St Columba's College Ltd is an incorporated entity and as such is governed by a Board of Directors, who ensure a strategic approach to the College's future. The Board is comprised of community-minded individuals, passionate about the education of girls. They use their extensive and diverse skills and experience to make St Columba's College Faithful, Contemporary and Innovative. 

The College Principal is accountable to the Board of Directors, and the Board reports to Mary Aikenhead Education Australia in relation to:

Mission, Vision and Values
Catholic Identity
Strategic Planning
Leadership Development and Formation
Performance Development and Management
Key Leadership Appointments at the College
Financial Management and Capital Expenditure
Property Transactions


Deirdre O’Donnell (Chair)

Deirdre O’Donnell has a long connection with the College, being an ex-student and then a former Board member and Board Chair while Julie Ryan was Principal.  She has also been Board Chair of St Vincent’s College Potts Point, and is now Chair of the current Board.  Following her early career as a high school teacher, she took a number of pathways through telecommunications, dispute resolution and public administration.  She now has a Commissioner role in a state-based regulator, is a member of the Stewardship Council of the Missionary Sisters of Service, and Chair of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network.  She lives in country Victoria. 


Rosemary Scarlett (Deputy Chair)

Rosemary was appointed to the Board in February 2012, and is a qualified FCPA accountant.  With  extensive experience as professional College Business Manager for the past 34 years, Rosemary now works as an independent business management consultant to Catholic and independent schools. Rosemary is married with two adult children, and lives on a small farm where she enjoys her free time. Rosemary is also a member of the local Catholic Parish Finance Committee. 


Angela Agricola

Angela was appointed to the Board on 27 February 2020.

She has qualifications and experience in education, law, financial services and senior leadership.  She has an Arts degree, a post graduate qualification in Secondary Education, a Law degree with honours and was the recipient of the Supreme Court of Victoria Law Prize and the Hodges Hall Commercial Law Prize. 

Angela’s professional career started as a secondary teacher and shifted to practising as a lawyer in Melbourne. She was a senior associate in private practice and head of dispute resolution and senior counsel at AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd. In more recent years she moved into corporate executive management roles in financial services and telecommunications sectors. 

Angela has been on committees including the ANZIIF FSDG executive committee, the Law Institute of Victoria ADR & Courts Practice committees and International Dispute Resolution and UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific).

Today she is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, principal executive manager in a law firm and business consultant.

Angela is married and has two adult children who attended St Columba's College and are now successful professional women in the workforce etc.


Tania Briganti

Tania joined the Board in February 2020 and has nearly 30 years of business experience.  Tania has extensive experience in leadership, strategy, risk, governance and change management, predominately within the financial services sector, where she has spent more than 20 years working in various leadership roles for the Church’s insurance company (Catholic Church Insurance). 

Tania is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF).  She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree, with majors in Statistics and Applied Mathematics. 

Tania is married to Ivan and is the proud mother of two children, Olivia and Matthew.


Trish Crossin

Trish Crossin (Borlase) joined the College Board in 2016 and is a former student of St Columba’s College.  She holds a Bachelor of Education and has taught in a range of schools in Victoria and across the Northern Territory, prior to being the first woman to represent the Northern Territory in the Federal Parliament when elected to the Senate in 1998.

Trish is a current non-executive Director of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Pty Ltd, Australian Indigenous Agribusiness Company Pty Ltd, as well as Director of the Jabiru Kabolkmakmen Pty Ltd, Asthma Foundation NT, WEstjustice Community Legal Centre, as well as a member of the Advisory Committee for Indigenous Eye Health at Melbourne University.  She is a former President of Netball NT and inaugural chair and founder of the NT Working Women’s Centre. 


Sr Annette Cunliffe

Annette is a Sister of Charity and has worked in secondary and tertiary education in teaching and leadership roles.

She has twice been Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity and serves as a Director on several boards, including those of the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Jesuit Refugee Service Australia, and the Trustees of the University of Notre Dame Australia as well as St Columba’s.

Annette is the Safeguarding Officer for the Sisters of Charity of Australia.


Barbara Doyle

Barb was appointed to the Board in February 2020.  A St Columba’s alumni, who has worked in the public and the finance sectors in roles including corporate performance management, project management and corporate social responsibility. 

Barb has a keen interest in the issues associated with disability access and equity.  She is also currently a Director of a not for profit Board in the disability sector. 


Paul Ould

Paul has over 32 years of experience in Catholic education in Australia. He is an experienced curriculum leader, primary and secondary school Principal and has held school and system leadership positions in both New South Wales and Queensland.  Paul has a passion for leadership of quality contemporary learning and teaching and responsible governance, and is deeply committed to systemic school improvement and improving educational outcomes for all students.

Paul was appointed to the Board of St Columba’s College, Essendon in February 2020. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Board Director of Catholic Religious Institute and Ministerial Public Juridic Person Victorian Schools and a member of the Catholic Capital Grants Committee.


Jenny Ricketts

Jenny has been a Board Member since 2014.  She views education as a context for fostering, guiding, and enacting care and compassion for all.  As a psychologist, she is committed to promoting and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and the community.  


Anne Young

Anne commenced as a Director of the St Columba’s College Board in 2019. She is an experienced educator having worked in Catholic secondary colleges for 23 years, most recently at Catholic Ladies’ College, Eltham.  Her leadership roles have included Senior Administrator and Deputy Principal with particular responsibility for faith and mission and for student wellbeing. Currently, Anne is Mission Co-ordinator for Presentation Sisters Victoria.