Matthew is a Postdoctoral fellow conducting research in the water
governance domain. His academic career started with an honours degree in
Conservation Ecology at Stellenbosch University where his interest in
linked human-environmental systems took root.
After an environmental fix of safari guiding and travelling, he furthered his studies at Rhodes
University to address problems centred on social-ecological issues. He
relishes the challenge of working on these problems as they are typically
complex, uncertain, involve multiple stakeholders with outcomes that are
mostly transformative – engender positive societal and environmental
change.
Complex water problems are his current focus, as demonstrated in
his MSc thesis, which explored the role of civil society organisations in
Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) at a local government scale. He
expanded this research in his doctoral thesis to explore the engagement of
civil society in water governance processes in the Makana Local
Municipality.
Matthew completed his doctoral study in March 2019. He is
currently working to make a meaningful, applied contribution to IWRM in
South Africa by continuing his engaged research in the participatory water
governance space.