I am a bright, inquisitive and professional leader with extensive experience coordinating complex technical projects, managing risks and delivering results. I spent fourteen years as Chief Operations Officer, overseeing global strategy, risk management, operations planning and resources management across humanitarian mine action and CBRNE programmes, with a personal focus on biodiversity protection and environmental remediation. I have broad commercial and humanitarian experience in business development, risk and crisis management, operations management and diplomatic negotiations. My work has taken me to challenging, non-permissive environments across the Middle East, Central/South Asia, the Pacific and Africa, where I advocate for sustainable development and the use of technology and science to solve difficult world problems.

Matthew Wilson

I am a bright, inquisitive and professional leader with extensive experience coordinating complex technical projects, managing risks and delivering results. I spent fourteen years as Chief Operations Officer, overseeing global strategy, risk management, operations planning and resources management across humanitarian mine action and CBRNE programmes, with a personal focus on biodiversity protection and environmental remediation. I have broad commercial and humanitarian experience in business development, risk and crisis management, operations management and diplomatic negotiations. My work has taken me to challenging, non-permissive environments across the Middle East, Central/South Asia, the Pacific and Africa, where I advocate for sustainable development and the use of technology and science to solve difficult world problems.

Available to hire

I am a bright, inquisitive and professional leader with extensive experience coordinating complex technical projects, managing risks and delivering results. I spent fourteen years as Chief Operations Officer, overseeing global strategy, risk management, operations planning and resources management across humanitarian mine action and CBRNE programmes, with a personal focus on biodiversity protection and environmental remediation.

I have broad commercial and humanitarian experience in business development, risk and crisis management, operations management and diplomatic negotiations. My work has taken me to challenging, non-permissive environments across the Middle East, Central/South Asia, the Pacific and Africa, where I advocate for sustainable development and the use of technology and science to solve difficult world problems.

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Language

English
Fluent
French
Advanced
German
Beginner

Work Experience

Chief Operations Officer at Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD)
January 1, 2012 - Present
Management of FSD country programmes and operations worldwide in humanitarian crisis response, mine clearance, socio-economic livelihood development projects, post-conflict recovery and stability operations and environmental remediation and biodiversity protection. Lead on business development and liaison with major donors and bilateral government donors (US PM/WRA, US State Dept, UK FCDO, EU, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Global Affairs Canada). Lead on all operations, risk management, technical oversight and programme management for worldwide programmes - Mine Action, CBRNE, explosive safety and innovation. Extensive research and proposal writing, report writing, monitoring and evaluation and media relations/public communications. Lead on all quality management and management system processes for FSD’s ISO 9001:2008 and 2015 certification for Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001.
CBRNE Advisor and SME Consultant at Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD) / Independent
January 1, 2012 - Present
Bomb damage, weapons diversion and civil security assessment/evaluation – Libya, 2012-2014. Small arms weapons and explosive ordnance diversion research and evaluation, Central African Republic, Chad, DRC, S. Sudan and Mali 2014-2018. Explosive pre-cursors, energetics and rocket propellant disposal advisor – Middle East and UAE 2018-2020. US State Department - Ukraine civil security assessment and evaluation – CBRNE and CWDD – 2025-2026.
Director of Consultancy and Training at Commerical Security Assessment, Mentoring and Technical Equipment Delivery
June 1, 2008 - December 1, 2011
Oversight, management and accountability for all consultancy and training project design, activity and delivery leading a team of twenty technical consultants (Explosive threat, Counter Improvised Explosive Device strategy and CBRN). Prime lead on NATO contract project design, strategy, management and delivery for 20M USD/annum contract. C-IED, PSSM, CBRNE, Explosive Threat Mitigation, Ordnance Disposal, Weapons Intelligence and Exploitation, and training for NATO troop contributing nations.
British Army Officer at British Army
May 1, 1997 - June 1, 2008
Former Army Commander, Staff Officer and Ammunition Technical Officer (ATO). Deployed in operational, challenging and non-permissive environments conducting C-IED, EOD, CBRNE, weapons intelligence, post bomb scene forensic investigations and explosive storage. Lead on capacity building and Security Sector Reform projects in Iraq and Afghanistan. Extensive cooperation and experience with national police and intelligence agencies. CBRNE instructor, UK Army School of Ammunition.

Education

MSc Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management at University of Leicester
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 2019
BSc (Hons) Physics at Durham University
January 11, 2030 - January 1, 1996

Qualifications

MIExpE
January 11, 2030 - March 31, 2026
UN SaferGuard SME for ammunition management and disposal
January 11, 2030 - March 31, 2026
IATG Board member
January 11, 2030 - March 31, 2026

Industry Experience

Government, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Education, Media & Entertainment