The National Centre of Biography aims to act as a focus for the research and writing of biography in Australia. The NCB publishes the Australian Dictionary of Biography which is the largest national, co-operative enterprise in the arts and social sciences in Australia. Producing the ADB is a complex process involving salaried staff at the ANU as well as a host of volunteers from throughout Australia, including over 4500 authors, nine Working Parties and an Editorial Board of leading historians with an interest in biography.

The NCB is building upon this existing base of supporters to coordinate and lead national research into biography for the next half-century by appointing Biography Visitors, enrolling MA and PhD students, publishing essays on biography, and holding seminars and conferences.

The NCB is led by Professor Melanie Nolan who is also the general editor of the Australian Dictionary of Biography and chair of the Editorial Board of the ANU.Lives Series in Biography.