Whilst the Council determines the strategic direction for the College, the Rector, working closely with the executive leadership team, is responsible for the day to day management and operation of the College.

RECTOR
Dr Mark Schembri
MD BVSc BSc(vet) Hons (1) (Syd) MPH (Harv) MACVS MRCVS CertWH

Dr Mark Schembri was appointed as the 19th Rector of St John’s College in July 2022. He has been an educational leader at university colleges more than 20 years at Harvard, UNSW, and the University of Sydney.

A graduate in both Veterinary Science and Human Medicine from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours, and a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Harvard, Mark’s career has taken him from Dubai to Royal Randwick and to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he served as a veterinarian for the Australian Equine Olympic Team. In 2009 he was awarded the General John Monash Scholarship for study at Harvard University and was an academic tutor at Kirkland House. There he rowed for Dudley House and was veterinarian to the Harvard horse polo team.

Mark has a distinguished record as an equine veterinarian where he also serves as a member of the Australian College of Veterinary Surgeons in Theriogenology. In 2007 he was elected the youngest-ever councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society and presently serves as its Vice-President. He remains a veterinarian for the Australian Turf Club and he loves working at the beloved Randwick racecourse. He was a Crown Prince of Dubai scholar in 2001 working in the world-renowned Dubai Equine Clinic.  Mark now also works as a doctor in women’s health at Royal North Shore Hospital, after having completed his internship and resident years at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Mark currently serves on the Board of the General John Monash Foundation and is Vice President of the Sydney University Rugby Club. He is a keen musician (clarinet and trumpet) and he is the Musical Conductor and Director of the Sydney World Youth Day Orchestra, with which he continues to organise annual Christmas Carols and community musical events. In 2001, he presented the World Youth Day Sydney bid to Pope John Paul II on behalf of the youth organising committee.

VICE-RECTOR
Mr Adrian Diethelm
BA LLB (Syd), BCL (Oxon), MTax (Syd)

Adrian and his wife Lois have been in residence at St John’s since 2011. Adrian served as Academic Dean in 2012, Acting Rector in 2013, and was Rector from 2014 to June 2022.

Adrian took his BA with a First in Philosophy, studied Law at Sydney (First Class) and read for the BCL at Corpus Christi College Oxford. He has been a full-time law lecturer at the Universities of Sydney and Queensland, a solicitor in a city firm, and practiced as a barrister in Sydney for 16 years. He also taught law part-time for many years.

Adrian recently completed a diploma in ancient languages (Greek and Latin) and is currently undertaking a graduate diploma in counselling.

DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS
Mr Ludivico (Vic) Andallo
BScCom (Santo Tomas), MBA (Ateneo de Manila), FCPA GAICD FGIA FIML

Vic Andallo is a qualified professional in the areas of finance, commercial, governance, strategy and operations management, with experience gained from both established and start-up environments in professional services, manufacturing, biotechnology, digital media, telecommunications and not-for-profit. He has over 20 years of experience in commerce, having worked in multinational giants like San Miguel Corp, Optus and Yahoo!.

In his role as Director, Operations, Vic provides leadership and stewardship of the College’s finances and commercial activities, as well as sustaining and optimising the College infrastructure and heritage estate, and mitigating risks associated with the College’s overall operations.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER; COUNCIL SECRETARY
Ms Christina Goh
DipMktg, DipLeadershipMgt, MAHRI

Christina Goh is an effective and strategic professional with over 12 years of university college experience.

As Executive Officer, Christina provides strategic advice and operational support to senior College staff` and contributes to the development and implementation of strategies, operational plans and policies across the whole College. She is also responsible for HR policies and procedures for the College.

As Council Secretary, Christina has carriage of Council and Committee processes, such as meeting co-ordination, preparation of agenda papers and tracking progress of action schedules. Christina is currently undertaking counselling qualifications provided by the Australian Institute of Practising Counsellors.

FACILITIES MANAGER
Mr Sam Ibrahim

Sam Ibrahim is a highly experienced facilities professional who has worked in the educational sector for over 10 years and has approximately 25 years’ experience in ICT across multiple sectors of the trade industry, including corporate, field service delivery, operations, and design. As the Facilities Manager of St John’s College since March 2020, he is responsible for ensuring that the College’s physical facilities are well-maintained, safe, and comply with OH&S legislative framework.

In his role, Sam leverages his extensive knowledge and experience in mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and greens maintenance and installation to sustain and develop the College’s campus through building upgrades and restoration of heritage components. He is committed to ensuring that the College’s facilities are of the highest quality and meets the needs of its students and staff.

In January 2021, Sam was appointed as the College Bar licensee, where he works in tandem with his role as Facilities Manager to assist staff and students in organising social events that comply with safety measures and logistic requirements. Sam is a dedicated professional who is passionate about ensuring that the College’s facilities are well-maintained, safe, and conducive to learning and personal growth.