Alex Oliver was Director of Research at the Lowy Institute between 2018 and 2021. Prior to 2018, she directed the Lowy Institute's program on diplomacy and public opinion, including the annual Lowy Institute Poll. 

Alex's other research interests include Australia's diplomacy and diplomatic infrastructure, consular affairs, and public diplomacy. As well as six annual Lowy Institute Polls, Alex authored or co-authored several major studies for the Lowy Institute on Australia’s diplomacy. She wrote for international press including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, The Wall Street Journal and BBC.com, and for Australian publications including The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and the Australian Journal of International Affairs. Alex provided regular commentary on Australian foreign affairs and diplomacy in Australian and international media, gave evidence at parliamentary inquiries and delivered a Senate Occasional Lecture in 2014.     

Before joining the Institute in 2007, Alex was a senior associate at Mallesons Stephen Jaques Solicitors in Sydney, specialising in intellectual property and consumer law. Prior to her career in law she was an account director and brand manager at multinationals Leo Burnett Advertising and Unilever. Alex was the University Medallist in law at UNSW, has bachelor degrees in Law and Science and an A.Mus.A.