Annabelle is a strategic advisor and expert corporate facilitator passionate about human centred leadership, culture design, and systems change.

About

Annabelle is a strategist and facilitator who applies a systems lens to leadership, culture, and change. With a career that has spanned diplomacy, trade, tech, and innovation, she’s advised high-growth ventures, global organisations, and governments through pivotal moments of transformation.

Her past roles include senior positions at KPMG High Growth Ventures, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, and Creative HQ, and she has led initiatives with the World Economic Forum, where she now leads the Innovation Lab for the Future 50 global foresight initiative. Annabelle blends design thinking, organisational psychology, and international business insight to distil complexity into clarity and momentum.

A trusted voice on the future of leadership, Annabelle has contributed to national security capability-building, invited to speak at the Cambridge Union, and lectures regularly at the University of Auckland. She also serves on advisory boards in sustainability and impact tech.

Engage Annabelle

  • Annabelle is a sought-after speaker on the future of leadership, organisational culture, and global business. She has delivered keynotes and panels for audiences spanning government, industry, and academia - including as an invited speaker at the Cambridge Union, a roundtable host at Melbourne Fashion Week, and a guest lecturer at the University of Auckland Business School, where she has taught over 1,000 students. Her speaking style blends warmth with strategic clarity, offering globally informed insights rooted in lived experience, systems thinking, and human connection.

  • Annabelle designs and delivers transformative leadership programs that embed psychological safety, inclusive communication, and values-led decision-making. Her facilitation work spans high-stakes environments including ANU’s National Security College (WiNS & WiNSPIRE), Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and consulting firm LIW. With deep expertise in culture transformation and capability building, she creates safe, high-impact spaces for leaders to reflect, grow, and lead with confidence through change.

  • Grounded in human-centred design and systems thinking, Annabelle leads tailored design thinking sessions that unlock creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving across teams. Drawing on frameworks like Jobs to Be Done, her workshops help organisations reframe complex challenges, align around user needs, and prototype actionable solutions. She currently leads the Innovation Lab and design sprint series for the World Economic Forum’s Future 50 initiative, supporting young leaders to design bold, systems-level interventions for the decade ahead. Her design-led approach has supported innovation initiatives across public and private sectors, from early-stage ventures to global organisations.

  • With a background in trade, diplomacy, and growth strategy, Annabelle advises high-growth ventures, global organisations, and government agencies through pivotal moments of scale and transformation. She brings commercial acumen, cross-sector insight, and a strong lens on leadership and culture. As a senior advisor at NZTE and KPMG High Growth Ventures, she has helped businesses expand internationally, drive $12M+ in revenue growth, and navigate change with clarity and purpose.

  • Annabelle brings a rare blend of strategic clarity, emotional intelligence, and a human-centered approach to everything she does. Her ability to connect with her clients and colleagues alike, as well as get to the heart of business challenges, made her an invaluable part of our team. Annabelle's exceptional coaching skills have empowered founders of high-growth tech companies to navigate their unique challenges and achieve remarkable success. Additionally, her international experience from the UN and NZTE has enriched her perspective, allowing her to apply global insights to local contexts effectively.

    Sophie Ritchie, Director KPMG Australia High Growth Ventures

  • Annabelle brings a delightful combination of international business expertise and human-centred design thinking to her work with NZTE's export customers. Her warmth, facilitation skills, and sharp strategic thinking builds trust quickly with key stakeholders, enabling deeper, more insightful engagements. She's an invaluable asset to any team.

    Phillipa Cameron, General Manager New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

  • I've had the privilege of knowing Annabelle for some time, and her passion for sharing knowledge and creating positive change has always stood out to me. Recently, she delivered guest lectures for our University of Auckland 2nd-year students on internationalisation strategy. She has a unique ability to connect with students, making complex concepts relatable and inspiring them to think globally. I love her approachable and friendly nature, and her enthusiasm to work on impactful projects that make the world a better place for today and for future generations. I wholeheartedly recommend Annabelle for any role or project she pursues - her passion, expertise, and positive energy are unmatched.”

    Dr Farzana Adeel, Professional Teaching Fellow & Learning Technologist, The University of Auckland Business School

  • Annabelle is an absolute pleasure to work with. Our paths crossed while curating a roundtable discussion for the M/FW Conversations Series as a part of Melbourne Fashion Week 2024. Annabelle took the time to understand our objectives and crafted a session that was highly relevant to both our audience and the broader needs of the industry. She led a dynamic discussion on international business opportunities in the Australian fashion sector to a diverse group of 30 participants, predominantly from marketing and tech sectors. Annabelle’s facilitation skills ensured an engaging and insightful conversation, and she delivered a comprehensive white paper summarising key insights on time, providing valuable takeaways for participants and industry leaders alike. I would highly recommend her for future industry engagements.

    Jacinta O’Malley, Event Producer for Melbourne Fashion Week at City of Melbourne.

  • Annabelle was instrumental in leading the NZTE and Coralus partnership, a collaborative and engaging relationship that brought valuable support for both women and non-binary entrepreneurs in our ecosystem and the team at NZTE. As a caring member of our community, she brought an integral combination of strategy and empathy, and her contribution as a speaker at our international trade event was both engaging and impactful.

    Janaki Hadida, Coralus Ventures (formerly SheEO), Global Partnerships Director

  • Annabelle O’Donnell is a values-driven leader who exemplifies the spirit of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community. As Community Champion for the UK & Ireland, she was selected for her ability to foster collaboration, build trust, and create lasting impact. Annabelle cultivated a culture of open dialogue and psychological safety across a diverse network of hub leaders, enabling all voices to be heard. Through her strengths-based leadership, she navigated complex discussions with empathy, empowered hub leaders to thrive, and consistently championed the well-being of the community. Her leadership set a gold standard for inclusive and impactful community engagement.

    Albina Krasnodemska, Head of Europe Region, World Economic Forum (Global Shapers Team)

  • Annabelle has been a wonderful friend and colleague whilst working as a Commercial Advisor for NZTE in London. She really took the complexities of the role in her stride, supporting our tech companies with her signature care and enthusiasm from day one. Annabelle is values-driven and generous with her time, sharing her experiences with the World Economic Forum, as well as being an ambassador for Diversity and Inclusion in the organisation and leading on Women in Trade. She is motivated, thoughtful and delivers high quality work. I would love to work with Annabelle again in the future.

    Lewis George, Commercial Advisor,  New Zealand Trade and Enterprise

  • Annabelle is an exceptional leader of the World Economic Forum Global Shapers UK&I Hubs. She manages 16 teams across the region, leading with clarity, direction and empathy. Annabelle reliably escalates our asks to HQ and communicates the latest information to support our decision making. She applies her years of experience working with the WEF and people-centric approach to help us navigate the various opportunities and challenges we face. Her values, energy and strength in character is what makes her an effective leader.

    Abimbola Oladipo, Market Strategy, Stripe Global + World Economic Forum Global Shapers  

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