Laurenz is an Evidence Synthesis Specialist at the University of Johannesburg’s Africa Centre for Evidence (ACE). Laurenz leads ACE’s work in supporting national government decision-makers to integrate evidence from research synthesis (e.g. evidence maps, systematic reviews, meta-analyses) in the formulation and design of public policies and programmes. He has supported the South African Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation for three years on its piloting and development of policy-relevant evidence maps as a method to inform decision-making in the public sector. Laurenz has conducted a range of systematic reviews and evidence maps, including reviews published by the Campbell Collaboration and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. He is the lead author of the Science of Using Science Report, an UCL EPPI-Centre systematic review of what works to increase evidence use and serves as an Associate Editor at the Campbell Collaboration. Laurenz holds a PhD from the University College London and a BA degree in Development Studies from the University of Johannesburg. His research interests include evidence synthesis, decision-making in the public sector, and behavioural economics and social network analysis to support policy implementation.