Our People and Governance

Dr Hadwen has worked in education-related roles for more than 30 years, having taught and held senior positions across the breadth of schooling from Kindergarten to Year 12 and at tertiary level. She was formerly Head of Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth (WA), Head of Senior School at Peninsula Grammar (VIC) and Head of Boarding at Perth College (WA).

Kate worked for five years as a Senior Research Fellow at The Child Health Promotion Research Centre and was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research. She is an Honorary Fellow of the Kids Research Institute Australia and the Child Health Promotion Research Centre.

As a researcher, Kate authored State and National policies and curriculum resources related to technology, wellbeing and anti-bullying, and supported the establishment of the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. Her doctorate focused on transitioning challenges faced by boarding students and families, and she has since written a handbook for parents on this topic.

Kate also spent five years working in private enterprise developing and delivering a resilience resource called Peace Builders across Australia and working extensively with First Nations communities in the Top End Group Schools (NT).

Dr Hadwen is an inaugural Director of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools representing over 350,000 students globally. She is a member of the Advisory Council for Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) and the Independent Girls’ School Association (IGSA) Sport Standing Committee. She was formally a Director of the Australian Youth Orchestra, Chair of the Wellbeing Standing Committee (AISNSW) established to support young people and schools post the COVID 19 epidemic, and a Director (Treasurer) of the Association of Girls’ Schools Australasia.

After spending my younger years in Lebanon and France, my family and I migrated to Sydney in 1988. My mother and maternal aunts are all teachers, and growing up I was, and still am, inspired by the great work that they do with and for young people.

Outside of Pymble, you will either find me walking, doing Pilates or spending time with my beautiful nieces and nephew, however I’m a firm believer in creating a harmony between work and family life and keeping both sides aware and informed about the demands on my time.

As Deputy Principal, I’m truly privileged to work in a role with such a great level of responsibility alongside a team of like-minded, dedicated colleagues who all play their part in delivering the highest quality education and guidance to every one of our 2,000+ students.

It’s so rewarding coming to work each day and having the opportunity to help empower our young women to feel confident to face challenges and solve them with agility. The joy of watching our students celebrate their achievements and watching them grow into caring, compassionate citizens is second to none.

Pymble is a school that gives staff and students alike a space in which they can thrive and grow. The College declaration Watch Us Change the World encourages students to be bold, courageous and explore their passion, whatever that may be, and the suite of learning offerings at Pymble both in and out of the classroom play a big role in facilitating that.

For aspiring teachers and staff members: if you want to grow professionally, be a valued member of a community, work in a caring and exciting environment and help guide a cohort of intelligent, curious young women who are thirsty for a holistic education, Pymble is most certainly the place for you.

As Deputy Principal – Students, I am responsible for the care, wellbeing and safety of every student from Kindergarten to Year 12. I work alongside our Heads of School, wellbeing leaders, psychologists and our boarding and co-curricular teams to build a program that is proactive rather than reactive, so that our girls learn the skills of friendship, leadership, help-seeking and resilience long before they need them. It is a role I adore, and one that reminds me daily what a gift it is to influence a young person’s life both while she is at school and well beyond it.

I have been teaching and leading for over 25 years, beginning in Catholic schools before spending ten years at Abbotsleigh and joining Pymble in 2011. For eight years I led the College’s academic program as Deputy Principal – Academic (K-12). Having taught across several subject areas, and with earlier professional experience in the IT sector, I have kept a lasting interest in technology and innovation and in using evidence well to understand how our girls are really travelling.

While I love nothing more than working with a talented team on wellbeing strategy, the heart of this work is much simpler. It is walking alongside a student and her family through the moments worth celebrating and through the times that are genuinely hard. Being trusted with those moments is the greatest privilege of my career.

Pymble is a big school, and its scale means our girls have the world at their feet. Whatever a student’s interest, from academic pursuits through to sport, performing arts and service, there is a place for her here and people who will back her while she finds it. My colleagues would describe me as calm, adventurous and dependable, which are useful traits when your work is the wellbeing of more than 2,000 young women.

Outside the College, I am an ultra-distance runner. I recently completed the fastest known time for the Great North Walk, running from Sydney to Newcastle and back again, a journey of 552km that took just over six days. I grew up in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney and have always been happiest outdoors, and I bring that to my advocacy for our outdoor education and Vision Valley residential programs. I believe in the power of choosing challenge to unlock a rich and fulfilling life. Confidence is not something we can teach in a lesson; it is built by attempting hard things, sometimes falling short, and discovering you are far more capable than you believed.

