St Catherine’s Welcomes 14th Principal

On behalf of the School Council, we are delighted to announce that following an extensive, global search with the assistance of a leading recruitment firm, Ms Natalie Charles has been appointed the 14th Principal of St Catherine’s School commencing in January 2025.
Ms Charles is an exceptional fit for our School community and will be an inspiring leader for our girls. From an outstanding field of applicants, she was the unanimous choice of Council.
As an experienced Principal of an independent Anglican girls’ school, Ms Charles brings vision, courageous leadership, and educational expertise, paired with a strong passion for inspiring the next generation of young women. We are confident that her values, skills, and expertise will build on the achievements of our School going forward.
As the current Principal of Mentone Girls’ Grammar, Ms Charles has spent the last five years leading a culture of excellence, focusing on educational research, staff development, student empowerment and innovation.
Prior to leading Mentone Girls’ Grammar, she held positions of Head of Senior School at Carey Baptist Grammar School, and Director of Staff at Melbourne Grammar School. She was also the Head of Melbourne Grammar’s Indigenous Program for more than ten years and currently sits as a member of the Melbourne Grammar School Council.
As a leader who enjoys connecting with students in the classroom, Ms Charles’ passion began as an English and Literature teacher, as well as tutoring in a boarding house.
A lifelong learner with a commitment to co-curricular activities, Ms Charles is a committee member of Girls’ Sport Victoria, the recipient of the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship for Ethical Leadership and was recently nominated as Kingston Woman of the Year for services to girls’ education and leadership development.
Ms Charles is committed to supporting the wellbeing of students and staff, and ensuring they thrive in a caring, accepting, and vibrant community. In particular, she believes that cultivating human qualities is integral to ensuring our students not only excel academically, but also develop into compassionate, engaged, and well-equipped global citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
Ms Charles is dedicated to building on the existing strengths and values of St Catherine’s, fostering an environment for innovation and growth. Her leadership will focus on promoting a culture of continuous improvement and excellence, encouraging both students and staff to achieve their full potential.
In the meantime, we remain incredibly fortunate to have Mr Robert Marshall as our Interim Principal helping us to ensure a smooth and comprehensive transition.
We look forward to welcoming Ms Charles into our St Catherine’s community in the new year and are tremendously excited for our School’s future under her leadership.