[1] Harvey was raised in Lewiston and attended St Brigid's Catholic School and Xavier College in Gawler.
[clarification needed] Harvey's father, Rob, was an aircraft technician in the Royal Australian Air Force.
He has published several times, including in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Scientific Reports, mBio and Infection and Immunity.
Harvey was pre-selected as the Liberal candidate for the electoral district of Newland for the 2018 South Australian state election in April 2017.
At the 2018 state election, Harvey campaigned with a strong focus on Modbury Hospital, ultimately defeating Labor MP Tom Kenyon, who had served as the Member for Newland since 2006.