Media Release: August 2024
The Board of the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Prerana Mehta as its next Chief Executive Officer.
After joining CSIRO as Head of Global in 2022, Prerana became Head of Strategic Partnerships Group in 2023, where she was responsible for growing the organisation’s national, state and global engagements – driving collaboration to increase CSIRO’s international influence. Her previous roles include Deputy CEO and Chief of Ecosystem Development at AustCyber, Australia’s Cyber Security Growth Network, and Minister Counsellor, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in Singapore.
Prerana has also held several Board roles, including with emerging deep technology startups in areas such as space, medtech, and cybersecurity, and also with NGO/ non-profit organisations including SisterWorks (a Victoria based NGO that works with migrant, refugee and asylum seeker women to gain independence and learn new social and vocational skills), BraveHER and the ACT Australia Indonesia Business Council.
“Prerana’s comprehensive understanding of the value of partnerships and expert thinking in transforming policy will be a key asset to ACOLA and all of Australia’s Learned Academies”, said ACOLA Board Chair, Dr Katherine Woodthorpe.
“Prerana has spent significant time in Asia and the Pacific region working in both public and private sectors, and we look forward to the international perspective she brings to the table.”
“Prerana’s collaborative style will help further ACOLA’s objective to harness the multidisciplinary expertise vested in Australia’s five Learned Academies to support excellence in research and innovation, and to elevate ACOLA’s proven track record of evidence based advice for world class decision-making.
“We look forward to this new chapter for ACOLA under Prerana’s expert guidance”, said Dr Woodthorpe.
“Once again, I thank former CEO Ryan Winn for his significant contribution to ACOLA, and Dr Tina Parolin for acting as Interim CEO while the Board undertook an extensive recruitment process”.
Prerana will commence in the role on 26 August 2024.
Media contact:
For media inquiries or further information, please contact:
Tina Parolin
Email: ceo@acola.org.au
Phone: 0408 814 040
About
Australia’s five Learned Academies provide independent, authoritative and influential research-based advice across research domains, build public awareness and understanding of research, and champion, celebrate and support excellence in Australian research and innovation. The Academies are:
- Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
- Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
- Australian Academy of the Humanities
- Australian Academy of Science
- Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
ACOLA is the forum whereby Australia’s Learned Academies come together to contribute expert advice to inform national policy; and to develop innovative solutions to complex global problems and emerging national needs.