Growing up near Wollongong, with easy access to both the beach and the bush, I enjoyed an idyllic childhood with lots of opportunities to explore and imagine. I loved school and my positive experience shaped my belief in the joy of learning and the power of education. That belief remains with me as I lead the Academic Pillar and a passionate and innovative team of teachers.

Originally an English teacher, my love of literature shapes my understanding of the importance of a deep dive into a discipline. In a world where AI makes information instantaneously available, having the knowledge and skills to think critically and make wise judgements is a priority for all of us and a vital skill set for our students to develop. Pymble’s innovative curriculum is responsive to change and equips our students for the challenges of the future.

In my role as the Deputy Principal, Academic, I am committed to making student progress visible to both parents and students. Schools have always been good at indicating achievement but progress is equally, if not more important, to identify. After all, we do like to feel that we are moving forward. This means that students need clear and meaningful feedback that identifies the next steps for their learning.

During my career, I’ve been fortunate to forge connections with schools and teachers overseas. I believe strongly in learning from a global community of educators and love liaising with educators around the world. These experiences continue to inform my thinking, and I value the opportunities they create to share practice with colleagues from near and distant places.

Outside school, I enjoy travelling and spending time with my husband, Peter, and our three adult children. I am delighted to belong to the Pymble family and look forward to seeing you at one of our College events.

I grew up in the south of England and spent a lot of my younger years moving around the country due to my father’s job. I started my career as a family and criminal lawyer and continued in this profession after moving to Sydney in 1999.

It was not until my eldest daughter commenced kindergarten that I decided to retrain to become a teacher, much to the delight of my family who joked that I ‘saw the light’ as I come from a long line of educators. In fact, I’m the fourth generation of Heads of Junior School on my mother’s side of the family!

I chose teaching as I was seeking more joy in my everyday life and wanted a career that would give me more opportunities to be creative and a greater sense of optimism – things I’ve certainly found here at Pymble.

The greatest joy in my role no doubt comes from the girls. I am constantly inspired by their curiosity and their passion for learning, their joy of connecting with one another and their hope and desire to have a positive impact on the world. The future is in very safe hands with these amazing young women.

Pymble is a dynamic community where you can dream big knowing that you will be supported in pursuing those dreams. Girls and staff alike are empowered to celebrate themselves, to explore and develop personal strengths and then use those strengths to change the world for the better.

After spending my younger years in a small town named Abergavenny in South Wales, I crossed the border into England to attend university where I studied to become a qualified chartered accountant. I secured a job at Ernst & Young straight out of university and worked there for five years before an opportunity arose within the company to relocate to Sydney in 1983.

The blue, sunny skies and the world-famous beaches were too hard to resist, so I jumped at the opportunity and made the move. It turned out to be a worthwhile decision as I continued working at Ernst & Young for almost 39 years before joining Pymble as Chief Financial Officer in 2018.

My time at Pymble has no doubt featured some of the best years of my professional career. Our girls are absolutely extraordinary and it’s a pleasure to work alongside my fellow colleagues who are 100 per cent committed to the development and success of not only the students but the College itself.

The depth and breadth of opportunities provided to both students and staff at Pymble are second to none, with equally outstanding support systems in place to help us seize these opportunities and achieve more than we could have ever imagined.

I was given this advice on my first day at the College and it’s the same advice I would give to anyone thinking about joining Pymble, whether that be as a student or staff member: grab the opportunity with both hands and the possibilities are endless.

I am originally from Central Queensland and more recently have lived in Bathurst in regional New South Wales and in Darwin in the Northern Territory. I have spent the past 30 years working in universities, where I started my career as an executive assistant, and after many years in different and ever more senior roles I ultimately had the privilege of being appointed as a deputy vice-chancellor and vice president responsible for a range of services which supported the corporate functions of the university and the student journey.

In my role as Chief Operating Officer, I am responsible for professional services at the College, and I am very fortunate to manage great teams in Facilities Management, College Services, Master Planning, Project Management and Risk and Compliance.

As a mum to two young women, there is nothing more important to me than the education of girls and for them to know their power and ability to do anything they dream of in life. I am a staunch advocate for gender equity and inclusion, and I love working at a school like Pymble that is committed to educating girls and young women and empowering them to change the world.

Pymble is a beautiful place to work. Not only does it look beautiful in terms of its grounds and facilities, but it is the people who make it beautiful. They are caring, friendly, welcoming and committed, which makes for a fabulous workplace.

