Matthew Hilton

Matthew Hilton is a Professor of Social History at Queen Mary University of London, where he joined in 2016 as Vice-Principal for Humanities and Social Sciences. Previously, he spent nearly two decades at the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on humanitarianism, consumer society, and social activism in Britain and globally, with particular attention to NGOs, decolonization, and international development. He co-edits Past and Present and has led major projects such as the Leverhulme-funded study on British NGOs and the archival work on Birmingham’s Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (CCCS). His publications include books on consumer activism, NGO history, and the CCCS legacy.

Education & Career:

• PhD in Social History from Lancaster University
• 20-year tenure at the University of Birmingham
• Joined Queen Mary University of London as Vice-Principal (2016)

Research Themes:

• History of humanitarianism and NGOs
• Consumer culture and activism
• Decolonization and global development
• CCCS’s intellectual and institutional history

Key Projects & Grants:

• Leverhulme Trust-funded project on NGOs in Britain
• Archival preservation of the CCCS
• Exhibitions on Janet Mendelsohn’s photography

Labs/Teams: Collaborations with Kieran Connell on CCCS archives and James McKay on NGO history. Active editorial roles in journals like Past and Present and Journal of Consumer Culture.

Advising Interests: Supervises PhD students on modern British social history, humanitarianism, consumer culture, and NGO studies.