Matthew's story | ABB

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Building the future: How Matthew is driving Smart Building growth

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Growth rarely happens by accident. It requires vision, courage, and the willingness to step into the unknown. For Matthew Doley, National Market Development Manager for Electrification in the Smart Buildings division, joining ABB meant doing exactly that: helping build a new smart building business from the ground up. With nearly two decades of experience in building management systems (BMS), Matthew saw an opportunity not just to contribute – but to shape the future of smarter, more sustainable buildings.

Matthew Doley, National Market Development Manager, Australia

When Matthew Doley joined ABB nearly four years ago, he was stepping into a unique opportunity. After spending many years in the building management systems industry, he had developed deep technical expertise and a strong understanding of the market. But what drew him to ABB was the chance to help grow something new.

“My background is Building Management Systems (BMS),” Matthew explains. “I’ve got nearly 20 years of experience in BMS, so the fact that ABB had just entered into the building automation and smart building solutions space was really exciting.”

ABB’s ambition to expand into smart building automation aligned perfectly with Matthew’s expertise and his drive to make an impact. The role offered something he hadn’t fully experienced before: the autonomy to shape strategy, build relationships, and help define how the business would grow. “The opportunity to grow a business here and really make it my own was what appealed to me,” he says. “Since joining ABB, they’ve given me the autonomy to grow the business myself and help guide which way we’re going.”

“Since joining ABB, they’ve given me the autonomy to grow the business myself and help guide which way we’re going.”

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Today, Matthew works closely with a wide network of partners and customers across the commercial building sector. His typical day involves meeting with consultants, developers, distributors, and system integrators – building the relationships that turn ideas into real projects. “We have a lot of conversations and a lot of meetings – and then we try to win the work,” he says with a smile.

But beyond conversations and partnerships, Matthew’s impact lies in helping ABB define its smart building strategy. Early in his journey, he was entrusted with creating a long-term plan to grow the commercial buildings segment. “One moment where I really felt the autonomy and trust was when I was asked to create a commercial buildings business plan for the next ten years,” he recalls. “We designed it in a dynamic setting, and we’re still implementing that plan today.” This strategy has already delivered measurable results. Year after year, the commercial buildings segment has achieved consistent growth. Major partnerships have also strengthened the business, including the signing of a key master system integrator.

For Matthew, however, the true achievement goes beyond individual deals. “The major achievement for me is that we’ve continued to achieve year-on-year growth for the commercial building segment,” he says. A big part of this success comes from Matthew’s holistic view of buildings. Instead of focusing on individual products, he developed a complete smart building architecture that connects multiple ABB technologies into a unified solution.

“Since I started at ABB, I’ve developed a complete smart buildings solution architecture,” he explains. “It utilizes all the product ranges ABB offers in one architecture – from UPS systems to building management systems, switchgear, and EV chargers.”

This approach not only showcases ABB’s full capabilities but also encourages collaboration across divisions. By bringing together teams from different parts of the company, Matthew has helped create solutions that address the entire lifecycle of a building. That integrated approach also plays a crucial role in sustainability, an area Matthew is deeply passionate about. “We’re driving down net-zero targets on every building we walk into,” he says. “We’re helping our customers achieve their emissions reduction goals.” For him, these moments – seeing technology make a real-world impact – are what make the work meaningful. “I love the automation game and I love being able to design and enhance buildings to be more sustainable,” he says. “That’s what gets me out of bed.”

Matthew’s journey at ABB has also been one of personal growth. The company’s culture of trust, mentorship, and learning has helped him expand his leadership skills and step beyond his comfort zone. “At ABB, the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone is always available,” he explains. “Whether it’s public speaking, presenting, or training, I’ve used those opportunities to build my brand and become a stronger leader.” Today, he confidently leads conversations with customers and industry partners, sharing the vision of what smarter, more connected buildings can achieve.

Looking ahead, Matthew is particularly excited about emerging technologies such as AI-driven building management. “AI and analytics are going to help buildings operate more efficiently and reduce energy consumption,” he says. “That’s a really exciting direction for the market.”
When asked to describe ABB in a single word, Matthew chooses one that reflects both the company’s ambition and his own experience. “Visionary,” he says.

For Matthew, growth is not just about expanding a business – it’s about shaping an industry, building sustainable solutions, and inspiring collaboration across teams. And with each project, partnership, and innovation, he continues to turn that vision into reality.