From Northampton to New York – Maggie Cripps’ Journey
When Maggie Cripps (Class of 2015) graduated from Santa Maria College, she couldn’t have imagined just how far her path would stretch. Today, she’s living in New York and working in mergers and acquisitions with Deloitte, proof that big dreams can grow from small-town beginnings.
From Curtin to Corporate Life
After Year 12, Maggie moved to Perth to study Commerce at Curtin University. A semester abroad in the US added some adventure to her studies – and planted the seeds for future international moves.
Back home, she wrapped up her degree and soon landed a role with Deloitte in Melbourne. “I’d always wanted to move east,” she says, “so I booked a one-way ticket just two days after my final exam.”
In Melbourne, Maggie joined the Forensic team as a whistleblower analyst, taking reports of workplace misconduct. “It was challenging but incredibly insightful,” she says. “It gave me a great foundation and helped me explore different areas of the business.”
Crossing Continents
Four years later, Maggie was ready for a new challenge. London became home, along with a new role in Mergers & Acquisitions at WTW. She loved the work and the travel, but eventually, the buzz of New York drew her in. Now, she’s back at Deloitte, helping companies navigate change, especially the people side of complex transactions.
“No two days are the same,” she explains. “There’s a lot of strategy, a lot of Zoom calls, and a lot of learning on the go.”
Boarding Life - A Foundation for Life
Maggie’s confident, adaptable nature was shaped in part by her time as a boarder at Santa Maria College.
“Living with your best mates 24/7 is something you don’t appreciate until later,” she reflects. “It taught me independence, empathy and how to build community wherever I go.”
The structured environment, strong friendships, and sense of belonging that boarding offered helped prepare her for the moves and milestones to come.
Advice to Her Year 12 Self?
“Soak it all up,” she says. “Especially the little moments. They are what you’ll remember most.”
Embracing Every Chapter
Outside work, Maggie soaks up everything New York has to offer, exploring new neighbourhoods, trying the local food, watching sports, ” nothing beats Friday night footy” – and planning weekend getaways across the US.
Since 2015, she has lived in multiple cities, started a small business, changed roles, and made friends across the world. “There have been some big leaps,” she admits, “but I’ve also had a lot of laughs.”
Maggie’s journey is anything but ordinary, from a country town in WA to the skyscrapers of New York City, she has carved out a life filled with purpose, courage and curiosity.
Whether she is diving into complex corporate deals or exploring new corners of the world, Maggie brings with her the strength, resilience and values she first developed as a Santa Maria boarder.
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Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
From the President – May 2026
Santa Maria College alumni can look forward to several upcoming events in 2026. These include a joint alumni event with Aquinas College later in the year, a movie night at Windsor Theatre Nedlands in late July, and the Pleiades Meeting hosted at Santa Maria College in August. The update also encourages support for the College’s Winter Appeal.
Expression of Interest – Explore8 Guest Speakers 2026
Santa Maria College is inviting alumni to submit an expression of interest to speak in the 2026 Explore8 program. Explore8 is a real-world learning experience for Year 8 students focused on research, problem solving and innovation in response to community and global challenges. Guest speakers help students connect ideas to lived experience by sharing their career journeys, challenges and impact.
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