Biography

Associate Professor Roslyn Prinsley is the Lead, Disaster Solutions in the School of Engineering, College of Systems and Society. She is an Associate Professor in the Practice of Research Leadership and Disaster Risk. Her role is to provide academic leadership across the ANU disaster risk research and education portfolio and lead ANU outreach and policy engagement related to disasters. Roslyn is leading several major research initiatives in Nature-based Solutions to flooding, community flood intelligence networks, alongside recent contributions spanning cyclone intervention with aerosols, planned relocation, and insurance/finance. 

Roslyn was previously Head of Disaster Solutions in the Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions and before this was Head of Strategic Research Initiatives in the Office of the Vice Chancellor at the Australian National University, where she initiated and led a range of interdisciplinary research programs. This includes the instigation and development of the ANU Bushfire Initiative, the ANU-Optus Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence and the ANU Grand Challenges. 

As National Adviser for Science and Mathematics Education and Industry in the Office of the Chief Scientist, Roslyn developed national plans for Australia’s future in science and innovation. She has extensive career leading research in natural resource management, human capacity building and bioenergy. Roslyn has held senior research leadership positions at the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, chaired a range of Research Advisory Committees and was Chair of Bioenergy Australia, an alliance of 80 businesses, research, government, and industry organisations. 

Upon completing her PhD, Roslyn was manager of the Agricultural and Forestry Sciences Program for the Commonwealth Science Adviser to the Commonwealth Secretary General in the UK. 

Roslyn holds a Bachelor of Science, a Diploma of Education (Science), a PhD in photosynthesis, and a Masters in Intellectual Property Law and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  She has an extensive publication record and has published over 120 books, articles and reports in the fields of photosynthesis, agroforestry, STEM education and industry, research strategy and management and disaster solutions. 

She is also a member of the NSW State Disaster Management Plan Nature-Based Measures Working Group, and on the Advisory Board of Maths Pathway.