A conversation with Miles Hunt

Think Doc from Back to the future. He’s a tall man with wispy white hair rising a good three inches above his head making him around 6ft 5 by the old measure. Give him gloves and a white coat and he’d make a doppelgänger for Christopher Lloyd in Spielberg’s 1985 cult classic. He’s not an erratic scientist but like the character, he knows his own mind. And what a mind it is. Imagine if you could visually dissect it. I’d love to see the neurones at work, formulating philosophical constructs and flickering every time they’re stimulated, which, as you’re about to see, is often.  

Miles is an author and an accomplished one at that. His latest book is the Information editor. It’s a dystopian work silhouetted by Orwellian undertones. He describes himself as a philosopher who writes fiction. It would be understatement of the year to say he’s not a fan of capitalism and right leaning views. He’s all for equality, transparency and sharing the wins. He expects to write another book on utopia, to offset the injustice-leaning spectrum. I confess I haven’t read the Information editor yet, but I’m very much looking forward to. And if you’re going judge it by it’s cover, let’s face it, most of us do, then it’s brilliant. It’s a design that looks like it could be cultish and transcend the ages, not unlike David Pelham’s cover of A Clockwork Orange in style.   

He’s always been a bit of a rebellious person. He said he went to conservative private schools growing up even though it seemed like a peg/square hole situation. It did however pave his foray into the comic scene. He often cracked jokes in class, calling out and getting into trouble. By the sounds of it, if school detention had a loyalty program he’d probably have platinum status. I like someone who asks why? Who questions the rules. In my own stubborn way I can relate to Miles, I don’t like being told what to do and like doing things on my own terms. Go figure for someone who always had a subservient bent growing up. While I’m 100% all for compliance, I often find myself questioning ‘social norms’, whatever they are. He would love to be a full-time writer one day, or at least devote the majority of his ‘work’ time to writing and the remainder split between lecturing and screen writing. I ask him whether we should expect to see ‘Huntism’ taught within an Arts/philosophy stream at university anytime soon. He laughs and to be honest I can’t remember his immediate response, but what I can remember is his utmost respect for the importance of the discipline and for Socratic questioning. 

We catch up at a poetry night run by our mutual friend. He’s a supporter of other artists and not just about promoting his own work. At the end of the evening and without one moment’s hesitation Miles is one of the first to queue and buy the guest poet’s book. It fits with his personal  ‘we’re all in this together’ motif. While he strikes me as someone who hasn’t changed in terms of sense of self, he seems keen to expand his mind (whatever form that may take) and continue to grow in the metaphorical sense. In doing so, he’s demonstrated a willingness to let go of his work, entrust it to others and act on their professional guidance. He’s written a few books but it’s the Information editor where he truly embraced the observer perspective, revising swathes of passages and incorporating feedback. 

I’m not sure how he manages to do this. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that Miles is the father of two adorable girls. He’s a wonderful dad, doting, caring and attentive. He enters their world and creates a safe space, enabling them to thrive, and nurtures their imagination. His partner is gorgeous. They met at a house party in 2012 and bonded over a few drinks among other things, recognising a spark in each other, a sense of adventure and a realisation they were headed for the same destination. A few stops along and they continue to live in the spirit of his primary influence, Jack Kerouac’s beatnik generation, inquisitive, spontaneous, forging their own Road.

He says the fact we even have a consciousness is an infinite miracle. It’s possibly one of the most indelible statements I think I’ve ever heard. I mean death is a certainty but spare some thought of how we came about. Literally all the stars had to align. Timing was critical for our parents, grandparents and generations before them to enable us to become who we are today. To think that one sperm had to beat countless others to penetrate an egg and create a human with their own individual, unique characteristics, thoughts and aspirations. One thing is certain, the man sitting in front of me is a unique man. He’s unabashed about his beliefs and I respect him for his willingness to ‘brand’ his stance. I’ve heard a number of people who are happy to sit behind a turmeric latte and espouse values (I put myself in this bracket at times [though note, regular latte, one sugar]) but few who then go out and are willing to put their name behind them. 

His platforms have led to some degree of infamy. He’s a lawyer and it’s no surprise really given his willingness to question and get to the why. Unbeknown to his mum (and himself) he once appeared on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald. He was a candidate for the Drug Law Reform Party at the time and the article focused on his advocacy efforts to decriminalise marijuana. Needless to say it was a shock for his mum to casually open the paper over a cup of coffee that particular morning to see a photo of her son staring back at her from the middle of the page. To be fair, Miles was also unaware of the prime journalistic real estate, thinking the article would be buried towards the rear of the flagship publication After it’s print, the NSW Law Society apparently discussed the validity of his membership but ultimately determined he should retain his credentials.  

I don’t profess to know much about the world, but I do know we need people like Miles Hunt. Someone who is willing to back their views and be open to criticism, someone who thinks creatively, is spontaneous and gives a significant toss about the ‘little’ person. For all the Information editor title espouses, this man requires no editing. Listen to him, open your ears and be inspired. He’s a great person, the type to be cherished.