Barbara K. Watterston

Barbara K. Watterston, EdD, has extensive experience in education and has held a number of executive leadership positions across Australia within the education and not- for-profit community sectors. An engaging facilitator, Barbara’s national and international research, consultancy, coaching, and speaking engagements centre on leadership development that emphasises the impact of high-quality leadership on student learning.

Recognised for her contribution to educational leadership and professional learning, her national research report, , Insights: Environmental Scan Principal Preparation Programs contributed to five major national recommendations for preparing future school leaders.

Barbara’s advocacy for women in leadership was fuelled by the lack of representation of women in leadership roles. Together with the importance of enriching a more inclusive perspective of leadership, she saw this as missing out on the incredible potential of women to influence and positively impact on reforms and outcomes. She also found that a significant component to enabling greater diversity meant women letting go of some of their own self-imposed barriers. Barbara’s doctoral thesis focused on gender, leadership, and learning, which informed her contribution as co-editor of the book Women in School Leadership: Journeys to Success.

Her Australian and international projects include emerging, executive, and system leadership programs. She has a special interest in the links between leadership sustainability, wellbeing, and impact on performance.

Barbara’s expertise is regularly sought out to contribute in an advisory capacity as a member of numerous university, departmental, school, and professional boards.