About the Principal

Welcome to Ravenswood School for Girls, a place of academic excellence where we strive to help girls flourish in every aspect of their lives.

Interview on commencement at Ravenswood.

Mrs Anne Johnstone is Ravenswood’s tenth Principal and commenced in January 2016. Anne is the Global Chair of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) and was a founding Board Member and former Chair of the Positive Education Schools Association (PESA). In 2023, Anne was also appointed to the role of Chair of the Excellence in Leadership and Teaching Council for the Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW). 

Anne was awarded Australian School Principal of the Year and School Principal of the Year (Non-Government) at the 2024 Australian Education Awards in recognition of her innovative leadership and exemplary work in the field of education.

The Educator also selected Anne Johnstone for Most Influential Educators 2024, an award she also received in 2023, that celebrates inspirational leaders who have had a transformational impact on their students and school communities.

In 2023 and 2022 Anne received recognition on The Educator Hot List, an annual accolade now in its eighth year. This prestigious list celebrates educators who embody the forefront of educational excellence in Australia.

Additionally last year, the Teachers' Guild of NSW awarded Anne the 2022 Phyllis Evans Medal, a prize that acknowledges a 'distinguished educator of great standing.' It is the second time that Anne has been recognised by the Guild. Early in her career, she received a Teachers' Guild of NSW Award for Excellence in Teaching. Anne was also honoured with an Excellence Award for Principal Of The Year in the Australian Education Awards.

Anne is also the recipient of a Churchill Fellowship during which she explored strategies to foster resilience in learning while based at Cambridge University in England. 

In 2019, Anne was the only woman among five international educational leaders, acknowledged for her ‘pioneering work, contribution and internationally-recognised leadership in the field of Positive Education,’ at the Positive Education Global Summit in Philadelphia.

In 2018, she received the prestigious Australian Speech and Communication Association Award for Excellence.

Anne is currently undertaking a PhD in Education through the University of Melbourne and holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) from the ivy league University of Pennsylvania, a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (with Honours), as well as a Graduate Diploma of Education.  

She completed the thesis for her master’s degree under the supervision of the founder of Positive Psychology, Professor Martin Seligman. Anne’s research was recognised by the University of Pennsylvania as a Distinguished Capstone.  Anne is currently completing her PhD in Education through the University of Melbourne. The focus of her doctoral research is on helping young people to develop a mindset that promotes wellbeing.

Before her appointment as Principal of Ravenswood School for Girls, Anne was Principal of Seymour College in Adelaide. Prior to this, she served as Deputy Headmistress, Head of Senior School and Head of Junior School, and an English and History teacher at St Catherine’s School in Sydney.  

Before pursuing her passion for teaching, Anne practised as a lawyer for four years, specialising in commercial litigation. An internationally sought-after speaker and presenter, Anne is passionate about helping young people fulfil their potential and flourish in all aspects of their lives.