Matthew Lowe

Matthew is Executive Officer and Head of the Executive Office at Harper Adams University. He is an experienced senior leader in public affairs, policy, communications and organisational strategy, with expertise spanning higher education, business representation and national economic policy across the Midlands and the wider United Kingdom.

Matthew began his career in education as a secondary school teacher, specialising in humanities subjects including Government & Politics, Citizenship and Geography. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Geography from Staffordshire University, a PGCE in Secondary Education from Manchester Metropolitan University, and a Specialist Diploma in Public Affairs from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

He subsequently moved into business representation and public affairs, joining the British Chambers of Commerce network as a Policy Advisor at Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce before progressing to Policy Manager roles in both Staffordshire and the Black Country. During this period, he developed expertise in transport, infrastructure and regional economic policy, and in 2018 was awarded a Fellowship of the British Chambers of Commerce for his work on national transport policy and infrastructure advocacy.

In 2020, Matthew joined the Confederation of British Industry, where he held a number of senior policy and leadership roles, including Policy Advisor, Senior Policy Advisor and Associate Regional Director for the Midlands. He led nationally on Freeports Policy and the Levelling Up agenda during the Johnson Government, alongside wider responsibilities for regional economic growth, investment and business engagement. He also served as national lead for the CBI Future Leaders Network and led the organisation’s LGBT+ Allies staff network.

In 2023, Matthew returned to the Chamber network as Director of Business at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, where he led organisational operations including finance, HR, estates, governance, business support, public affairs and strategic development.

He now serves at Harper Adams University, leading the Executive Office and supporting the Vice-Chancellor, institutional leadership, public affairs and strategic communications.

Professional Memberships

National Centre for Entrepreneurship in Education’s Society of Entrepreneurial Leaders, Fellow