Jennifer Jackett is a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at the National Security College at the Australian National University. Her doctoral research examines the role of United States allies in US-China competition for leadership of advanced technologies. Jennifer is passionate about how governments can better connect national security, economic and social policymaking to advance the national interest.

Jennifer’s analysis has appeared in publications including the Australian, the Australian Financial Review, The Interpreter, and Australian Outlook. In 2021, she was awarded the Joan Uhr prize for outstanding public policy research. In 2022, Jennifer was identified as a Young Woman to Watch by Young Australians in International Affairs.

Jennifer is currently on leave from the Australian Government. She is an experienced national security policy adviser and people manager and was most recently a Senior Adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Jennifer has also held roles in the Cabinet Secretary’s Office, Department of Defence and Office of National Intelligence.

Jennifer is a Non-Resident Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University where she researches issues including defence innovation and advanced capabilities cooperation as part of the AUKUS strategic partnership between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. She has been on the Institute for Regional Security’s Board of Directors since 2018.

Jennifer holds a Master of National Security Policy from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (International) with First Class Honours and the University Medal in Geography from Sydney University. She speaks Spanish and some Arabic.