Mike has lived in Pietermaritzburg all his life, having been educated in his junior years at Merchiston Preparatory School, before completing his higher education at Michaelhouse.

Mike has 35 year experience in real estate, having started with his father Dave Short, in their family business, Dave Short Properties in 1987. Whilst initially involved in residential property, he decided to change focus and specialize in the Commercial and Industrial property market from 1996. In 2019, Mike decided to join Harcourts Patrick & Co to help set up their Commercial and Industrial property division. Mike is respected throughout the Pietermaritzburg business community for his strong ethics and morals, based on honesty and integrity.

Mike’s hobbies include travelling and playing squash and spending time with family and friends. He is also very involved and well known within the squash fraternity of Pietermaritzburg and surrounding areas, having played top provincial squash at the peak of his playing career. Mike has been involved for decades in squash administration, having been awarded the administrator of the year award and squash honours for service to squash by Squash South Africa. Mike is also a member of the international Jesters Squash Club.