Leadership & Governance
School Executive Team
The School Executive Team is responsible for managing the School’s regular business and operations.
Sabine Partington | Principal
Dr Natalie Bunn | Deputy Principal, Learning and Innovation
Nat Fanariotis | Deputy Principal, Wellbeing
Chris Toms | Vice Principal & Head of Junior School
Vanessa McDonnell | Head of Senior School
David Joyce | Vice Principal & Head of Howqua Campus
Catherine Tan | Business Manager
Susan Coates | Director of Human Resources
Andrew Smith | Director Marketing, Admissions and Communications
Kate Hehir | Assistant Principal Junior School (Curriculum and Learning)
Sabine Partington
Principal
Sabine Partington is a highly respected educational leader with extensive experience across education, banking and the public service in Australia and the UK. She is passionate about creating learning communities grounded in excellence and belonging, and she believes in the transformative power of education for every student.
In January 2026 Sabine became the ninth Principal of Lauriston Girls’ School. Previously Deputy Principal (P–12) at Redlands, she oversaw wellbeing, risk and compliance and supported the delivery of the Strategic Plan. Her earlier leadership roles at Haileybury and Carey Baptist Grammar School focused on school improvement, strategic initiatives and mentoring future leaders.
A lifelong learner, Sabine aligns strongly with our Vision to be A School for Life. She holds a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Management from the University of Melbourne, a first-class honours degree in Mathematics from Monash University and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Sabine’s vision for Lauriston is bold and clear: rigorous learning, joyful curiosity and a deep sense of belonging so every girl is known, challenged and supported to thrive. She looks forward to working closely with students, staff, families and the wider community to shape Lauriston’s next chapter with purpose and confidence.
Dr Natalie Bunn
Deputy Principal, Learning and Innovation
Dr Natalie Bunn joins Lauriston from Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School, where she was Director of Learning and Innovation since 2007.
With a PhD in Chemistry, she leads whole-school learning strategy, curriculum development, and innovation initiatives while fostering inclusive, globally-focused education programs for student success.
Nat Fanariotis
Deputy Principal - Wellbeing
Joining Lauriston in 2024, Nat is a passionate, dynamic, and values-driven professional, specialising in educational leadership and the effective implementation of evidence-informed approaches to enhance schoolwide wellbeing. Nat holds a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary)/ Bachelor of Health Sciences (Deakin University).
With 15 years of experience in education, Nat has dedicated her career and further study to the wellbeing field. She has held various senior leadership positions in government and independent schools, including most recently Head of Wellbeing at Caulfield Grammar School. Prior to this, Nat held the position of Implementation Lead at Beyond Blue, contributing to the success of the national mental health in education initiative, Be You.
In her role as Deputy Principal – Wellbeing, she undertakes strategic and operational responsibilities, focusing on building wellbeing literacy among students, staff, and families; enabling high-quality proactive and responsive pastoral care for all students; strengthening partnerships between home, school, and the community; and integrating wellbeing into the learning experience and environment.
Chris Toms
Vice Principal & Head of Junior School
As Vice-Principal, Head of Junior School since 2015, Chris has led a range of initiatives aligned with contemporary educational research and practice, working collaboratively with the School’s Executive to implement and evaluate the Strategic Plan. Chris is an inclusive and supportive leader who strives to help students and staff realise their full potential.
Before his current role, Chris was the Junior School Director of Learning, where he led the development of curriculum, assessment, and reporting practices from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Chris holds a Master of Education from Monash University, specialising in Leadership, Management and Information Technology. He also holds a Bachelor of Education from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Vanessa McDonnell
Head of Senior School
Vanessa McDonnell is a highly experienced educator, with over 30 years teaching experience. She joined Lauriston in 2010 as a Mathematics Teacher and her expertise in this area lead to her appointment as Mathematics Curriculum Leader between 2018-2023.
