Elizabeth Ames

Chief Executive Officer

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

She has extensive global experience having worked with international organisations, governments, corporations, philanthropies, and NGOs to lead strategic communications and engagement campaigns across every continent apart from Antarctica. She has strong international networks and an excellent understanding of the interplay between geopolitics and domestic policy.

Elizabeth joined Atalanta in 2020, serving as its first Chief Operating Officer before taking up the role of Chief Executive Officer in April 2024. Her work with Atalanta has focused on the public health, education and skills, sustainability and biodiversity, and inclusive finance sectors, and is underpinned by a strong commitment to gender equality. She is passionate about building supportive and dynamic organisational cultures.

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. Following this, she was appointed as the Executive Director of the Australia-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce during the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement negotiations serving as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders and working closely with government and civil society, including appearances before the International Trade Select Committee in Westminster as an expert witness.

Elizabeth is a regular commentator for Australian and UK media, having featured in The Times, Financial Times, Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Financial Review, CityAM, and The Spectator amongst others. She also regularly appears as a guest on podcasts and has a recurring guest role on the Democracy Sausage podcast hosted by Mark Kenny. She is an accomplished public speaker and has been a featured speaker at events in conjunction with The New Diplomacy Project, The Big Tent Ideas Festival, King's College London, The Spectator, and EY Global. She is the Chair of the Australia Studies Institute at King's College London, a member of the Advisory Council of the New Diplomacy Project, 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 Master's Degree in International Studies from the University of Sydney. She speaks Italian and French.