Sarah Thompson is a Research Associate in the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute, where she supports research and the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network.

Prior to joining the Lowy Institute, Sarah worked as a Research Assistant at the Humanitarian Advisory Group. She holds a Master of International Development Practice from Monash University, where her research focused on intercultural competency in Pacific climate diplomacy. She continues to work on political and development challenges across the Pacific, with a particular focus on climate change, regional mobility, and human security.