Dr Matt Beard
Program Director of the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship
Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership
Dr Matt Beard is a philosopher, ethicist, author, and educator with expertise in leadership, military ethics, technology, and applied ethics. He currently serves as the Program Director of the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship at the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Previously, Dr Beard was a Fellow at The Ethics Centre in Sydney, where he led major consulting projects, conducted research, designed innovative products and services, and maintained an active media presence.
Dr Beard is particularly dedicated to engaging young people in philosophical discourse. He is the resident philosopher on the acclaimed ABC podcast “Short & Curly,” which introduces children to ethical thinking through engaging and interactive content. He is also the author of “The Short and Curly Guide to Life,” which presents philosophical concepts in an accessible print format for younger audiences.
His ability to blend serious ethical inquiry with engaging presentation has proven valuable in corporate settings, where he brings a refreshing approach to professional ethics. Dr. Beard holds an Honours degree in Philosophy from The University of Notre Dame Australia and a PhD focused on military ethics. His academic contributions include numerous published papers and book chapters.
In 2016, Dr Beard was awarded the Australasian Association of Philosophy Prize for his “prolific contribution to public philosophy.” His unconventional approach to philosophy means his work spans diverse contexts—from developing zombie apocalypse thought experiments to presenting to corporate boards, participating in television debates, or contributing to national AI ethics policy development.
A devoted father and husband, Dr Beard balances his professional pursuits with family life while maintaining his passion for pop culture and applied ethics
