Anna Edwards

Biography

Anna is a Research Fellow in Urban Studies at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Cities. She is currently engaged in the Australian Research Council funded Night Shift project, which investigates the conditions, contributions, voices and spaces of people who work at night in Australian cities.

Alongside this role, Anna is a PhD Candidate, researching the evolution of night time economy policy and governance in Australia, funded by a Research Training Program Scholarship. Her research employs a mixed methods approach blending both historical contexts and contemporary case studies from Sydney, Adelaide, and Hobart, evidencing a shift from traditionally managerial to more entrepreneurial approaches to night time economies. It recognises the importance of pursuing safety, vibrancy, and diversity, while advocating for a more holistic perspective on the night time economy, contributing to policy and academic discourse.

Anna's interest in the night time economy was sparked by her background in hospitality, coupled with her experience in the music festival industry. With over fifteen years of experience in economic consultancy, both in Australia and the UK, where she has contributed to the first measurement of night time economies. This experience has been complemented by roles in economic development within local government, justice-related projects in Victorian state government, national statistics in UK government, market insights and pricing in higher education, and community development in the not-for-profit sector.

One of Anna’s key strengths is conveying qualitative and quantitative evidence generated through programs of primary and secondary research into actionable insights and recommendations. She enjoys working with people and data to develop insights and support strategic direction. Anna holds an MSc in Economic Development Research and Policy from the University of Birmingham, a BA in Business Studies (First Class Hons) from the University of Hull and a Specialist Certificate in Leadership (First Class) from the Melbourne Business School.