Matt Hills

I lead the Forward Exchange programme, bringing together leaders from diverse sectors to share insight, challenge thinking and engage in meaningful dialogue on the knottiest challenges.

In my work across our programmes and advisory practice, I’ve supported leaders to deliver ambitious, purposeful change, helped senior teams embed high-performance culture, and built talent acceleration programmes for FTSE 100 partners. I also led the introduction of AI learning tools at the Forward Institute, using technology to deepen insight and embed behavioural shifts.

I've led across a range of challenging contexts over the past 20 years. I was a Royal Marines Officer for nine years, leading large teams on high-risk deployments in Afghanistan and the Arctic. I then spent six years in education, first as Head of English at an Outstanding academy in a difficult context, and then in senior roles at a national youth charity and a multi-academy trust, where I led the trust’s response to Covid-19.

These experiences have shaped a deep interest in leading people through uncertainty and a personal passion for social mobility and game-changing talent pathways.

Outside of work, I’m a dad and an oil painter.