Dr. Matt Herbert is the Global Thematic Lead for Human Smuggling and Head of Research: North Africa and Sahel at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC), coordinating global research, policy advisement and organizational strategy on the issue. He also serves as the Head of Research for North Africa and the Sahel, overseeing applied field research and analysis on the political economy of organized crime in the two regions. Matt researches and writes on the study of transnational organized crime, human smuggling and state fragility, and policy responses to these issues, including targeted financial sanctions, border security strengthening and state-community engagement.

He has worked extensively on security sector reform, irregular migration, and organized crime issues throughout North Africa and the Sahel, consulted on security, development, and public health issues in East Africa, worked on transnational organized crime issues for the state of New Mexico, and served as a policy aide to the Governor of New Mexico.

He holds a PhD in International Relations from The Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts University, with a sub-specialization in security studies and law & development.