Matt Brooks

Experienced Chair | Non Executive Director | Strategic Advisor | Investor | Turnaround | M&A | GMT | 3x Exit | Software & Technology | AI

Greater Cardiff Area

About

I work with boards, investors and leadership teams when organisations are scaling, undertaking change, or dealing with complex or distressed situations. My background spans Chair, Non-Executive Director and interim executive roles across technology-led, regulated and service-based businesses. Depending on what’s required, I operate at board level or step into hands-on executive roles. I’m known for being pragmatic, calm and decisive in pressured environments.

Experience

  • Independent Business Advisor | NED | Chair | Interim | Investor at Bright Future Acceleration
    Oct 2016 - Present · 9 yrs 9 mos

    Using my 25 years of global experience in the technology, financial and professional services sectors to scale, change, adapt and problem solve for ambitious organisations.

  • Portfolio - Chair | NED | Advisor at Development Bank of Wales
    Dec 2020 - Present · 5 yrs 7 mos

    • Board roles across the bank’s investment portfolio • Working independently with VC-backed and growth-stage businesses • Supporting governance, restructuring and leadership teams • Contributing to strategic decision-making under institutional investment frameworks • Not a DBW employee

  • Chair of the Board at Glucose Republic
    Mar 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos

    Glucose Republic combines biology and technology to create insights that tell you how to eat and live better.

  • Group Board Member at Cadarn Housing Group
    Aug 2020 - Present · 5 yrs 11 mos

    Main board member for Cadarn, a provider of 6,000+ social housing homes in Wales. Subsidiary board member for Cadwyn Housing Association who joined Cadarn in 2024.

  • Investor & Non-Executive Director at Optimise
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

    Investor and member of main board. Optimise is transforming building energy management through its ground-breaking virtualized BMS technology, which harnesses the power of digital twins and building data to optimize energy usage and minimize carbon emissions in buildings.