Meet Matt The Pappa
Matt-Matt is the dad of the group and our resident travel brain — the one who can turn a wild idea into an actual itinerary with bookings, backups, and “just in case” options. He’s taken on the bulk of the planning and organising for this epic adventure, from flights and accommodation to the behind-the-scenes work and social media. Basically: jack of all trades, spreadsheet wizard, and roll-with-the-punches schedule-change guru.
Matt also has ADHD and dyslexia, which means his brain runs fast and creative — big-picture thinking, quick problem-solving, and a knack for finding solutions when plans shift. He’s a social, happy-go-lucky guy who genuinely loves being around people — family, friends, strangers he met five minutes ago — and he’s always up for trying something new. His Dutch heritage shows in plenty of ways, from his features to that firm-but-fair approach where you always know where you stand (and you probably deserved the lecture).
Early Life
Matt grew up in a small country town in Victoria, Australia and was the youngest sibling by a fair gap — meaning he was well and truly spoiled, especially by his mum. When he was six, she started a judo club to help him learn self-defence and build confidence. It turned out he wasn’t just interested — he was talented. Through her dedication and his hard work, Matt became a highly skilled judoka, competing around Australia and earning titles including Australian Champion and Third International Champion in his category.
But at 15, Matt’s world changed when his mum passed away. His judo dreams — even Olympic ones — faded, not because he couldn’t do it, but because he lost the heart for it. Luckily, he had other passions waiting in the wings: a lifelong love of geography and flags of the world, which was basically the early warning sign that travel was always going to be part of his story.
Career
Matt worked in the travel industry for 17 years, owning his own agency for 12. During that time, he picked up multiple awards, consistently recognised as the best Australian leisure agent in his franchise, and was rated in the top five travel agents in Australia at the National Travel Industry Awards (NTIA).
After COVID, Matt took a step back from travel so Wean could study full-time. He moved through retail sales for a while before landing in a role that suited his people-first nature: education support at a trauma-informed secondary school. In that space he’s taken on careers coordination for students and runs the school’s LGBTQIA+ pride group, bringing the same energy he brings to his family — consistent, fair, and all-in.
Values
Losing his mum young shaped Matt in a big way. He values time with family above everything, because he knows you don’t get endless “later.” He’s big on showing up, making memories, and not putting life on hold.
Matt’s character strengths include love, honesty, humour, justice, and fairness — and if you’re travelling with him, you’ll see all five… sometimes in the same hour.
Pre Epic Adventure Country Count: 79
Post Epic Adventure Country Count: 88
