Matthew is the Government’s first Director-General for Digital and Media Policy, based at the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport. His goal is to make Britain the most connected, tech-friendly, innovation-driven, digital-skilled and cyber-secure country in the world.
From 2010-15, Matthew was Ambassador to Israel, where he set up the UK-Israel Tech Hub to forge a tech partnership between the two countries and to position the UK as Israel’s tech partner of choice.
On his return to the UK in 2015, Matthew led the Cabinet Office’s cyber security unit as its Director of Cyber Security, focused on keeping Britain safe from cyber attack.
Matthew’s previous roles include Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs to the Prime Minister, (Tony Blair and Gordon Brown), and Principal Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband and William Hague).
Matthew studied at Peterhouse, Cambridge and joined the FCO in 1993, as well as Israel, he has done postings in Tehran, Islamabad, Washington and Manila (as well as a stint as a teacher in Zimbabwe). In Manila, Matthew launched a programme of cooperation between Britain and the Philippines to combat child abuse, for which he was awarded the MBE in 1997. He was awarded the CMG in 2015 for promoting cooperation in tech and science between Britain and Israel.
Matthew is married with two young daughters. He is keen but incompetent show-jumper. He has published a scientific paper on termite feeding preferences.
