In this edition of our Committee of Management blog series, we speak with Dr Matthew Morgan, ANZSOC’s current Secretary. With his trademark mix of humour and insight, Matt reflects on how he came into the role, what excites him about being part of the Society’s leadership, and why building stronger ties—with both members and the wider criminology community—is central to his vision.
Whether it’s growing the Society’s membership or ensuring research remains grounded in real-world relevance, Matt brings a people-first perspective to the role of Secretary.
What motivated you to join the ANZSOC CoM, and what are you hoping to accomplish in this role?
I guess I just like to be involved, makes you feel kind of special – not that I’m starved of attention or anything like that. Being Secretary of ANZSOC wasn’t really on my radar to be honest but a good friend talked me into applying for it, arguing how you get to meet scholars and practitioners from all over the world. I thought that sounded pretty cool, meeting new folk and helping them with their ANZSOC memberships, I could do that. So I ran uncontested, which either meant no one else wanted it or that I’m so awesome no one thought it necessary to contest me – probably the former. Anyhow, I really want to help grow our membership to epic proportions and bring us all closer together.
How do you think the field of criminology can continue to evolve and adapt to the changing demands of research, practice, and social issues?
In my opinion, we need to engage more with the people on the frontline. Whilst many criminologists are working with industry and those with lived experience, there is a lot of research out there that is pretty siloed in this regard. I’m a big believer in co-designing research with those who stand to benefit (the ‘end-user’ if you like). It is these stakeholders who make our research and teaching relevant and in touch with the changing demands of the discipline. They give us the kind of questions we should be asking.
We, the members of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC), acknowledge the traditional custodians of Australia and the sovereignty of the Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.
ANZSOC would like to acknowledge the ongoing Traditional Custodians of the lands for which our constituents conduct their teaching, learning, and research. We would like to acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and the lands, now called Australia, continue to belong to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the Traditional custodians of the lands. ANZSOC would like to pay respects to the Elders who have passed on the legacy of knowledge and culture to the future generations and acknowledge that the future generations hold the hope, the stories and the continued knowledge for current and emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. May this knowledge through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing guide you with wisdom and courage.
ANZSOC also recognises iwi Māori and their unceded right to tino rangatiratanga (sovereignty) and their expression of mana motuhaka (self-determination). We acknowledge mātauranga Māori (Māori ways of being and knowing) informs both traditional and contemporary knowledge production and its ability to enhance our collective futures.
The Association acknowledges the consequences and harms that continue to be inflicted by the criminal justice systems of Australia and Aotearoa-New Zealand on Indigenous peoples in the region and seeks through its activities to address these harms and to work to prevent them from continuing in the future.
