Governance & Documents

Statute of Incorporation

The College is constituted by a statute of the New South Wales Parliament, the Saint John’s College Act 2018. The Act, which commenced on 2 July 2018, repeals and replaces the Saint John’s College Act 1857, under which the College was incorporated on 2 July 1858.

The Act provides for the College to be governed by a Council of 13 Members comprising:

[a] the Rector,
[b] 3 members appointed by the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney,
[c] 4 elected members,
[d] one member appointed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney,
[e] 4 members appointed by the Council.

Council committees and groups

Advancement & Alumni Committee (AAC)
Finance & Risk Committee (FRC)
Nominations & Remuneration Committee (NRC)
Student Relations Committee (SRC)
Building & Works Advisory Group (B&W)

Council Members (September 2023)

RECTOR
Dr Mark Schembri MD BVSc BSc(vet) Hons (1) (Syd) MPH (Harv) MACVS MRCVS CertWH
[a] Rector from July 2022. Ex officio member, all committees.

CHAIR OF COUNCIL
Mr John Coorey BA LLB (Syd)
[c] Council since Nov 2018. Chair NRC. Ex officio member, all committees.
Partner, Sparke Helmore Lawyers. SJC student 1981-1983.

DEPUTY CHAIR
Mr David Pacey BBus (CSU)
[e] Council since Oct 2017. Ex officio member, all committees.
Secretary to Senate, University of Sydney.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

Mr Matthew Gordon BE LLB (Syd)
[e] Council since April 2013. Chair B&W. Member, FRC, NRC.
Principal, Gordon Construction Company Pty Ltd. SJC student 1982-1985.

Mr Khan Horne BAgEc (Syd), MEc (UNE)
[c] Council since Nov 2015. Chair, FRC.
State Business Banking Executive, National Australia Bank Ltd. SJC student 1988-1991.

Judge Gerard Phillips LLB LLM (Syd)
[c] Council since Nov 2018. Chair, AAC.
President, Personal Injury Commission of New South Wales. SJC student 1983-1985.

Ms Alexandra Winter-Irving BEd (Syd), MBA (UTS)
[c] Council since Nov 2018. Chair, SRC.
Customer Lead, Product Transformation, Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd. SJC student 2006-2008.

Emeritus Professor Marea Nicholson AM BA (Macq), MEd PhD (Syd)
[e] Council since April 2021. Member, SRC.
Formerly Professor of Education and Associate Vice-Chancellor, Australian Catholic University.

Mr Phillip Towzell BEc (Syd)
[e] Council since April 2021. Member, FRC.
Managing Partner, Queenscliff Partners LP. SJC student 1986-1987.

Rev James Baxter OP BAgEc LLB (Syd), BTheol MTS (UDiv), PhD (Fribourg)
[b] Council since January 2025.
Parish Priest, St James’s (Forest Lodge), St Bede’s (Pyrmont) and St Benedict’s (Broadway).

Sr Cecilia Dulik OP BS Ed (AQ TN), MSEL (CBU), MA (Theol) (UNDA)
[b] Council since January 2025.
Principal, St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School, Regents Park.

Bishop Tony Percy
B Comm (Hons), STB, STL, STD (Lateran University)
[b] Council since June 2025.
Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Sydney

By-laws and Council Charter

The following by-laws have been made by the Council under section 18 of the Act:

St John’s College By-law 2018 (amended 11 November 2021)

St John’s College (Election) By-law 2018 (amended 20 August 2020)

St John’s College (Scholarships, Bursaries and Prizes) By-law 2019 (current as at 30 May 2019)

St John’s College (Matt Laffan Disability Scholarship) By-law 2019 (current as at 11 September 2019)

St John’s College (Dick and Jenny Laffan Scholarship) By-law 2020 (as made 20 November 2020)

Council has adopted a Charter which sets out obligations of Council Members and regulates Council proceedings: Council Charter (amended 11 November 2021).

Council has also approved a short statement on Role and Responsibilities of Council Members, and a Skills Matrix and List of Attributes.