Jennifer Parker is a Nonresident Fellow at the Lowy Institute, an Expert Associate at the National Security College, Australian National University, and International Fellow at the London-based Council on Geostrategy. She is a former Royal Australian Navy officer with more than 20 years’ service. Jennifer is also the principal and founder of Barrier Strategic Advisory. 

Published in a number of major Australian newspapers, Jennifer is regularly featured in Australian and international print, digital, radio and TV media.​

During her time in the RAN Jennifer specialised as a Principal Warfare Officer, including undertaking deep specialist training with the Royal Navy in Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer. Jennifer has extensive operational experience from the Middle East to the Caribbean, and most areas in between. She has undertaken a series of naval appointments nationally and internationally in areas including force design strategy, career management, international exercise planning and operations. That included service as an exchange officer with the Royal Navy and as second in command of HMAS Darwin, one of the Royal Australian Navy's guided missile frigates.

Jennifer’s last appointment in the RAN was as Director of Operations in Bahrain of the Combined Maritime Forces, a 47-nation coalition promoting maritime security in the Middle East and Indian Ocean region.