Annabelle Chauncy

Annabelle Chauncy OAM is the CEO and co-founder of School for Life Foundation (SFL). SFL is a grassroots organisation which has a vision to educate poverty out of existence. We have empowered local leaders to build and run 3 primary, secondary and vocational schools in rural Uganda. We provide high quality education to 2000 vulnerable students (including children with disabilities), skills and vocational training programs, clean drinking water, electricity, community outreach and medical treatment to 2 communities. SFL employs >130 people across 3 continents.

Annabelle was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in January 2015. In 2012, Annabelle was named in Australian Financial Review & Westpac’s Top 100 Women of Influence 2012. Annabelle was a finalist in 2 categories of the NSW Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards 2013 for Business Innovation and Young Businesswoman. Annabelle was the winner of the Australian Women’s Weekly and Qantas’ Woman of the Future award in 2014. In 2016, she was named a Pro Bono Australia Impact 25 winner. In 2017, she was listed by Instyle magazine as a ‘Woman of Style’ finalist and won the Sydney University alumni award for Service to Humanity.

Annabelle is a country girl who grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in NSW. She attended small 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 SFL with David Everett in 2008. Having completed her undergraduate Arts/Law degree, gaining professional experience and meeting Dave, she made the decision to invest her legal knowledge in the non-profit sector and specifically SFL. Annabelle’s passion lies in creating sustainable, long lasting projects, building relationships and business development.