Experts have become an important part of the policymaking pipeline in recent years. Most studies, however, assume technocratic governance derives its legitimacy from the development of rational or “objective” policy solutions. But as experts increasingly shape policy, we suggest their role encompasses a representative dimension as well. Hence, we ask: to what extent do citizens seek epistemic diversity in expert panels? We use a mixed-methods approach to answer this question. Focus Group Discussions conducted in the UK and Switzerland provide qualitative evidence that citizens desire both demographic (eg. social class, region) and professional (eg. vocation, types of experience) diversity among experts tasked with policymaking responsibilities. These preferences appear to stem from both intrinsic value judgements and instrumental lines of reasoning. To assess the extent to which such preferences for diversity translate to support for policy recommendations, we conduct a pre-registered vignette experiment in the aforementioned countries (N=3,200) that varies the diversity of an expert panel (descriptively diverse, professionally diverse, not diverse) and the desirability (desirable, not desirable) of the policy recommendation made by the panel. This paper makes a few key contributions. Unlike much existing research, our work suggests citizens evaluate experts as a group with political leanings. Further, while studies concerning the credibility of scientists stress the importance of perceptions of neutrality, our work suggests that citizens seek representation in experts: i.e. they value the perceived ability of experts to make policy recommendations that accommodate the lived experiences of citizens—for which diversity may function as a heuristic.