Matt Freear

Adjunct Fellow

Expertise: strategic communications – specializing on security and stabilization in post-conflict environments

Matt Freear is a strategic communications expert, specializing on security and stabilization in post-conflict environments. Most recently, he was a senior manager for the media communications element of a full-spectrum communications project on Somalia.  He provided advice to senior clients in the UN, the African Union and the Somali government, including two Special Representatives and the Somali Prime Minister, on population engagement, strategic influence, stakeholder management and media relations.

Prior to Somalia, Matt served with the British Foreign Office in Washington, Afghanistan and Iraq. He focused on stabilization communications on Afghanistan from 2007 to 2010 as the Head of Communications at the Kabul Embassy, covering military, development, diplomacy and counter-narcotics issues, working closely with ISAF and the Afghan government. He then took his knowledge of Afghanistan to the British Embassy in Washington as the Press Secretary when he explained policy to US audiences. He has also deployed to Helmand, as the lead planner for the first of the major multi-national surge operations, and worked in London, as a policy communications coordinator on Afghanistan.

Before working in Afghanistan, Matt was the British Embassy Spokesperson in Baghdad during 2006, managing strategic communications with the Iraqi Prime Minister’s team and senior coalition force strategic communicators. Matt started his career in the UK Parliament and government, holding positions in the Prime Minister’s Office, Downing Street, the Home Office and Cabinet Office. He holds a Masters in Public Policy and Bachelor of Laws degree from University College London.

You can follow Matt on Twitter here