Aleksandra Pozder – B Ec ’02, M Com ’03

The journey for Aleksandra Pozder (B Ec ’02, M Com ’03) to the University of Sydney is not for the faint of heart.

Born and raised in Yugoslavia, Aleksandra’s family fled their war-ravaged homeland for shelter in refugee camps in Croatia. She completed her schooling, but her family could not afford the cost of university.

Aleksandra took a job in with a family in Belgrade that offered accommodation and board in return for house help, enabling her to compete for a place in the Bachelor of Economics course at the University of Belgrade in 1995. In 1998, the Australian government accepted her family’s application for permanent residency with costs covered by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

“Finally my parents, brother and I were safe and together, looking forward to a new life in freedom and peace.”

Aleksandra and her family arrived in Australia in October 1998. They had to learn a new language and new customs. Aleksandra’s dream was to study at the University of Sydney. She started that journey by completing a ten-week language course and then commenced an Advanced Diploma of Accounting at TAFE Ultimo.

In 2000, Aleksandra was accepted into a Bachelor Arts degree at the University of Sydney and transferred into the Economics degree after her first year. She completed a Master of Commerce in 2003 with majors in accounting and finance.

“The time I spent as a student at the University of Sydney was rewarding and challenging. I started there as a very shy and insecure person but left believing in myself and confident that I could succeed. I learnt so much and made many new friends from all around the world.”

After graduation, Aleksandra worked with a small financial services firm but she later returned to the University of Sydney as the shared Finance Officer for Advancement Services and for the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific.

“The University encouraged critical learning; debates and inspired students to think ‘outside the square’ and challenge accepted norms and break new frontiers.”

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