To love and to serve - Georgia Cowdery

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a decade since I walked the halls of Saint Ignatius College as a student. Since graduating in 2009, my journey has taken me on some incredible adventures, both personally and professionally, and I’d love to share a bit of that with you.

After high school, I headed to the University of Melbourne to study Politics and International Relations, and a Diploma in Language in Indonesian. Those years were transformative, not just academically but also personally. I dived into my language and culture studies and had a strong connection with politics and international aid work, travelling to East Timor, Indonesia and Ecuador, which helped shape my interests and career direction.

Upon graduating, I landed my first job at a local law firm in Geelong as a Paralegal. It was a great starting point, and I learned a lot about law, and conveyancing in particular, whilst also completing my double Masters degree in a subject area that was rapidly gaining my interest- International Security Studies and Policing Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism. In 2017, I decided to take a leap and move to Canberra for a graduate program, where I worked in Canberra and Melbourne for 3 years to utilise my Masters degrees and also undertake further study building my vocational proficiency in Indonesian. I learnt so much as a public servant working in Government, where I’m currently a Director at the National Disability Insurance Agency and have been with the Agency for over 5 years now. This role has allowed me to manage teams and create social policy that impacts the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians with disability and engage directly with the community from which I’m helping to draft new laws, and I’m excited about the projects I’m working on. Having been a College Captain and joining the debating team at high school, these skills have immensely helped in my management style, public speaking and community engagement, for which I do regularly.

I’ve always believed in the importance of giving back, and since graduating, I’ve been involved in local sporting clubs for tennis and netball, aid work, the Old Ignatians Alumni, and the St Mary of the Angel’s Parish Geelong. Whether it’s training new netball umpires, upgrading tennis facilities for online bookings, attending careers panels, or chairing the Parish Pastoral Council, these experiences have enriched my life and reminded me of the values we learned at Saint Ignatius- to love and to serve.

On a personal note, I’ve had some wonderful experiences along the way. I have travelled to some amazing places, bought a house, achieved careers goals, and got engaged to my partner who also brought with him Goblin the greyhound. I’ve also picked up some new hobbies like baking and tennis, which have become a great source of joy and balance in my life.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about the future with my fiancé (and hopefully soon travelling to Scotland to meet his family in person) and starting in a new role at work that I recently received a promotion for. I’m always seeking new challenges and opportunities to grow, both personally and professionally.

To those currently navigating high school, I encourage you to embrace every opportunity that comes your way. Don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone—those experiences will shape who you become. Remember, the friendships and lessons you gain now will carry with you for a lifetime. Where I thought I’d be when I left high school to where I am now was not always clear but I’m so thankful that I let my experiences and my passions guide me to where I am.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my journey. I’m grateful for the foundation Saint Ignatius College gave me, and I can’t wait to see where life takes us all next!

Best,
Georgia Cowdery