[1] She completed her PhD at the University of Queensland in 2015 on the topic "Dimensions of Gender: Women's Careers in the Australian Architecture Profession", for which she received the Dean's Award for Outstanding Thesis.
[2][3] This was part of a larger research project, Equity and Diversity in the Australian Architectural Profession: women, work and leadership, led by Naomi Stead.
During her professional life, she has practiced architecture full-time for a decade, including at the firm Claire Chamber Architects (New Zealand),[5] and in England at Matrix Feminist Design Cooperative and BDP.
[6] She is also a Senior Researcher on the Architecture Education and the Profession study led by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia which is due to conclude in June 2019.
[7] Matthewson's extensive statistical map of the participation of women in the architecture profession in Australia has been an important base for Parlour's advocacy.