Matthias Diemer is an ecologist by training with an MSc from Univ. of California-Berkeley in natural resource management and a PhD in plant physiology at the University of Innsbruck (1990). After working as a university researcher and a stint in experiential education, he joined WWF Switzerland in 2003.

For WWF Switzerland, he has served as Head of the Forest Unit, and since 2007 leads the International Unit. From 2003 -2008 he was responsible for the initiation of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS) on behalf of WWF International. Between 2004 – 2008 he served as board member of the RSPO. He has a broad background on forest ecology, land use change, biodiversity as well as standards/certification systems for various agro-commodities and infrastructure.

He currently represents WWF as co-chair of POIG and on the HCVRN Management committee. He has been on the RSPO Complaints panel since October 2014.