Barbara O'Connor is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy Trust. She joined the executive team in early 2025, having held executive leadership roles within the Trust since 2023, where she has been central to primary school improvement across its schools. Before that she was Executive Headteacher of St Joseph's, Waltham Cross, which secured outstanding outcomes in both its Ofsted and Section 48 inspections under her leadership.

With eighteen years of senior leadership experience, Barbara has served as SENCo, Deputy Headteacher, Headteacher and Executive Headteacher in schools across London, Wales, and Hertfordshire, supporting school improvement across many settings and local authorities. Inclusion and high-quality provision remain at the heart of her leadership and of the strategic development of the Trust.