Annie has always had a deep passion for animals, particularly native wildlife. She has been a rescuer and carer for WIRES Northern Rivers for 14 plus years, serving as Chair for seven of those years. She remains an active member of WIRES NR.
Prior to this she spent much of her career in the telecommunications industry. She joined the Australian Satellite System (AUSSAT), Australia’s first communications satellite initiative. She collaborated with government agencies and media outlets on the introduction of the Homestead and Community Broadcasting Satellite Service (HACBSS), which enabled around 600,000 Australians to access television and radio services for the first time. She participated in a small working group in Canberra, reporting to the Minister of Communications on the Future Directions of Pay TV in Australia.
As part of the second telecommunications carrier license agreement, AUSSAT was taken over by Optus. Annie continued working in the Optus Satellite Division for the next 25 years, holding various role; including representing Optus in a satellite joint venture with AUSTAR, Foxtel, served on the Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) Board, and chaired the sector’s engineering working group for several years. Additionally, she worked with an external consultancy on a Change Management proposal for Optus, and managed a sales team of sales personnel and engineers.
After leaving Optus, Annie became a volunteer board member for Byron Aged Care and the SHIFT Project, an independent charity that supports women through the challenges they face moving from homelessness to independence, from welfare to wellbeing.
