Director of Revenue and Strategy, Hala Systems; Senior Program Consultant, International Organization for Migration, United Nations
UW Majors: Political Science; International Studies
Matthew Conway ’13 came to UW–Madison ready to pursue international affairs and political science but unsure how to turn those interests into a career. He leaned into the unknown and followed opportunities as they came. A decade later, Conway has led multimillion-dollar humanitarian and technology projects, directed diverse teams on multiple continents, and advised top officials on policy and strategy.
“The UW was the launching board for my entire life,” he says. “I can’t think of a better university experience or anything more I’d have needed to wind up exactly where I am today.”
Conway’s parents and older sister are Badgers, too. He vividly remembers the excitement of getting accepted and making friends during Welcome Week. Eager to explore the world beyond Wisconsin, he immersed himself in academics, completing a double major in political science and international studies in just two and a half years. Faculty mentors helped him network and discover new opportunities, like traveling solo through Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia — a formative experience that further fueled his ambition to live and work abroad.
After earning a master’s degree in conflict, security, and development from King’s College London, Conway began a career blending high-level strategy with on-the-ground service. In roles with the Department of Homeland Security and the White House, he advised U.S. policymakers on national security and public health policy and explored how innovative technologies could address some of society’s most complex challenges.
He supported World Bank efforts confronting forced displacement across the Middle East and led recovery programs in Iraq to revitalize local economies and restore trust. With the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration and the World Food Programme, he helped build global coalitions to address climate change and forced migration and contributed to humanitarian efforts that delivered aid to more than two million people across four continents.
After years without a home base, Conway has returned to London where he lives with his partner, Jessica Lyga ’14 — a UW alumna with more than a decade in international development, who first encouraged Conway to enter the field. His current roles allow him to bridge the gap between high-level policy and local impact. At Hala Systems, he and his team develop AI tools that enable faster, smarter responses to humanitarian crises. At the International Organization for Migration, he leads research and recovery initiatives in countries affected by war, displacement, and climate change. Conway still travels regularly but now has more control over how he balances impact at work with quality of life at home. “I value staying connected with a diverse, international community of friends and family — a source of stability and perspective,” he says.
Despite travel and time zones, Conway pays forward the lessons he’s learned by mentoring UW students. Once, while in Baghdad, he logged into Zoom to talk with undergrads exploring international careers — even though it was 2 a.m. for him.
“It’s really important to me to show students what’s possible and help them understand they have so many paths to choose from,” he says. “Travel, go abroad, and see all the very different ways people live all around the world. Be brave. Get out of your comfort zone.”
