Jenny Randles is a British author who has written extensively on UFOs and other paranormal subjects. She served as the director of investigations for the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) from 1982 to 1994 and is a co-founder of the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena. Her career began with a strong belief in extraterrestrial visitation, but she later evolved to suggest that many UFO sightings could be explained by psychological factors or misperceptions, though she maintained that some phenomena warrant scientific investigation.

Randles has explored various paranormal topics, including crop circles, ESP, and spontaneous human combustion, a concept she once supported. Her work often involves analyzing witness accounts and official reports, seeking rational explanations while acknowledging the enduring mysteries. She has also written about afterlife phenomena and coined the term "The Oz Factor" to describe a feeling of displacement. Randles, who studied science at university, has also worked in television and continues to contribute to publications like Fortean Times.

Jenny Randles held a significant role as the director of investigations for the British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) for over a decade, from 1982 to 1994. During this period, she was actively involved in researching numerous UFO and paranormal cases. Initially, Randles believed in the direct visitation of Earth by intelligent extraterrestrial beings. However, her perspective evolved over time; she came to believe that a large majority of reported sightings had ordinary explanations, and that more extraordinary accounts might stem from the psychological experiences of the witnesses themselves. Despite this shift, she continued to advocate for the serious scientific study of anomalous phenomena and co-founded the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena.

Randles's extensive bibliography covers a wide range of esoteric and paranormal subjects. Her early work delved into phenomena such as crop circles and spontaneous human combustion, a concept she once championed. She also explored ESP and afterlife phenomena, often coauthoring books with Peter Hough. Randles investigated prominent cases like the Rendlesham Forest incident, initially coauthoring a book on it, but later expressed skepticism regarding alien involvement, suggesting misperceptions of mundane objects in unusual circumstances. She has also examined UFO abductions, proposing that witnesses under hypnosis might be recalling genuine traumas reinterpreted through the lens of UFO beliefs, rather than actual extraterrestrial encounters. Her work often seeks to provide rational, terrestrial explanations for reported anomalies, while still acknowledging the existence of unexplained elements.

Randles's academic background in chemistry, mathematics, and physics provided a foundation for her approach to investigating paranormal claims. After teaching, she dedicated herself to studying UFOs. She became a recognized figure in ufology, described by some as the "most well-known British 'UFOlogist'" and a "respected ufologist." Randles also contributed to media, including the dramatized documentary series Strange but True? and the BBC series Secrets of the Paranormal. Her writings have been noted for presenting detailed accounts of paranormal events, sometimes offering skeptical analyses or grounded explanations, which have drawn both praise and criticism from reviewers.