Alex Oliver

Former Director of Research

Biography

Publications

News and media

Alex Oliver was Director of Research at the Lowy Institute between 2018 and 2021. Prior to 2018, she directed the Lowy Institute's program on diplomacy and public opinion, including the annual Lowy Institute Poll.

Alex's other research interests include Australia's diplomacy and diplomatic infrastructure, consular affairs, and public diplomacy. As well as six annual Lowy Institute Polls, Alex authored or co-authored several major studies for the Lowy Institute on Australia’s diplomacy. She wrote for international press including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Wall Street Journal and BBC.com, and for Australian publications including The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Australian Journal of International Affairs. Alex provided regular commentary on Australian foreign affairs and diplomacy in Australian and international media, gave evidence at parliamentary inquiries and delivered a Senate Occasional Lecture in 2014.

Before joining the Institute in 2007, Alex was a senior associate at Mallesons Stephen Jaques Solicitors in Sydney, specialising in intellectual property and consumer law. Prior to her career in law she was an account director and brand manager at multinationals Leo Burnett Advertising and Unilever. Alex was the University Medallist in law at UNSW, has bachelor degrees in Law and Science and an A.Mus.A.

Interactives

Beyond Fortress Australia

The reality of living in a pandemic has dawned on Australia. Covid cases at the time of writing are high and still climbing. The virus is here to stay. Equally clear is that ring…

From polls to posts, Dili and the DMZ, my unexpected think tank career

Farewell after 14 years charting Australia in the world from the country’s leading foreign policy research institute.

Interactives

Lowy Institute Diplomat Database

This Lowy Institute interactive uncovers the changing face of Australia's diplomatic network, tracking 47 years of Australian diplomatic appointments overseas. The data…

Commentary

Fear of military conflict on the rise in Australia

In an opinion piece originally published in The Australian newspaper, Lowy Institute director of public opinion and foreign policy Natasha Kassam and research director…

America in 2020: The view from here

A selection of commentary and analysis from Lowy Institute voices on the state of affairs in and beyond the USA.

A budget of skewed priorities

As Australia faces one of the most challenging international environments in a century, it still skimps on diplomacy.

Submissions

Submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into the Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic for Australia's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Joint submission by Lowy Institute researchers to the JSCFADT inquiry into the implications of the pandemic.

Interactives

Emerging From COVID: Policy Responses To The Pandemic

In this new feature, Lowy Institute experts provide policy recommendations for Australia to address issues that are critical to our nation’s — and the world’s —…

Policy Briefs

Emerging from COVID: Policy Responses to the Pandemic

Lowy Institute experts provide policy recommendations for Australia to address issues that are critical to our nation's — and the world's — successful emergence from the pandemic.