Dr Matthew Carlile lives and works in London, offering consultancy, training, one-to-one support and speaking engagements focused on policy, inclusion, neurodiversity, and faith-sensitive equality.
With over 20 years’ experience in education, Matthew has worked as a university lecturer, senior leader, and consultant across schools, colleges, charities and government. His work has included leadership in curriculum design, teaching excellence and research, as well as collaboration with organisations such as the Church of England Education Department, and the Government Equalities Office.
A career shaped by connection
Matthew began his career teaching autistic young people and those affected by school exclusion and the criminal justice system. That experience shaped a lifelong commitment to understanding how policy decisions translate into lived experience, and how institutions can rebuild trust with the communities they serve.
His doctoral research traced how school exclusion policy moves from Parliament to local authorities, into schools, and finally into the lives of children and families, revealing how prejudice and bureaucracy can collide, and how compassionate professional approaches to collaboration can create change.
Research and professional focus
Matthew’s research and consultancy have explored:
School exclusion and institutional discrimination
Digital storytelling and language learning
Student voice in university and school governance
The health and education needs of trans young people and their families
LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools and faith-sensitive settings
He has advised and trained over 50 schools and organisations on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy, policy and leadership.
Lived experience and professional empathy
As a trans professional and a parent with lived experience of neurodiversity, Matthew brings both expertise and empathy to every project. With qualifications in law, counselling, mediation and teaching, he supports organisations to strengthen inclusive practice, and helps individuals, families and students advocate for themselves and flourish.
Connect 4 Change
Through Connect 4 Change, Matthew’s work continues to bridge the gap between policy and people, helping institutions and families collaborate to make inclusion not just a principle, but a practice.