Helen Barnes

Helen is an accomplished educational leader with more than 26 years of experience in Western Australian public education. She holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education and has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for students through high-quality teaching, effective leadership, and evidence-informed school improvement.

Over the past 16 years, she has successfully led schools across a diverse range of educational contexts, establishing cultures of excellence, developing high-performing teams, and implementing sustainable systems that enhance teaching, learning, and student achievement.

Committed to lifelong learning, Helen has undertaken extensive leadership development, successfully completing An International School Leadership Certificate through Ontario Principals’ Council, Canada, and The Achieving Excellence Leadership Development Certificate through Harvard University, Boston. These experiences have strengthened her expertise in adaptive leadership, strategic improvement, and building collective efficacy.

Helen’s leadership is grounded in a strong moral purpose: to lead people and teams through purposeful, effective systems while ensuring that every decision is made with children at the centre. She believes that exceptional schools are built by investing in people, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and maintaining an unwavering focus on student success.