Two Executive Master of Public Administration journeys, two changed careers

Rosita Dalla Rosa and Nicole Berry took two different career paths into ANZSOG’s Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA), but left with a deeper understanding of the context they worked in, a greater sense of confidence in their roles, and a network of committed peers across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. 

With the EMPA welcoming its 25th cohort in 2027, the pair are two of over 2000 public servants have benefited from the program’s balance of academic and practitioner perspectives, and focus on the complexity of public sector work. 

Ms Dalla Rosa, Program Coordinator, Planning and Delivery at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries, made the shift to the public sector after a career in private enterprise, and was part of the 2014 EMPA cohort. 

She says that when she arrived in government it took time to understand how things really worked, and the EMPA program – including the support of fellow cohort students – helped her understand how to navigate the complexity of government. 

“I realised over the short courses I did that there was this whole ethos that sits behind the way that government policy and administration operate. And I didn't have a really good understanding of that,” she said. 

“I wanted to understand how I could do things better. Because, fundamentally, I believe public service is a privilege and I need to continue to increase the value of my role within it.” 

Ms Berry, Executive Director Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations, South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet, is a long-term public servant who says she joined the 2024 EMPA Cohort to help her become better at delivering public value. 

“There’s lots of different MBA programs out there but having something that was delivered for the public service, but still with that academic rigor and qualification around it was what drew me to the EMPA,” she said. 

“In Delivering Public Value (the first EMPA module) you learn that shared framework and language around what we are trying to achieve as public servants. It was a real light bulb moment for me to finally have a way to explain what we do and why, and how it's different to the creation of private value. I don't think you would have got that framing from any other kind of university course.” 

The EMPA program covers the full breadth of public sector leadership, with eight units and a capstone Work-Based Project which build skills in policy, governance, finance, law, and management by applying theory to students’ leadership practice. 

Ms Dalla Rosa said that the EMPA had accelerated the learning experience for her and given her tools to apply to different situations. 

“You learn really good building blocks that you can play with in different ways, shapes and forms after the program. Complexity can be overwhelming, but when you have these tools you have the ability to look at a problem and know what’s causing it,” she said. 

Sharing learning and building a career-long network 

The EMPA evolved with the public sector environment designed for leaders who want to lift their impact, learn to exercise judgement without perfect information, influence beyond formal authority and work across systems to deliver public value. 

The key to the EMPA’s learning is putting students in a cohort of passionate and committed public servants and creating a two-way environment that lets them learn from the experience and perspectives of their peers. 

Ms Berry said that her cohort was an inspiring influence and gave her an understanding of the variety of public sector work. 

“The biggest single advantage of the EMPA is the relationships and the networks that you form. The content is amazing and useful and has useful things that you can carry through, but it's the relationships over and above everything else that really make the EMPA experience,” she said. 

“You get to know people, who you otherwise would never have crossed paths with – different jurisdictions, different policy or service delivery areas - and realise you've got so much more in common with them than you ever thought possible. There’s so much that you can learn from them.” 

Ms Dalla Rosa said that being part of the cross-jurisdictional EMPA cohort and sharing knowledge and ideas enriched her understanding of herself as a leader and her new public sector role. 

“You start to realise that, that everyone's bringing skills and strengths, but also everyone has areas of development. And it helps you to see your strengths and also your areas of development,” she said. 

Lifting impact and encouraging reflection 

The EMPA is a career-shaping program that not only provides new skills but gives students the mindsets needed to lead and drive change in complex environments.  

Ms Berry said that the EMPA had helped her stay focused on the people she served, and take a more reflective approach to her role within the public sector 

“In a central role in government, the challenge is that it can sometimes feel a little bit disconnected from the real people out there that you're trying to serve, and that connection can sometimes get lost in the busyness of the day to day,” she said. 

“One of my biggest takeaways from the EMPA is how that's really helped me centre that thinking – and to think about everything through the lenses of people and place. 

“The biggest change in my day-to-day work as a result of the EMPA is not a specific tool. It is really just the practice of being a bit more reflective, which is invaluable for public servants. 

“Reflecting on how you're operating as a public servant, why you're operating as a public servant, and what are some of the important things that are going on that aren't being said explicitly. It sounds really simple, but it's actually quite a process to learn how to do it well.” 

Ms Dalla Rosa said that the EMPA had made her more impactful and given her the confidence to deal with the new situations and challenges her career had thrown at her over the last twelve years. 

“I now lean into change and see it as an opportunity. If I don’t know the subject matter, I have no issue. If it’s a particular type of role I haven’t done before, it doesn’t worry me because I have that confidence that, no matter what is required in that role, I’ll know how to do it.” 

EMPA at a glance  

Who it’s for: Established public sector leaders who are ready to strengthen their strategic judgement, engage with academic and public sector rigour, and develop the systems leadership needed for complex public sector challenges. Participants are typically at EL2 level or higher in Australia, or in comparable senior roles in Aotearoa New Zealand or other jurisdictions.  

Delivery: The EMPA is a university-accredited graduate program delivered through a combination of online, blended, and in-person learning over two years.  

Structure: The degree combines eight ANZSOG core subjects, three university electives delivered through one of the EMPA’s partner universities and a Work-Based Project that applies learning to a significant real-world public sector challenge.  

2027 Course Dates: The 2027 EMPA cohort commences in February 2027.  

Investment: The 2027 EMPA fee is AUD $64,800 excluding GST. For the 25th EMPA cohort, ANZSOG is offering a one-off 10% subsidy for each participant, reducing the fee to AUD $58,320 excluding GST.  

Entry requirements: Applicants generally need at least five years’ relevant senior-level experience, eligibility for master’s entry, typically through an undergraduate degree, and agency nomination. Alternative pathways may be available through Monash University or Victoria University of Wellington.  

What you will learn:   

The EMPA covers a wide range of capabilities required by modern public sector leaders. Core subjects are:  Delivering Public Value, Governing in a Market Economy, Decision-making under Uncertainty, Designing Public Policies and Programs, Managing Public Sector Organisations, Governing by the Rules, Leading Public Sector Change, and the Work-based Project  

Find Out More  

Visit: Executive Master of Public Administration on the ANZSOG website  

Contact: engage@anzsog.edu.au    

Or book a one-on-one conversation to discuss whether the Executive Master of Public Administration is the right fit for you or your organisation.