Dr Lisa Carson

Dr Lisa Carson is Lecturer in Public Leadership & Diversity in the Melbourne School of Government and Academic Coordinator of the Pathway to Politics for Women at The University of Melbourne. Prior to joining the Melbourne Law School, Lisa was Principal Research & Policy Advisor at the Australia & New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) where she remains a Senior Research Fellow. Lisa is also a Research Fellow in the Public Service Research Group (PSRG) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra.

Lisa’s work across research, teaching and advocacy revolves around inequity and how to bring about and inspire social change. Her research focuses on foregrounding marginalised perspectives and connecting theory and practice and crosses boundaries of political science, feminist and gender studies, international relations, public administration and management, policy analysis, institutionalist theory, and sociology, among others. Her teaching revolves around instilling intellectual curiosity and inspiring change by translating complex ideas and practices for different audiences, creating safe learning spaces, advancing critical thinking skills, focusing on questions of ‘why does this matter’, and embedding reflection and lifelong learning. Her advocacy and activism focus on connecting local, national, and international levels for change most notably as the co-ordinator of the Young Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (YWILPF Australia) nominated for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, and as a member of the Australian Civil Society on Women, Peace & Security.

Lisa holds a PhD and Masters in International Relations from The University of Melbourne, First Class Honours from RMIT, and a Bachelor of Arts in politics and psychology from the University of Melbourne. Lisa grew up on the lands of the Yorta Yorta people in regional Victoria and works on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Yuin people.