Dr Kate Hadwen

General: Dr Hadwen has worked in education-related roles for more than 30 years and held positions spanning Australia across all sectors and systems, in private enterprise and as a researcher. Dr Hadwen is currently Principal of Pymble Ladies’ College, the largest independent all girls’ school in the Western world

Academic: Dr Hadwen holds a Doctor of Philosophy and a Master of Educational Leadership from Edith Cowan University. She holds a Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Southern Queensland.

Career and professional activities: Dr Hadwen is an experienced educational leader, having taught and held senior positions across the breadth of schooling from Kindergarten to Year 12 and at tertiary level. Kate 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.

During her time as a researcher, she 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 focussed on transitioning challenges faced by boarding students and families, and she has since written a handbook for parents on this topic.

Kate spent 5 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).

Board experience: Dr Hadwen is an inaugural Director of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) representing over 350,000 students globally (4 years). She is a member of the Advisory Council for Independent Schools NSW (ISNSW) and the Independent Girls’ School Association (IGSA) Sport Standing Committee. Dr Hadwen was formally a Director of the Australian Youth Orchestra (AYO) (9 years), Chair of the Wellbeing Standing Committee (ISNSW) established to support young people and schools post the COVID 19 epidemic (3 years), and a Director (Treasurer) of the Association of Girls’ Schools Australasia (6 years).

Values: Dr Hadwen believes every young person has the power to change the world for good. Grounded in that conviction, she is committed to creating environments where students are genuinely heard, challenged and nurtured. Supporting them to build the knowledge, skills and character to thrive in a complex world is, for her, the most important work there is