Profile
“No matter how many clients I have, I make sure to call each one personally every quarter. It’s a chance to not only update them on their portfolio, but also check on how they’re doing personally”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
Anne Johnstone has been principal at Ravenswood School for Girls since 2016 and is widely recognised for her impact there and in the overall Australian education sector. In 2022, she was awarded the Phyllis Evans Medal by the Teachers’ Guild of NSW, acknowledging a “distinguished educator of great standing”, and is also chair of the Leadership Centre Council for the Association of Independent Schools of NSW for 2023. In addition, Johnstone is also vice chair of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) and chair and founding board member of the Positive Education Schools Association (PESA).
“I have strived to lead PESA with a vision of wellbeing science and positive psychology being integrated throughout the education system, enabling all students, schools and the wider community to flourish,” she says. “Importantly, it is about fostering an understanding that learning and wellbeing are inextricably linked.”
Previously a commercial litigation lawyer, Johnstone had an epiphany when asked to lead a law course.
“I remember being so inspired by this experience of teaching and relished the opportunity to engage with fourth- and fifth-year law students to help them deepen their understanding, debate and explore legal concepts,” she says.
Leaving big city law, Johnstone earned her teaching qualifications and completed her career switch by securing a teaching role in English and history at her old school, St Catherine’s in Sydney, before being ultimately promoted to head of senior school and deputy headmistress. She was then principal at Seymour College Adelaide before assuming her current role as principal at Ravenswood.
Keen to continue her pioneering work in positive education, Johnstone completed a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree at the University of Pennsylvania and has embarked on doctoral research at the University of Melbourne, focusing on helping young people develop a mindset that promotes wellbeing through building wellbeing in others. Her passion for learning is underlined by her approach to teaching.
“I hope my career can be characterised as dynamic, pioneering and purpose-driven – a career committed to helping people fulfil their potential and flourish in all areas of their lives while equipping and empowering them to make a positive difference to each other and in the world around them,” she says.
The key to Johnstone’s success has been her ability to provide direction and support.
“I believe strong leadership skills to inspire and empower the leaders of tomorrow, together with our extraordinary staff team, have been significant,” she says. “I also believe my experience as a lawyer has further equipped me as a school leader.”
In supporting students and families in today’s world, a current focus at Ravenswood has been empowering students to navigate social media, including providing online safety education, strategies to create more positive online behaviours and privacy tips.
Johnstone says, “As always, a partnership between school and families is of paramount importance in supporting our young people to navigate and engage appropriately, positively and safely in online activity.”
Johnstone takes pride in having an impact on her students’ lives.
“I love working with our students, staff and families. It is a privilege to help make a positive impact through education, and I feel so very blessed to have had such a meaningful and fulfilling career thus far. We can never underestimate the impact that a school has on young people’s lives,” she says.
10 Henry St, Gordon, NSW 2072
+61 2 9498 9898
admin@ravenswood.nsw.edu.au
linkedin.com/in/anne-johnstone-30409672
ravenswood.nsw.edu.au
Anne Johnstone
Principal
Ravenswood School for Girls
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Milestones
“I strongly believe in working smarter, not harder. I think it’s one of the keys to living a great life, and I want to share that with as many people as possible”
Kelvin Rampersad,
Carte Wealth Management
2002–2003
2004
2008–2019
2022
Present
2002: Nominated for the National Excellence in Teaching Award
2003: Winner of the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales Award for Excellence in the Early Years of Teaching
2002–
2003
Winner of a Winston Churchill Fellowship to explore and evaluate programs that relate to the integration of pastoral and academic domains in schools to enhance student wellbeing and learning in the classroom through strategies that build resilience (Cambridge University; working with Colleen McLaughlin, deputy head of the Faculty of Education at Cambridge University)
2004
2008–2010: Head of Junior School at St Catherine’s School
2010–2012: Head of Senior School and Deputy Headmistress, K-12 at St Catherine’s School
2013–2015: Principal at Seymour College
2014: Certificate of Positive Education for staff development and training
2017: Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) , University of Pennsylvania
2019: Eisenhower Fellowships Award recipient at the University of Pennsylvania, recognising the pioneering work, contribution, and internationally distinguished leadership in the field of Positive Education
2008–
2019
Recognised on The Educator’s Hot List, acknowledging innovative educational leaders
Excellence Award School Principal of the Year in the 2022 Australian Education Awards
Teachers’ Guild of NSW 2022 Phyllis Evans Medal, a prize that acknowledges a distinguished educator of great standing
Journal publication
2022
Chair and Founding Board Member of PESA since 2013
Accredited Lecturer at the University of Melbourne since 2014
Principal at Ravenswood School for Girls since 2016
Vice Chair of the International Positive Education Network since 2020
Chair of the Leadership Centre Council for AISNSW Association
Present
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones
Aug 2022
Milestones
Sept 2021
Feb 2022
Apr 2022
Jul 2022
Aug
2022
Suncorp Bank introduces Solar Home Bonus offer for customers who are choosing renewable energy for their homes
Sept 2021
Month-on-month market share growth commences
Feb 2022
Suncorp Bank wins the Canstar award for most outstanding value in investment loans
Apr 2022
Suncorp Bank wins Money Magazine’s Bank of the Year and Business Bank of the Year awards for the fifth year in a row
Jul 2022
Suncorp Bank’s turnaround times are the lowest they have ever been. The lender becomes Australia’s first certified carbon neutral bank for both its operation and transaction services
Aug 2022
Milestones