I was born in Melbourne and grew up both there and in Sydney. This helps explain why I am a third-generation fan of the Sydney Swans AFL team!

My career began as a secondary school teacher in the Catholic system, but after a few years I moved into human resources leadership roles in corporates and professional services. I have worked in the UK and Asia and held various HR and change management roles with a focus on mergers and acquisitions. I have also attended executive education programs in the USA.

I have worked at Pymble for over five years, with the first four of these leading the People and Culture team. After ten months leading the Community Engagement and Strategy function, I have moved into the role of Chief Strategy Officer.  I work with the senior executive team and stakeholders to understand the future needs of the College, our students and families. The focus is to build on our 110+ year heritage and core capabilities and to embrace the opportunities and challenges for large independent schools in Australia.

Our priorities include developing timely and data-informed responses to the impact of technological changes, demographic and economic shifts and major regulatory changes relevant to the education sector. My focus is to ensure we have the right strategic settings and to drive our strategic projects to deliver the optimal outcomes for our girls and for the Pymble community over the coming years.

I grew up in Sydney and became a teacher at the age of 22 after graduating from university. After nine years of teaching, I founded a company that just so happened to work closely with schools, before selling it after 15 years and once again becoming a teacher.

Outside of the classroom, a place I’ve worked in or been closely involved with since I was four, I enjoy relaxing, listening to podcasts and spending time with my beautiful family.

My role as Director of Innovative Learning Technologies involves developing, overseeing and maintaining all the technology at Pymble Ladies’ College. It’s a given that, at times, technology will let us down, but our staff are gracious and appreciative of the work my team does, both in the good times and the bad.

Pymble is an amazing place to learn and grow for students and staff alike. There are no barriers for our young women, no cultural limitations of what is possible and the support you receive for who you are and want to become is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. A great example of this is that we boast the largest all-female robotics team in the world.

At Pymble, there is a place and opportunity for everyone, no matter your interests. Students and staff work together to create and scale excellence, and we have the resources to make dreams come true.

While my family has Scottish heritage, I was born and have lived in Sydney my entire life. I have always been involved in the performing arts and have a special place in my heart for dance, theatre and music. My first career was as a social educator for adults with intellectual disabilities; a role within a very important group where I learned an incredible amount that has stuck with me to this day.

After a few years working in disability services, I decided to become a high school English and History teacher due to my desire to work with young people, and because my own teachers had inspired me so significantly when I was in school.

My role as Director of the Pymble Institute sees me connect with students and staff of the College to work on research projects, and to work with research. The Pymble Institute is the research hub of the College and its mission is to drive thinking further for the benefit of girls and women.

Working in education, especially at Pymble, means you are very close to touching the future and I am committed to hopeful futures for my students and colleagues. This is an important time in history and girls and young women are shaping it in ways that will lead the world in a new direction and I’m proud to be an educator who is part of this change-making school.

Growing up in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, I have fond memories of spending time at the beach, listening to music and playing as many sports as humanly possible.

My professional career began as a Geography and Business Studies teacher working in several independent boys’ schools for more than 15 years before my passion for sport lured me in a new direction. I moved from Assistant Deputy Headmaster at Waverley College to Education Manager at Rugby Australia. From there, I was fortunate to work for iconic state sporting associations Athletics NSW and Surf Life Saving Australia as CEO and General Manager, respectively.

In 2020, I returned to my schooling roots when I was appointed Director of Sport at Pymble. This role allowed me to combine my passion for sport with my experience in education, which has been incredibly rewarding on many levels. Now as Executive Director of Co-curricular, I am responsible for leading the broad spectrum of co-curricular programs for students within Performing Arts, Sports and Extended Learning.

What makes Pymble special is the breadth and diversity of opportunities on offer for both students and staff. We understand that everyone has different needs, abilities and aspirations, and we strive to cater for every individual. As for the workplace environment, Pymble is big and vibrant with staff who are talented, dedicated and, above all, caring. It’s a great place to work and an honour to be part of such a dynamic, successful team.

Joining Pymble was an intentional move into a new chapter of my career where I have found great purpose and meaning. Starting my working life as an employment lawyer gave me a grounding in the rules that govern how organisations treat their people. Over time though, I found I was just as interested in people as I was in the law that governs their employment, so I moved into human resources.

As Chief People Officer and General Counsel at Pymble, I bring those two worlds together leading our Human Resources and Legal teams. I am passionate about the education of young people, and creating a learning environment where they can grow and flourish.

