Annabelle Chauncy

Annabelle is a country girl who grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in Canyonleigh in the Southern Highlands, NSW. She attended small primary and secondary schools then studied at Sydney University. A visit in 2007 as part of World Youth International Overseas Service Project saw 21 year-old Annabelle spend 3 months in Kenya and Uganda, where she undertook aid work. She returned numerous times and in November 2008 to March 2009 she led a volunteer school building project in Northern Uganda. Her experience led her to found SFLF with David Everett in 2008. Having completed her undergraduate Arts/Law degree, gaining some professional experience and meeting David, she made the decision to invest her legal knowledge in the non-profit sector and specifically SFLF. Annabelle’s passion lies in building relationships, managing events, sponsorships and business development.

School for Life is a not-for-profit organisation focused on making a transformational difference to the communities of emerging countries starting with Uganda through providing access to a quality education. It builds educated, sustainable, productivity and profitable communities starting in Katuuso, which focuses on children and adults who have been denied an education.

Katuuso Primary and Vocational School provides high quality education to over 220 primary aged students (including a specialised program for children with disabilities), vocational training to more than 100 adults (agriculture, literacy and tailoring), and clean drinking water, electricity, community outreach and medical treatment to the entire community of more than 1000 residents.

School for Life is now expanding, and will begin construction of another Primary and Vocational, as well as a Secondary School in 2015 
to enable more than 1600 students access to high quality education.

Annabelle has successfully led a team of more than 30 people to raise more than $2M in 5 years. Her role includes management of relationships, business development, fundraising and sponsorship, marketing, media and events.

In 2012, Annabelle was listed in the Australian Financial Review & Westpac's Top 100 Women of Influence 2012 and voted Cosmopolitan Magazine's 2012 Role Model of the Year.

Annabelle was a finalist in 2 categories of the NSW Telstra Businesswomen's Awards 2013 for Business Innovation and Young Businesswoman. Annabelle was the people's choice winner in the Australian Women’s Weekly Women of the Future Awards.