passed away in June 2010. His obituary, published by The Age newspaper in Melbourne, gives a detailed account of his many achievements. His son, Nick, has taken over the leadership of the business and is now Managing Director of Business Essentials and host of its regular monthly programs.


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