Matthew joined Depaul International as CEO in September 2021, bringing with him over thirty years of experience working across the international humanitarian sector and in senior leadership positions in many of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises. For the past twenty years, he has worked as CAFOD’s (Caritas) Humanitarian Director developing their emergency response capacity. During this time, he has worked across Asia, Africa and North America, in countries including Lebanon, Kenya and Haiti. He led the development of CAFOD’s focus on capacity strengthening, interfaith working and advocating for the international community to better support community and locally based organisations. Throughout these twenty years Matthew has become an outspoken and strong advocate in promoting greater accountability to those people affected by crises, ensuring their protection and safeguarding. Through this work on accountability he helped lead the development of international humanitarian standards: Sphere and the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), and remains an External Independent Advisor to the CHS Alliance.
Prior to CAFOD Matthew worked as Country Director in DRC for Concern Worldwide, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Bosnia, Somalia and Mozambique, and in Romania as Director of the Romanian/Ungureni Orphanage Trust. Matthew started off his international career as a volunteer with VSO in The Gambia.
Matthew has more recently helped establish and Chaired the global START Network, which provides humanitarian innovation, local and community level humanitarian funding. He is the former Chair of Caritas Internationalis Humanitarian Committee and Caritas Europa, and is currently a Board member of Bristol University Cabot Institute. Matthew has an MSc in International Relations and Management. Outside work, Matthew spends his time with his family, is active within his local community, is a passionate environmentalist, and loves the outdoors, kayaking and walking.
On joining Depaul, Matthew remarked, “It is a huge privilege to be joining Depaul International, an organisation I followed and admired for many years. Much of my working career has been working internationally to address poverty and support displaced, marginalized and homeless people and communities, and it feels exciting to be joining Depaul, to work alongside such dedicated people and teams. I was also drawn to and inspired by the history and values of the organisation and the vision of Saint Vincent. Values are of such critical importance in our world today and I believe Depaul has an even greater job in sharing these values in our work to address international homelessness.”
On Matthew’s appointment, Depaul Group CEO Mark McGreevy commented, “We warmly welcome Matthew to the Depaul family. He arrives with decades of experience in the field of international development and has played a significant leadership role in programme development and systemic change processes. He will be a great asset to the group.”
