Jennifer Jackett is working to help liberal democracies prevail as global technology leaders to maximise their prosperity and security. She is passionate about how governments can better connect national security, economic and social policymaking to advance the national interest.

Jennifer is a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at the National Security College at the Australian National University. Her research examines the role of United States allies in US-China competition for leadership of advanced technologies using case studies of 5G telecommunications and semiconductor chips.

Jennifer is also a Non-Resident Fellow in the Foreign Policy and Defence Program at the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University. Her research interests include AUKUS advanced capabilities cooperation and defence innovation. Jennifer has been on the Institute for Regional Security’s Board of Directors since 2018.

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

In 2021, Jennifer was awarded the Joan Uhr prize for outstanding public policy research. In 2022, she was named a Woman to Watch by Young Australians in International Affairs. 

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