College Leadership Team & Governors

Karl, born in South London and educated by the De La Salle Brothers, brings over a decade of experience in various school environments, including overseas work in Australia. After serving as Deputy Head of Sydenham High School, London, for seven years, he assumed his first Headship at Alton School, Hampshire, in April 2020. Joining St Columba’s College as Headmaster in September 2023, Karl has extensive leadership experience in both single-sex and co-educational settings. A sports enthusiast with a passion for cooking, music, and travel.

Richard hails from Belfast and gained a BA in History and Ancient History at Queens University. Joining St Columba’s College in 2002, he has been a dedicated Columban, excelling as Head of Guertin House and later as Head of Sixth Form. In September 2020, Richard assumed the role of Head of the Prep School, leveraging his extensive knowledge of the 4 to 18 educational journey and is passionate about preparing children for a dynamic world. Richard, a proud father of two daughters, enjoys travel, hiking, music, cinema, and sports.

As Dean of the College, Brother Joseph serves as the vital link between St. Columba’s College and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart of the Province of the United States. Born into a military family in Syracuse, New York, Brother Joseph’s journey led him to hold various roles in education, from new faculty charism formation to institutional advancement. With a BA in Secondary Education from Spring Hill College in Alabama and an MA in English from Notre Dame University, Brother Joseph brings a wealth of experience and commitment to maintaining the ethos of the Brothers.

Barbara became a Governor in 2021 and has a long association with St Columba’s College. Her four sons attended both the Prep and Senior School and she herself taught Spanish and French at the Senior School from 1995 to 2001. A Cambridge graduate, she was appointed Head of Modern Languages at St Albans High School, going on to be Deputy Head and then Acting Head. In 2005, she moved to Highgate where she enjoyed fifteen years as Headmistress of Channing School, an independent school of almost 1000 girls aged 4 – 18. She is now working in recruitment, helping schools appoint senior leaders. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing, travelling, running and spending time with her grandchildren. Barbara is a member of the Education, Strategy and Policy Committee.

Oli joined the Board of Governors in 2019, and he attended both the Prep and Senior Schools from 1986 to 1997. He was heavily involved in Music at the school, playing in the orchestra and singing in the choir. His proudest moment was probably receiving a standing ovation for his performance as Julie Jordan in Carousel as a boy soprano. He left St Columba’s to study Modern Languages at the University of Exeter, inspired by his love of Latin. He’s stayed in education throughout his working life, in senior sales, marketing and communications roles – within higher education at the FTSE 100 company Pearson, in further education with the Education and Training Foundation as Associate Director for External Affairs, and in schools, both at Brentwood School as Director of Communications, Admissions & Development from 2014 to 2022 and currently as Head of Admissions and Marketing at Palmers Green High School in North London. He lives in a village south of Bishop’s Stortford with his wife Nicola, two children, and two Cavalier King Charles spaniels. His parents have lived in Chiswell Green since 1966. Oli is chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Stephen joined the Governing Board in 2024. He began his career in education as a teacher of Religious Education and is now the Headteacher of a large Catholic school (and Sixth Form) in London. Stephen has been involved in school governance, for both primary and secondary age pupils, for over a decade and a member of the collaborative steering group for a national Catholic Multi Academy Trust, as part of the Gaudete Trust for Religious Order schools across the country. Stephen is undertaking his National Professional Qualification in Executive Leadership; he sits on various committees within the Hounslow Education Partnership and has also worked extensively in Catholic music liturgy, leading worship in his home parish in Woking. Husband and father of two, Stephen spends much of his weekends walking the dog and following his beloved Crystal Palace Football Club. Stephen is a member of the Education, Strategy and Policy Committee.