Oliver Mathieson is Country Manager of GRM Indonesia, an international leading development management firm specializing in providing project design , management expertise and technical assistance for development projects. The company has worked in more than 120 countries for private, government, bilateral and multilateral clients.
Oliver, tell us a little about your background.
I am of Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland. After university in Scotland, I was working with NGOs in the nonprofit sector, gaining experience in the precious ground in Africa and the Middle East, mostly in rural development. In the middle of my career (there are about 12), I took an MBA to gain a better understanding of the social aspect of society. Then, I started in the business consulting sector in international development. Since then, I consulted for clients such as the UK Department for International Development, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
Did you ever you wanted to work for the good of others in some way?
From the beginning, I developed a passion for reducing poverty and improving the livelihoods of the poor.
At 18, before the University, I had the chance to volunteer in a school for disabled children in the countries of origin of apartheid in South Africa . Sister Mary Paul, my boss, was an exceptional woman. For the first six months we fought with each other as bitter enemies. I felt that distinguished me with unjust tasks - when student sadly passed away, I had to take his body to the village of his family while everyone went surfing. Finally, I realized that mentoring me; challenge me with surfing experience a weekend could not provide. I found my vocation :. On arrival at college, I quickly changed my my course management to anthropology
You joined GRM in 2008. What are the areas you have highlighted on since?
After setting up technical business practice, I focused on how businesses can be supported so as to create opportunities for the poor. This area ( 'M4P': Making markets work for the poor) is about harnessing the energy of the private sector and create lasting results that scale. GRM can find ways of development aid to leverage higher yields. For example, we work with a leading provider of agribusiness, which produce agricultural inputs such as seeds and pesticides. We help implement, basic safety products mango trees to extend their flowering period, so that farmers can sell outside the peak season and therefore to obtain better prices.
How do you do business?
First, through formal procurement process where we compete against other firms for bilateral or work of multilateral agency. Moreover, like any professional services approach in the normal marketing: direct contact with senior executives in business and word-of-mouth. GRM technical services are recognized as value, and customers come to us for specific projects.
Professionally what are your passions - what makes you going in the morning?
Apart from M4P, passion comes from the people I work with. GRM is a company incredibly can-do, never back down from challenges. It is filled with people who do not believe that there are too many problems if you work hard, honestly, and keep learning and improving. We also focus on tangible results in the real world - we are not a think tank; we really produce.
You have worked in many different countries. What was a particularly memorable experience?
I had the chance to work with Doctors Without Borders in Afghanistan during the Taliban period. I had to go to Hazarajat in central Afghanistan, where there was little international presence at the time, to meet a commander and get his permission to send a team to provide medical support. My small team and I were taken to a hill (a former Soviet military post), in the basement of a bunker. We sat on cushions surrounded by about 100 heavily armed soldiers frontline Taliban. I went to the meeting had better go well! It made; my interpreter probably did not say a word of the script I had prepared - he was the brain; I was the singer. At the end of the meeting, the commander gave him a hug around the waist, meaning that he was the superior in the hierarchy of the relationship.
What are some of the key projects of GRM Indonesia?
We work with the central government, helping to improve policy and service delivery for poverty reduction. Around 250 GRM staff working on this, and in an area far we have helped secure $ 150 benefit return for every dollar of taxpayer support for poor households. Furthermore, we are working with the National AIDS Commission on policy; in education supporting some customers to monitor and evaluate primary and secondary education in Indonesia; and in agribusiness.
From your perspective, what are the main challenges facing the Indonesians for the moment, and what should be done?
The government has made a huge reduction in the poverty rate since the 90s, but the challenge is now to help the extreme poor or chronically, which are much harder to get poverty. One-size-fits-all does not work in a country as large and diverse as Indonesia. Linked to that is the growing gap between rich and poor - the government recognizes this as an area of interest. Finally, maternal and child health; Indonesia accuses here behind other countries with similar levels of development.
In the future, how could you think about your time to live and work here?
I was impressed by the hard work of level, good grace and pleasure of my teams here after working in often hostile environments elsewhere before. Personally, I also learned how to handle things differently - I begin to understand how to be a little more me Javanese
Outside of work, what do you like do to enjoy your time in this part of the world?
We love our life in Jakarta, but recognize that it is a microcosm of a very diverse and interesting country. Stomaching traffic at the airport, we like to get out and see other parts of the country; it's really easy to get on a flight or a train or a bus in Bandung, Bogor. We have just been to Solo and visited a village where they made gamelan for generations. We have seen the facts, from the smelting of copper and tin down. Indonesia is full of these opportunities and I will always remember this experience.
Thank you, Oliver. For more information please visit www.grminternational.com