Lisa Sharland is an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center with the Protecting the Civilians in Conflict Program.

Lisa was previously the Deputy Director of Defence, Strategy & National Security, and the Head of the International Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra, Australia. Her research has focused on UN peace operations reform, peacekeeping effectiveness, protection of civilians, preventing and countering violent extremism, and women, peace and security. She has undertaken field research in countries in Africa and the Pacific, authored numerous research publications, and provided expert commentary to media and news outlets. Lisa was previously a Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center and the National Institute for Defence Studies in Japan. She has also worked as a Consultant for the International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations.

Lisa served as the Defence Policy Adviser at the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nations in New York from 2009 to 2014, where she provided advice on peacekeeping and defence-related policy issues and represented Australia in multilateral negotiations in the UN Security Council and General Assembly bodies, including the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34). Before working for the Australian government, she studied on exchange at The George Washington University and gained political and legislative experience working for US Members of Congress. She also worked in knowledge management at the Sydney-based offices of global commercial law firm Freehills (now Freehills Herbert Smith).

Lisa is a member of the Advisory Group on Australia-Africa Relations (AGAAR), which is tasked by Australia’s Foreign Minister with informing Australia’s thinking and policies on Africa. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Western Australia’s Africa Research and Engagement Centre (AfREC). Lisa holds a Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney, as well as a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from Macquarie University, Australia.