Human Capital Strategist | Global Reformer | Culture Architect

Matte Birchler is the people-powered engine behind GG International’s global momentum — a dynamic strategist who blends legal precision with creative energy to shape the culture, capabilities, and connectivity of a consulting firm operating in over 100 countries.

As Chief People Officer, Matte is more than a leader — he’s a catalyst. From GG International’s Mekong Regional Law Office in Phnom Penh, he champions a people-first agenda that fuels innovation, accelerates talent growth, and aligns purpose with performance at every level of the firm.

Backed by 18+ years of global consulting experience across Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific, Matte brings rare cross-sector fluency — from ICT and e-governance, to labor reform, legal innovation, and strategic communications. His track record includes advisory roles in Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, and Kiribati, and leadership in high-impact sectors from digital law to institutional design.

His academic power is just as bold. Matte holds a Master of Laws (Hons) from Belgium’s prestigious Université Libre de Bruxelles, where he specialized in international law and multilateral treaties, with a thesis on consumer protection in developing economies. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Studies in Business Information Systems from Massey University in New Zealand, giving him a dual command of law and data-driven economics — a combination that uniquely equips him to navigate today’s digital and regulatory frontiers.

Matte’s past life as Director of a strategic design firm in Jakarta, a publisher of a national political newspaper in New Zealand, and a policy advisor in frontier markets, only add to his multifaceted insight. He’s led legal tech transformations, helped structure emerging labor markets, and guided national ICT reforms — all with a relentless focus on people, systems, and scalable change.

But Matte’s impact isn’t confined to boardrooms or policy papers. He’s a creative soul and a community builder — known for his volunteer work as an arts educator in a Southeast Asian orphanage, where he used visual storytelling to ignite confidence and expression in young minds.

At GG International, Matte isn’t just building capacity — he’s building a global culture where innovation, empathy, and excellence collide. His leadership is shaping a generation of professionals who don’t just advise — they inspire.

With strategic clarity and human connection at his core, Matte is helping lead GG International into its next phase of global transformation — proving that culture isn’t a backdrop to strategy; it is the strategy.

(location: Meekong Regional Office, Phnom Penh)