Maria Rost Rublee is Professor of International Relations at the University of Melbourne and an internationally recognised expert on nuclear politics, international security, and the role of norms, legitimacy, and public trust in national security decision‑making. Her research focuses on how beliefs, social dynamics, and institutional practices shape defence policy choices in democratic states, particularly in high‑risk and high‑consequence domains such as nuclear governance.

Her multi‑method scholarship has made significant contributions to academic and policy debates on nuclear security, non‑proliferation, and defence governance. She is the author of an award‑winning monograph, co‑editor of three edited volumes, and has published more than 40 peer‑reviewed articles and book chapters in leading journals including Security Studies, Comparative Political Studies, and the Journal of European Public Policy. Her research has attracted over $2.5 million in internationally competitive funding from organisations including the Australian Department of Defence, NATO, the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Japan Foundation, and the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Prior to entering academia, Professor Rublee served as an intelligence officer for the United States government, bringing practical experience of security institutions to her research and policy engagement. Her professional contributions have been recognised by the Australian Political Science Association’s 2025 Academic Leadership Award and her selection to the Center for Strategic & International Studies’ 2022 Top 50 U.S. National Security & Foreign Affairs Leadership List. She is President of Women in International Security-Australia and serves on the editorial boards of International Affairs, Contemporary Security Policy, Nonproliferation Review, and the Australian Journal of International Affairs.