Matt has over 20 years’ experience in political analysis, public sector delivery and international development across a variety of country contexts. He previously was a Senior Governance Adviser in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), providing the British High Commission in Bangladesh with strategic analysis and expertise to shape policy and programming. Prior to his current role, Matt was Deputy Head and Senior Adviser with Government Partnerships International (GPI), which provided peer-to-peer support on civil service reform and institutional strengthening in over 20 countries. He led GPI’s expansion to a team of over 30 staff to deliver the £30 million Partnerships for Development programme.
Between 2012 and 2016, Matt worked for the Department for International Development (DFID) in the Middle East and North Africa, overseeing the delivery of the UK’s Palestinian aid programme and managing a technical assistance facility to support economic and political reform following the Arab Spring.
Before joining DFID, Matt worked for the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative, a UK charity providing strategic advice to African governments and building the effectiveness of public sector institutions. He was embedded in the key Ministries in Rwanda and Sierra Leone to build public sector capability. Matt has also advised at the highest level of government in the UK, having worked in the Policy Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office in 10 Downing Street, as well as the Cabinet Office. In his native Australia, Matt was a Special Adviser to the Premier of Queensland.