More recently Vanessa has held the role of Acting Head – Secondary School. Vanessa strives to be an inclusive, progressive and supportive leader, who helps students to realise their full potential. She wants our students to become smart thinkers, smart learners and smart doers.
Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Science and a Diploma of Education from The University of Melbourne.
David Joyce
Vice Principal & Head of Campus
Howqua welcomed David as Vice Principal & Head of the Campus in mid 2024. David fuses his passion for teaching with a love of natural environments and sees Outdoor and Environmental Education as a powerful teaching tool that develops the whole person and human/nature relationships.
David has a Bachelor of Arts specialising in Outdoor Education from La Trobe University and a Graduate Diploma in Education from Monash University. Following years working in a range of Outdoor fields including commercial Adventure Tourism, School Programs and Tertiary Training, he worked for over 20 years at St Mary’s College /CBC St Kilda in a range of roles. With a passion for diverse work and community relationships his work expanded from Outdoor Education Teaching to also include leading International Immersions and managing community partnerships with NGOs in India, Alumni relations, Family Camps and voluntary school staff consultation and OH&S support.
David’s role is to lead the Howqua management team in decision making and operational matters for the campus. He is also responsible for collaboratively developing the curriculum, for leading, engaging, inspiring and supporting all Howqua staff, and working closely with the entire Howqua community.
Catherine Tan
Business Manager
Cathy is a Chartered Accountant with a background in business services and tax. She initially worked in small and second-tier accounting firms before moving away from the accounting field to become Group Financial Controller of a leading patent and trademark attorney firm. Prior to her commencement at Lauriston, Cathy completed her Master of Business Administration.
Susan Coates
Director of Human Resources
Susan is a Certified Practitioner in Human Resources with the Australian Human Resources Institute and has 20 plus years of experience in independent schools. She has worked in numerous roles throughout her career, including in operations, administration, management and human resources. She is passionate about helping schools to bring out the best in their staff and does this by empowering and building employee capabilities, fostering a positive culture, and supporting a high-performing work environment that is built on trust, respect, and continuous growth.
Andrew Smith
Director Marketing, Admissions and Communications
Kate Hehir
Assistant Principal – Junior School (Curriculum and Learning)
Kate Hehir is a passionate Junior School educator with over 25 years’ experience in teaching, both in Australia and in the United Kingdom. She has taught at Lauriston for over 10 years and has held the positions of Year 3, 4 and 6 Classroom Teacher, Reporting Coordinator, Director of Curriculum and, most recently, Assistant Principal – Junior School (Curriculum and Learning). Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Education, a Bachelor of Education (Deakin University) and a Masters in School Leadership (Monash University).
Kate is passionate about working with other educators to enhance and embed innovative curriculum, assessment and reporting practices aligned with current best practice. She is excited by the opportunities the Lauriston Fabrication Lab allows for technology to be integrated authentically into the curriculum and is dedicated to designing learning experiences that encourage girls to be courageous, creative, imaginative, curious and resilient. Kate has been a leader of Lauriston’s Cultures of Thinking group, improving teaching and learning using instructional rounds and employing visible thinking routines across the School. She was awarded Lauriston’s Sun Bursary to participate in the Project Zero Classroom Summer Institute 2017 at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to further her studies on Cultures of Thinking. A member of the School’s Executive, Kate is dedicated to the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan.
School Council
Lauriston Girls’ School is administered by a Council, comprised mostly of parents, former School parents, or Old Lauristonians. The role of the School Council is to oversee and maintain the long-term viability of the School as a provider of primary and secondary education of the very highest standard.
Learn more about the results of the School and the work of the Council in the Annual Report and Strategic Plan.
Claudette Leeming
Chair - OL (1991)
Elise Gillespie
Chair, The Lauriston Foundation Inc. - OL (1999)
Melissa Dixon
OL (1985)
Jane Hider
OL (1985)
Kathy Ge
OL (2005)
Sophie Rice
OL (1985)
Victoria Moffat
OL (2002)
Stewart McCallum
Gavin Wilson
