Meet our graduates: Ana Migliori – from Patagonia to public policy 

Ana Migliori’s academic journey is as unique as it is inspiring. 

Born and raised in Esquel, a town nestled in the Patagonian Andes in Argentina, Ana grew up with a strong sense of public service. 

Her parents, a surgeon and a lawyer, dedicated their lives to serving their community, planting in her a public spiritedness that would shape her future. 

“They instilled in me a profound sense of public service and duty as a primary responsibility in society”, Ana shares. 

Ana started down her academic path in Argentina, earning a bachelor's degree in public accounting and a postgraduate certificate in local development and social economy. 

In 2008, recruited by a Sydney financial services firm, she made the bold move to Australia.  

Sydney soon became her home, and in 2013, she proudly embraced Australian citizenship. Her rich multicultural identity now spans Argentina, Italy, and Down Under. 

Her experience in the financial sector, combined with the influence of her parents’ dedication to public service, ignited a desire to work in government. She says she aspires to work in a leadership role in a government agency. 

Driven by this ambition, Ana sought to enhance her skills and knowledge. Studying a Master of Public Administration at the Crawford School of Public Policy was the perfect fit. 

“The Master of Public Administration had all the ‘condiments’ that I wanted in a postgraduate degree”, she says. The program's rich curriculum, covering topics like energy security and poverty reduction, aligned perfectly with her interests and goals. 

Ana’s interest in helping to reduce poverty drives her academic and professional life.  

“I feel a deep sense of helplessness when it comes to this matter”, she admits, but says she finds keeping sight of the bigger picture helps assuage this feeling. 

“I need to remind myself that incremental changes add up to large and meaningful changes over time. We all need to focus on local policy issues, and the sum of local efforts will amount to global change”, she explains. 

“I need to remind myself that incremental changes add up to large and meaningful changes over time. We all need to focus on local policy issues, and the sum of local efforts will amount to global change”

Studying at the Crawford School has been transformative for Ana. “It was probably the best experience in my entire academic career”, she says. 

Her most memorable experience at Crawford was the course she took on poverty reduction with Professor Sharon Bessell.  

“Sharon has a great passion for this area of study, and she conveys that passion to her students”, Ana says.  

This course, along with the two exceptional courses taught by Associate Professor Michael Di Francesco, had a profound impact on her, as his unparalleled passion and dedication were felt even through the screen.

Ana’s dedication to her studies was recognised when she was awarded the 2024 Master of Public Administration Prize for the best overall aggregate result in the MPA program. 

Ana says that she was both surprised and deeply honoured to receive the prize.  

“I began my master's degree in 2021, and I became a mother soon after. Balancing the demands of a newborn, my studies, and returning to work after parental leave was no small feat”, she explains. 

“Receiving the MPA prize feels like a recognition of the dedication and support from my family that made this achievement possible”, Ana concludes. 

For prospective students considering studying at the Crawford School, Ana’s advice is unequivocal: “Don't think twice! It is the best university in Australia, one of the best universities in the world, and it will be very hard, but worth it!” 

In the near future, Ana is planning to pursue a career in the federal government. 

“It might take a year or so to eventuate", she notes, but after gaining her MPA at the Crawford School, she is determined to make it happen. 

Ana’s story is more than just a personal journey – it reminds us that with courage, it is possible to create impactful change that bridges continents, cultures, and career paths.