Associate Professor Anna Boucher, Chair of Discipline for Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney, has recently been appointed to the federal Australian government’s Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration. Her appointment reflects her expertise in bridging academia and policy, with a focus on shaping Australia’s skilled migration landscape.
Prof. Boucher joins a select group of five academic experts from across Australia forming the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration (MACSM) Expert Sub-Committee. This committee, comprising a total of eight experts, has been tasked with providing expert advice to the Australian Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, and Multicultural Affairs, the Honourable Andrew Giles MP, on Australia’s immigration settings, particularly amidst a period of rapid change.
Prof. Boucher’s extensive research background, specializing in global, statistical, and comparative immigration policy, positions her as a valuable asset in shaping Australia’s skilled migration agenda during these transformative times.
In an interview, Prof. Boucher shared insights into her appointment and the expectations associated with her new role. She highlighted the collaborative nature of the committee’s work and emphasized the importance of collective expertise in guiding policy decisions.
Prof. Boucher’s academic journey, spanning over two decades and encompassing research on immigration issues, has prepared her well for this role. Her expertise extends to citizenship policy, skilled immigration in Australia and Canada, global immigration data analysis, and labor market regulation.
She emphasized the significance of her research, which directly aligns with current government agendas and migration strategies. Prof. Boucher’s previous engagements with various governmental and intergovernmental bodies, including the UN, IOM, and Australian Departments of Home Affairs, have provided her with invaluable insights into the nexus between academic research and policy implementation.
Prof. Boucher outlined her vision for bridging the gap between academic research and policy implementation within the realm of skilled migration. Drawing on her doctoral research and publications, she emphasized the applied and empirical nature of her work, making it conducive to informing policy decisions.
Moreover, Prof. Boucher anticipates that her involvement in the Ministerial Advisory Council on Skilled Migration will enhance her current research endeavors in several ways. Firstly, by engaging with leading Australian thinkers across interdisciplinary fields, she aims to deepen her understanding of key issues. Secondly, the committee’s work may inspire further research on emerging policy issues. Lastly, her participation in the tripartite committee will foster new industry connections and potentially lead to innovative research collaborations.
Prof. Boucher’s current research agenda, focusing on the intersection of labor market dynamics, immigration policy, and data measurement, is poised to contribute significantly to the government’s migration strategy and policy formulation processes. Her appointment underscores the importance of academic expertise in shaping Australia’s skilled migration landscape for the future.