Saint Ignatius’ College appoints Barbara Watkins as acting principal

One of Adelaide’s most prestigious colleges has appointed its first woman to lead the school as it looks for a new principal.

Retiring Saint Ignatius’ College principal Peter Coffey (right) with former student, businessman and former Adelaide lord mayor Martin Haese.

One of Adelaide’s most prestigious Catholic schools has appointed its first woman as interim principal.

NSW private school bureaucrat Barbara Watkins will succeed former Saint Ignatius’ College student Peter Coffey when he retires at the end of the school year.

Ms Watkins will act in the role while the Jesuit-run secondary school in Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs looks for a permanent replacement for Mr Coffey.

Mr Coffey attended the school before spending 28 years at its Athelstone campus as a senior teacher. He became its first lay principal in 2018.

Announcing the appointment of Ms Watkins, Saint Ignatius’ chairman Sean Keenihan said she would join the school in Term Four to “ensure a smooth transition” as Mr Coffey prepared to retire.

Mr Keenihan said Ms Watkins was the principal of Sydney’s Loreto Normanhurst school for 10 years before becoming system performance director at Sydney Catholic Schools.

The organisation administers more than 150 primary and secondary schools within the Archdiocese of Sydney.

New Saint Ignatius' College interim principal Barbara Watkins.

Retiring Saint Ignatius’ College principal Peter Coffey.

In her new role, Ms Watkins will work with Saint Ignatius’ rector Father Peter Hosking to manage the Jesuit college in Adelaide’s northeastern suburbs until a new principal is appointed in 2024.

Like Mr Coffey, Ms Watkins oversaw several major projects while at Loreto Normanhurst, including the construction of new buildings, staff restructuring and implementation of new strategic plans.

Mr Keenihan said Saint Ignatius’ was “delighted to have someone with Barbara’s extraordinary range of experiences, depth of knowledge and breadth of vision”.

“Barbara is well versed in the Jesuit ethos and Ignatian pedagogy,” he said.

“Prior to Loreto Normanhurst, she held various roles at the Jesuit school of Saint Aloysius’ College at Milsons Point in Sydney.”

Australian Jesuit Provincial Fr Quyen Vu praised Mr Coffey’s commitment to the Ignatian mission.

“We are extremely fortunate to have had the benefit of his ministry,” he said.

“His deep commitment to Catholic education and the Ignatian mission and his ability to realise that vision in action have characterised his work over many years.”

Ms Watkins will join the school in the midst of an escalating controversy over a plan by Campbelltown Council to close a road.

Residents are protesting against a plan to shut off a section of Manresa Court to improve pedestrian access, cycling paths and carparking.

The school has proposed a land swap to enable the road to be closed off.