Our Principal

On 17 January 2022 we welcomed our Principal, Ms Jane Danvers. Ms Danvers has served the Australian educational community for over 20 years. Prior to Kambala, she was Principal of Wilderness School for 15 years, one of the most successful girls’ schools in South Australia. She also served as the Presiding Member of the South Australian Certificate of Education Board (SACE) since.

Along with her leadership in education, Ms Danvers has been Chair of the Jam Factory, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes outstanding design and craftsmanship through widely acclaimed studios and galleries. These roles illustrate Ms Danvers’ deep understanding of the intricacies and importance of wise leadership and good governance. She has sat on numerous industry-related committees, most recently the Premier’s Council for Women in SA; Committee for Economic Development SA/NT State Advisory Board (CEDA); and the Andy Thomas Space Foundation Education Advisory Committee.

Most recently Jane has been appointed as Deputy Chair of AHISA NSW (Association of Independent Schools Australia) an important body for independent schools, and appointed on the ICGS Board of Directors (International Coalition of Girls’ Schools) which will further cement our relationship with this outstanding global organisation.

Committed to continuous learning, Ms Danvers has completed a Masters of Education at the University of South Australia, Oxford University’s High Performance Leadership Programme and Harvard University’s Leading Learning that Matters Project.

Throughout her professional life, Ms Danvers has contributed to the wider educational debate in Australia and championed pedagogical advancement in schools. Co-author of the 2020 book Five Ways of Being: What Learning Leaders Think, Do and Say Every Day, Ms Danvers has mentored new principals in the Leading Learning Program at the Association Heads of Independent Schools of Australia. Ms Danvers will be able to apply this experience to enrich our leading Kambala Institute of Teaching Excellence (KITE) Program.

Ms Danvers is dedicated to the significant achievements in the advancement of women and girls’ education and the advocacy for gender equality and diversity. Ms Danvers’ educational leadership has been recognised nationally. She is the recipient of Principals Australia Institute John Laing Award and the AISSA Noel Volk Excellence Award. In 2021 she was awarded the Australian College of Educational Leaders (ACEL) Alby Jones Gold Medal for her influence and outstanding contribution to the study and practice of educational leadership.