Raised on a farm, educated to PhD level at Durham University, briefly became an academic, then a church pastor, then a businessman, then a Mergers & Acquisitions advisor worldwide, setting up corporate finance firms in 15 countries. Have lectured in M&A for Cranfield, several international law firms, several universities, Institute of Management, numerous mentoring and training firms.

I have spoken professionally in 30 countries, as chairman of a charity in 5 more (India, USA, Canada, Romania, Argentina). I have been a keen rock climber and target shooter since the age of 15. These, also, have given me an opportunity to see the world.

I made a tentative return to the academic world in 2018 and ended up publishing with 2 universities by the end of the year. This reflects my continuing interest in the poetry of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

I speak on these main areas - HUMOUR, ANITIQUE MAPS, LITERATURE, MILITARY HISTORY, SELLING COMPANIES Humorous Overseas experiences, India Antique Maps, Detective Fiction, Modern Poetry, Battlefields, Great Military Blunders, Valuing companies, Selling or Buying companies and the pitfalls, Developing negotiation skills.

My references are in the scores. Please refer to my LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmikesweeting/

Most recent, April 2026 "Mike Sweeting hit exactly the right level for me. It answered a number of questions I never thought to ask myself about maps and highlighted yet another area I really ought to find out more about." West Deeping Heritage.

Current Positions

• Council Member of the Ted Hughes Society. Gave papers at the 9th International Ted Hughes Conference, 2022 and at the Paris Sorbonne Modern British Poetry Conference, 2023. Paper at 10th Intl TH Conference Pembroke College, Cambridge, 2026.
• Member of the SCR of Grey College, Durham University
• Member of the Battlefields Trust
• Member of the British Association of Shooting and Conservation Recent Positions
• Chairman of the International Map Collectors Society (IMCoS). Also Chaired Symposia in Malta 2024, Helsinki 2025 and Portlaind, Maine 2025.
• Fellow of the Institute of Directors and of the Institute of Sales Management
• Member of the Climbers Club of Great Britain and British Mountaineering Council Previous Positions
• Chairman - Advance India
• Director - Middleham Key Centre Ltd