ProfessorMatthew Clarke

Throughout my career as an academic, researcher and leader, I have always had a human-centred focus. With research interests encompassing economic development, international aid flows, and religion and development, and over three decades of experience in the international development sector, my attention has always been directed toward the conditions that maximise human development. I bring the same quality of attention to all my work, whether as teacher, researcher, or senior executive.

Collaboration is essential to the development and dissemination of humanitarian ideals, and I am proud of the partnerships I have forged throughout my career. Prominent among them is working to establish the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership (CHL), a joint collaboration with Save the Children Australia that works with over 20 international NGOs. The CHL has attracted millions in funding from philanthropic and government donors and has trained many hundreds of humanitarian workers from more than 70 countries.

In mid-2023 I took up the exciting role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation. Deakin has an ambitious research strategy, and I’m working together with the University’s Faculties and Research Institutes to ensure its realisation. Research is of fundamental importance to the University’s learning and teaching mission, and we will be working hard to continually extend and improve Deakin’s research performance and engagement. This involves establishing an enabling environment so that Deakin researchers are the best served in the sector. Integral to this is the expansion of our research partnerships—with industry, local and international universities, and other research providers—to create pathways to research that is both world class and maximally impactful.