The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) Board has announced Prerana Mehta as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective 26 August 2024.
Prerana brings a wealth of experience from her tenure at CSIRO, where she led the Strategic Partnerships Group, enhancing the organisation’s national and global engagements. Her strategic acumen was pivotal in driving CSIRO’s collaborations and expanding its international influence.
In a post on LinkedIn, Prerana said: “It has been a privilege and such a joy to have lead an extraordinary team at CSIRO – thank you to those that have patiently guided me.”
She told The Australia Today:
“I look forward to furthering ACOLA’s objective to harness the multidisciplinary expertise vested in Australia’s five Learned Academies to elevate ACOLA’s proven track record of evidence based advice for world class decision-making.”
Beyond her work at CSIRO, Prerana has held several Board positions, including with emerging deep technology startups in space, medtech, and cybersecurity, as well as with NGO/non-profit organisations.
Her extensive experience spans roles such as Deputy CEO and Chief of Ecosystem Development at AustCyber, and Minister Counsellor, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner in Singapore.
Prerana has developed extensive experience living and working in Asia and the Pacific region in both public and private sectors. As a consultant for DFAT in Jakarta Indonesia, with Deloitte in Papua New Guinea and with International SOS in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Dr Katherine Woodthorpe AO FTSE FAICD, ACOLA Board Chair, praised Prerana’s appointment:
“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.”
Dr Woodthorpe also expressed gratitude to former CEO Ryan Winn for his significant contributions and to Dr Christina Parolin for serving as Interim CEO during the extensive recruitment process.
Prerana’s Board roles extend to organisations like SisterWorks, BraveHER, and the ACT Australia Indonesia Business Council.
Her collaborative style and international perspective, shaped by her extensive time in Asia and the Pacific, are expected to bolster ACOLA’s mission to harness multidisciplinary expertise and support excellence in research and innovation.
Dr Woodthorpe added:
“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.”
ACOLA is the forum whereby Australia’s five 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.
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