From Toorak Classrooms to AI Pioneer

Kristen Migliorini (1999)

When Kristen Migliorini (Doyle) walked through Loreto Toorak’s gates in Preparatory, nobody could have predicted she would one day become one of Australia’s leading voices in artificial intelligence safety—least of all Kristen herself.

“Science and Maths definitely weren’t my strong suits,” laughs Kristen, reflecting on her 13 years at Loreto Toorak. Instead, she thrived in English, Humanities, Politics and History but found her voice through debating. “Loreto Toorak taught me to think critically and argue a case persuasively. Those skills became the foundation of everything that followed.”

But perhaps Loreto Toorak’s greatest gift was something more subtle.

“Coming from an all-girls School, I simply didn’t think anything was a barrier to me. That mindset was installed early, and I hope that’s what my own daughters see in me now.”

That foundation supported a distinguished 20+ year legal career. As an IP litigator at Norton Rose Fulbright and later as Legal Counsel for the University of Sydney, Kristen immersed herself deep in tech law, navigating the complex world of quantum computing and building compliance systems for dual-use technology transfers—working with DFAT and Defence on seminal systems protecting Australia’s sensitive technologies. It was challenging, cutting-edge work that few understood.

By 2022, running her own law firm and advising venture capital firms investing in AI companies, Kristen hit a wall. “There was simply no way to properly risk-assess these investments. The uncertainty was staggering, and I could see regulatory changes coming, particularly from Europe.”

Rather than simply identify the problem, Kristen decided to solve it. She enrolled in a course with MIT’s AI Computer Lab and eventually ended up becoming the only Australian startup in their prestigious start up program. “This enabled me to access the brightest minds and MIT researchers. It was transformative.”

Amazon Web Services recognised her visionary approach to AI risk and safety, sparking a groundbreaking collaboration. Together, they created Australia’s first end-to-end platform for enterprise AI risk assessment, designed to ensure compliance and build trust. By mid-2024, Kristen unveiled this innovation at the launch of AWS’s AI Builder Studio in Melbourne, introducing a technology that not only entered the market but pioneered an entirely new industry: AI Governance, Risk, and Compliance.

“We’re still at the earliest stage, which is exciting for KomplyAi,” Kristen explains. “There are still relatively few competitors, and our intention is to grow solidly in Australia while expanding globally.” Today, KomplyAi works with universities, energy companies, insurance companies and tech firms, piloting groundbreaking technology in AI safety and deep R&D.

Kristen was recently named AFR’s Leading Woman in Technology Awards 2025, and KomplyAi named a finalist for 2025 AFR Most Innovative Technology Company in Australia, and for Engineering AI for Social Impact.

Yet Kristen has encountered a sobering reality: just 0.7% of solo female founders of tech companies in Australia receive venture capital funding. “It’s shocking,” she says. “We need to create a different story for our girls and ensure they’re well-equipped for the future especially with fewer barriers in tech, AI, and venture capital.”

For Kristen, mother of two daughters, now located in Sydney, the mission is deeply personal. “I’m building KomplyAi to ensure a safer AI future for our children.” Having appeared as an expert on generative AI in education before a parliamentary inquiry, and worked with Government in responsible AI practices, Kristen continues proving that Loreto girls can indeed change the technological world.

Read more stories like this in The Mandevillian, 2025, Vol. 40 No. 2.