Executive Director, ACOLA
Lauren Palmer is Executive Director at the Australian Council of Learned Academies. Since joining ACOLA in 2016, Lauren has made a significant contribution to the organisation's work, most recently as Director of Policy and Programs.
She leads the organisation in delivering its strategic objectives, including identifying ways to better harness the perspectives of all disciplines to address complex issues facing society and has helped shape major interdisciplinary projects and initiatives on issues of national importance, including artificial intelligence, energy transition, disability responsiveness and emerging technologies.
Lauren has a strong history or working for non-government organisations in the public policy industry. She is highly proficient in leading and managing interdisciplinary policy teams to undertake research and analysis, synthesise large amounts of complex information and prepare authoritative documents and reports.
Lauren has a science background, completed her PhD in Chemistry from University of Melbourne and, more recently has published on science, technology and innovation policy.