Matt has a Ph.D. in fisheries stock assessment from the University of Portsmouth (UK), and has worked in New Zealand since 2003. Matt has worked primarily on the biology and stock assessment of deep water fishes, from field work and biological studies, through to Bayesian stock assessment modelling. Matt has also worked on inshore fisheries, impacts of climate on fisheries, chondrichthyan biology, and food webs and ecosystem models. Matt is a member of various NZ Ministry for Primary Industries working groups, has conducted scientific research and reviews for agencies in Australia, Europe, South America, and the USA, and is currently a programme leader for the NIWA National Centre for Fisheries Assessing Fishery Resources programme.