Matthew Hand

Military background

Matthew served almost 11 years in the Australian Army as a Parachute Rigger, reaching the rank of Corporal. His postings included RAAF Richmond, the ADF Parachuting School in Nowra, and Australia’s Federation Guard in Canberra. Throughout his service, he supported Special Operations Command taskings, conducted free-fall, static-line and high-altitude parachute operations, and deployed to the Middle East in 2014 to support humanitarian airdrop missions over Mount Sinjar—marking the first operational employment of Australian Parachute Riggers since the Second World War.

Entering Defence with a Certificate III in Mechanical Engineering, Matthew built strong technical and teamwork skills but, like many in the Other Ranks, had limited exposure to tertiary education pathways or how they could shape a future career beyond Defence.

Educational journey

Between 2018 and 2021, Matthew applied for numerous civilian roles with little success. It became clear that while Defence experience is valuable, recognised qualifications play a decisive role in how employers assess capability. He realised that to compete in the civilian job market, he needed measurable skills and formal education.

During his final year in the Army—amidst COVID lockdowns—he began his tertiary journey. Leveraging Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), he reduced a Bachelor of Business from three years to two. Soon after, he discovered UNSW’s veteran entry pathway, which allows veterans with significant leadership experience to enter postgraduate study.

With over five years of leadership as a Lance Corporal and Corporal, Matthew met the criteria to enrol directly into a Graduate Certificate in Business, bypassing the need for a bachelor’s degree. This qualification opened the door to progress into a Master of Business at UNSW, which he completed while working full-time.

Balancing study with career progression required sacrifice, but education quickly became a turning point:

"Studying didn’t just give me new knowledge—it changed how the world saw me. The qualification proved my capability, and the education behind it gave me the confidence to operate at a higher level."

In just three years, Matthew advanced from trade-based qualifications to completing a postgraduate degree from one of Australia’s most respected business schools. Subjects in finance, marketing, organisational behaviour, and strategy broadened his perspective and prepared him for roles far beyond what he imagined possible when leaving Defence.

Transition to civilian career

Leaving the Army in 2022, Matthew faced the same challenges many veterans experience: the loss of community, uncertainty about identity, and the task of building a new career from the ground up. But his education became the catalyst for rapid progression.

His first job post-service valued both his military background and his developing business capability. This combination allowed him to move into defence research, advanced manufacturing workforce development, and eventually into national-security technology—progression that would typically take many years.

Matthew’s accelerated trajectory was recognised nationally when he became a two-time finalist in the Defence Connect Australian Defence Industry Awards, nominated for:

• Rookie of the Year, and
• Defence Innovator of the Year – Group

These nominations reflect how quickly he advanced within the defence and national-security ecosystem after transitioning—validation of both his capability and the power of education to reshape a veteran’s career path.

Today, in 2025, Matthew is leading the go-to-market execution for Strider Technologies in Australia, working with enterprises and government partners to protect Australian innovation against state-sponsored threats.

"If anything has changed my professional trajectory, it’s my education at UNSW. It helped me skip years of traditional progression and step into roles I once thought were out of reach."

Personal reflection

Matthew describes himself as an ordinary soldier who made one crucial decision: to invest in education. He is particularly passionate about supporting the Other Ranks—those who often underestimate their leadership capability and are rarely encouraged to consider higher education.

“I wasn’t exceptional in Defence. I was a normal private, a normal CPL, doing my job. But when I pursued education, the world perceived me differently. That piece of paper—and the knowledge behind it—opened doors experience alone never could.”

His rapid recognition in industry—including national award nominations within two years of leaving Defence—reinforces what he believes to be true: education amplifies the strengths of veterans and allows them to compete at the highest levels of the civilian workforce.

For Matthew, education didn’t replace his military experience; it elevated it. It gave him strategic awareness, commercial capability, and credibility to influence at a national-security level.

Advice to future student veterans

“If the thought of studying has crossed your mind even once—start.
You don’t need to commit to a full degree. Take one subject, explore a new field, and use the pathways designed specifically for veterans.

Every subject completed is forward momentum. Education gives you identity, confidence, and options far beyond traditional post-service roles. I’m proof that someone from the Other Ranks can step into postgraduate study, transition strongly, and build a career at a level they never expected.

My goal as an ambassador is simple: to show the Other Ranks that university isn’t reserved for officers or academics. It’s for anyone willing to learn, grow, and take control of their future.”