Mike harrison-lamond
 

Mike Harrison-Lamond is a respected leader in the Australian arts sector, with a career spanning more than 25 years. As Director of multiple arts organisations, he has shown consistent leadership and a deep commitment to the sustainability and growth of the dance and performing arts education industry — with child safety at its core.

Mike is the Vice-Chair and Media Spokesperson for Dance Arts Alliance (DAA), a national, independent, not-for-profit organisation advocating for industry-led government regulation to protect children and young people in dance and performing arts settings, including those enrolled in full-time training programs.

In addition, along with his partner of 15 years, Nathaniel Harrison-Lamond, Mike co-directs the Australian Academy of Dance — one of the largest dance studios in the country, with over 1,200 students and more than 200 weekly classes at their flagship facility in Malvern. The Academy is built on a foundation of child safety, inclusivity, and safe dance practice, ensuring every child can find their place, whether dancing recreationally or on the path to a professional career.

Mike is a passionate advocate for reform, working to address the urgent need for consistent child safety standards across the industry. Through his role at Dance Arts Alliance, he and the other board members are collaborating with other peak bodies to lobby government for the creation of an independent regulatory body. Their aim is to provide studios with training, education, and compliance support — and most importantly, to ensure that students are empowered to speak up if they feel, or are, unsafe in their training environment.

At the heart of Mike’s work across multiple businesses and roles, is an unwavering dedication to the wellbeing of young people in the arts. His advocacy for standardised, transparent, and safe studio practices is driving meaningful change — shaping a future where children can experience the joy of dance in environments that are not only inspiring, but truly safe