Dr Mel Southwell-Lee commenced as Branch Manager, Policy and Strategy in late 2021.

Dr Southwell-Lee has a long history of engagement with Australian and international education, science and research. She has held leadership positions in the Australian Government departments of education, industry and science, and health. Dr Southwell-Lee has overseen higher education and research infrastructure grant programs, advised on research impact policy and the national innovation and science agenda, led the 2015 review of the Cooperative Research Centres program, and progressed Australia’s education and research relationships with key partner nations under the National Strategy for International Education. 

Dr Southwell-Lee has studied and worked at a number of Australian universities, as well as in China and Canada. She has a PhD in Asian Studies and was the inaugural Associate Director of the ANU’s public policy and societal impact hub.