Annabelle Chauncy OAM

Annabelle Chauncy OAM is a force for good. She is an Australian social entrepreneur, lawyer, 
keynote speaker, and co-founder and CEO of the School for Life Foundation, a not-for-profit 
that builds and operates schools in rural Uganda. 

Annabelle is driven by vision and integrity, grounded in action, and relentless in her belief that 
education can transform the world. As the Co-Founder and CEO of School for Life Foundation, 
she has spent more than 15 years building what many only talk about: real, sustainable, 
generational change in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities. 

What began as a three-month volunteer trip to East Africa at age 21 has become a lifelong 
mission for Annabelle. Today, her foundation operates and supports 10 thriving schools across 
East Africa (primarily in rural Uganda), providing education to over 4,500 students - many of 
whom are the first in their families to attend school. Her impact goes far beyond classrooms. 
Through community outreach, vocational training, clean water programs, medical support, and 
employment, Annabelle and her team are building ecosystems that lift entire communities out 
of poverty.  

Annabelle’s leadership spans three continents, a team of over 130, and partnerships with 
governments, global businesses, and generous individual donors who believe in her vision. 
Annabelle knows how to drive effective change which is locally-led and globally-supported, 
navigating fast growth (the foundation has seen 50-100% year on year since inception), and 
engaging thousands of supporters to raise more than $40 million capital in five years. 

She has been recognized nationally for her impact in entrepreneurship, education and 
international development. Annabelle was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) 
in 2015 for service to international development and education. At the ripe age of 27, Annabelle 
was one of the youngest recipients to receive the Medal. Additionally, she has been named in 
AFR and Westpac’s Top 100 Women of Influence, and awarded for innovation, business 
leadership, and service to humanity. 

Raised on a sheep and cattle farm in rural NSW, Annabelle blends humility and hard-won 
wisdom with formidable intelligence and clarity of purpose. Whether she’s on the ground in 
Uganda or speaking to next generation of leaders on the topics of social entrepreneurship, 
purpose-driven leadership, and global development, she brings the same energy: bold, brave, 
passionate, and deeply human.