Elizabeth Ames is the Chief Operating Officer of Atalanta, a mission-driven firm with a focus on advancing women's leadership worldwide and accelerating programmes that tackle the root causes of gender inequality.

She is an experienced leader in public affairs and policy with a deep knowledge of corporate communications, strategy and stakeholder engagement and has a particular focus on building sustainable relationships between business, civil society and government.

Elizabeth has over a decade of experience working across government, corporates, charities and trade associations and has spent the last nine years working in Europe, including five at some of the United Kingdom’s leading organisations. She has excellent networks across Whitehall and Westminster and a strong understanding of both UK and European policy making.

Elizabeth began her career in the Australian foreign service, before moving to the UK to serve as Chief of Staff to the Founder and Chairman of Brunswick Group, Sir Alan Parker. She has worked in senior advisory for clients including the Gates Foundation and Save the Children and was responsible for the Destination for Education campaign against restrictions on international student visas.

Most recently, Elizabeth has worked in international trade advisory, serving as the Executive Director of the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce as well as the Senior Advisor, Government Relations, to Newfound, a global market entry specialist working with high-growth technology companies looking to expand into the UK. In these roles she worked closely with business and the British and Australian Governments on trade and investment policy, including appearances before the International Trade Select Committee in Westminster as an expert witness.

Elizabeth is a regular media commentator for Australian and UK media and has been a featured speaker at events in conjunction with The Big Tent Ideas Festival, Kings College London, The Spectator Magazine and EY Global.

She is the Chair of the Menzies Australia Institute at Kings College London and a Director of the Britain-Australia Society.

Elizabeth holds a First Class Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne as well as a Masters Degree in International Studies from the University of Sydney and speaks Italian and French.