Carolyn Bull is the director of RAND Australia. In this role, she delivers research and analysis on Australian policy issues and collaborates with RAND’s U.S. and Europe offices to strengthen Australia’s voice in global policy research.
Prior to joining RAND, she served as deputy head of the National Security College at the Australian National University, where she led policy contestability, stakeholder engagement, and international partnership initiatives across a diverse range of national security challenges. She has extensive Australian government experience, most recently in senior analytical roles at the Office of National Intelligence, Australia’s peak intelligence agency. Her other professional experience spans diplomacy, international development, and academia, with a strong focus on China and Southeast Asia.
She has a Ph.D. in politics from the University of New South Wales, specialising in peacebuilding operations, transitional justice and state building. Her current research interests include social licence in national security, democratic resilience, hybrid threats, and Australian statecraft in the Indo-Pacific.
Education
Ph.D. in politics, University of New South Wales; B.A.S. (hons) in Southeast Asian Studies, Australian National University (ANU); B.Ec. (hons) in public economics, ANU; Graduate Diploma in foreign and trade policy, ANU
Languages
Chinese
Concurrent Non-RAND Positions
Distinguished Advisor, ANU National Security College