Pymble is a place where care and excellence sit side by side, in our people and in our purpose. We are a big community, and big communities create big opportunities for the people who work in them. We expect high standards, because that is what our students deserve. In return, we offer our staff high levels of support and exceptional staff benefits.

Outside of work, nothing matters more to me than time with my family. It keeps me grounded and reminds me why the work we do here matters.

I grew up in Heathcote, a small country town in central Victoria, where a love of the outdoors took hold early and never let go. It set me on a path into outdoor education, and I went on to gain tertiary qualifications in the field and to build a career I could scarcely have imagined as a kid exploring the Victorian bush.

Before Pymble, I had the privilege of working in some of the country’s leading independent school outdoor education programs, including Geelong Grammar School’s renowned Timbertop program. Most recently, I lived in the Northern Territory, where I served as Head of Outdoor Education at two leading independent schools. That work, along with the chance to instruct and travel right across Australia and internationally, shaped a belief that has stayed with me ever since: some of the most important learning happens beyond the classroom, in real places and real challenges, where young people discover what they are truly capable of.

I joined Pymble in 2021 as the College’s first ever Head of Outdoor Education, and had the privilege of building our Kindergarten to Year 12 Outdoor Education Continuum from the ground up. In 2026 I stepped into the role of Head of Campus at Vision Valley, our dedicated Outdoor Education campus set on 125 acres at Arcadia, and home to both the Year 9 Residential Program and our Outdoor Education Continuum.

Leading Vision Valley is a genuine privilege. Our girls constantly surprise themselves with their courage and resilience, and I work alongside a team who live and breathe this place and give everything to the students in their care. I am passionate about experiential learning that builds courage, belonging, and a deep connection to self, to others and to the natural world.

I am also fortunate to live on site with my wife, our two young sons and our dog, Atlas, which means my daily commute is a walk through the bush. I believe our values of Care, Courage, Responsibility, Respect and Integrity are learned best when they are lived, out on the trail, around a campfire, and in the quiet moments that only the outdoors can offer.

After a 20-year career leading major magazine brands and creative teams in Australia and the UK, I found my spiritual home at Pymble in 2016.

Commencing as Communications Specialist in the Community Engagement team, I then moved into the role of Executive Writer in 2020, working alongside Dr Hadwen to support the Senior Executive team and key College initiatives.

Today, as Director of Community Engagement, I lead the College’s Marketing, Communications, Creative Services, Events, Alumni Relations and Archives teams to create meaningful connections with our community and celebrate all the aspects of Pymble that make it such an exceptional school for girls.

Being part of Team Pymble is the most rewarding step in my career to date. There’s a special kind of joy – and motivation – that comes from working with staff, families and alumni who care deeply about supporting girls and young women to thrive in all areas of their lives. As for the girls? Their love of learning and enthusiasm for making the world a better place inspires me to bring my best self to work, every day, in every way.

Outside of Pymble, I can be found over a game of Scrabble with my 87-year-old Dad, getting lost in a good book and thanking my lucky stars for my husband, two adult children, son in law and two over-indulged, slightly ridiculous dogs.

I am a person of faith, a passionate teacher and a budding theological researcher. Ordained in the Baptist Church in 2006, I bring over 20 years of pastoral experience to Pymble. My teaching background includes 15 years at the tertiary level, specialising in the New Testament.

Over the years, I have taught at Morling College, Whitley College and Ridely College, and I was also responsible for the gap-year program Plunge. I recently completed my PhD research on the Gospel of John.

I grew up in north-western Sydney where my days were spent covered in clay in my mum’s pottery studio, reading all the books that I could and building cubby houses with my brother and the neighbourhood kids. In my early teenage years, my family moved to Newcastle where we lived next to the beach. My early career was spent in administration in the public health system, before discerning a call to ordination in the Uniting Church shortly after the birth of my third child.

During my ministry I have had the enormous pleasure of working with many wonderful people across a variety of intergenerational, cross-cultural, progressive, justice oriented and affirming communities, as well as more traditional church settings.

I am passionate about leading and facilitating creative worship experiences that help people of all ages and backgrounds grow in spiritual understanding. It is my hope that this experience will help them connect to one another and God, for the good of all. My diverse ministry experiences have given me a deep privilege of being a part of community through both the good times and the more difficult ones.
Pymble’s diverse community and many opportunities to be part of bringing equality and justice into the world make it an exciting place to be in ministry.