Matt Anderson was appointed Director at the Australian War Memorial in April 2020, bringing with him extensive military and diplomatic experience spanning over two decades.

The Director took the lead at the Memorial amid the coronavirus pandemic, lockdowns and a major Development Project.

The Director, who visited the Memorial as a child, graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1995 and went on to join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Mr Anderson was formerly Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2016–20), Ambassador to Afghanistan (2015–16), High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands (2011–13) and to Samoa (2007–11). He was recognised with the Public Service Medal (PSM) for his exceptional leadership in coordinating humanitarian and consular efforts during the 2009 Pacific tsunami.

Mr Anderson also represented Australia in South Africa and Papua New Guinea, including as the Chief Negotiator of the Peace Monitoring group on Bougainville (2001–02).

A long–time Canberra resident, his experience matches the ambitious project to bring new stories of contemporary military service to the public.

The Director engages with staff and visitors from a lived experience of the Memorial.

You can find him almost any evening at the Last Post Ceremony, or if it’s the third Thursday of the month, you’ll find him on his rostered shift in the First World War galleries, helping to care for the Collection.  He often describes this role as the most important job he’ll ever have.