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Michael Harris

Founder and CEO, 89up

Michael Harris, known as Mike, is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse background in founding and leading impactful organizations. He is the CEO of 89up, Europe's foremost impact agency for civil society and non-profits, and a co-founder of 90up, a prominent creative and influencer agency. Under his leadership, 89up has achieved remarkable growth, earning a place in the prestigious FT 1000 list of fastest-growing companies in Europe. Mike's excellent political and media connections, combined with his in-depth understanding of government and international bodies, have propelled him to the forefront of impactful advocacy and campaigning.

Noteworthy achievements in Mike's career include securing cross-party support for a parliamentary bill, advocating for human rights alongside Hollywood celebrities to halt support for dictatorships, leading press and strategy for an Oscar-winning film, and exposing lobbying activities for corrupt regimes. He has also played a pivotal role in launching grassroots political movements. Mike's contributions extend to the publishing realm, as he is the publisher and owner of Little Atoms, an acclaimed global magazine, podcast, and online platform with a massive international audience.

Mike's educational background includes a Master's degree in Modern History from King's College London, where he also pursued a Bachelor's degree in History with honors. His professional journey encompasses roles such as Executive Director at 89up, Head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship, Director at PBM, Political Adviser at the London Borough of Lewisham, and Political Adviser to Louise Ellman MP at the House of Commons. With a rich history of contributions to major publications like The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, and The International Herald Tribune, Mike's insights and perspectives have reached a wide audience, establishing him as a respected authority in his field.

Highlights

Jul 3 · linkedin

My thoughts in the excellent Foreign Policy magazine on what a potential Labour 'supermajority' means for centre-left politics across the globe; what it means for international perceptions of the UK and our sense of national identity and how did Labour restore its reputation after just five years?

Jun 26 · linkedin

It was a pipe dream - launch 10 new local newspapers that mix the best of national investigative and issue-based reporting with in-depth local features, investigations and opinion... WELL IT HAPPENED. Today, 200,000 copies are going through doors in northern England, with a focus on places where local newspapers no longer deliver for free and particularly to council estates where the cost of newspapers is a barrier to their consumption. We're delivering proper journalism that is free at the point of use. Without free media, democracy wilts... This has been a big experiment, we'll be publishing the learnings in due course and now hope to secure funding to build on what we've achieved in 2023 and 2024.

Thank you to everyone who has made this happen - you are print heroes. Ed Walker Luke Beardsworth Dimi Reider Natalie Morris Diyora Shadijanova Leah Borromeo Zoë Grünewald Lillian Race Padraig Reidy Jamie Lopez and the exceptional Drew Amos plus all the incredible freelancers without whom this wouldn't have been possible. And our amazing advertisers Naomi Smith FCMA and John Coventry Dina Rickman

Michael Harris
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Location

London, England, United Kingdom