Prior to joining the Royal Australian Navy in 2014, Matthew grew up and attended school in Newcastle, a regional city located North of Sydney, Australia. Over his ten years of military service, Matthew developed a passion for strategic, defence, and security policy. In particular, he is interested in the intersection of climate change and conflict, and the preventative actions that government can take to reduce risk and enhance readiness.

In 2022, Matthew was awarded the prestigious General Sir John Monash Scholar and completed a Master of International Relations at the London School of Economics. His study focused on the utility of innovative foreign policy and subnational diplomacy to address global issues. Matthew is eager to learn how to can make public policy more democratic and find new ways to finance major projects. In his spare time, he enjoys running, reading, and the performing arts.

Matthew is a Monash Scholar.