Annabel has two decades’ experience in human rights, both at the local and international levels. Her work has encompassed policy advocacy, coalition-building, action research and communications.
Expertise
Annabel’s thematic expertise includes business and children’s rights; economic, social and cultural rights such as the right to housing and workers’ rights; the right to meaningful participation, digital rights and the human rights dimensions of urban development.
Current Work
Annabel is Project Lead for Eastern USA, for the project "Promoting the Rights of Children in the 2026 FIFA World Cup". She is working to improve the child rights knowledge and capacity of key decision-makers for the host region of New York City and New Jersey, to engage stakeholders throughout the region on child rights risks and opportunities, and to develop child participation strategies. Her work is in close collaboration with three other project leads for Western USA, Canada and Mexico, as well as the Senior Project Manager for North America.
Previous Experience
As Deputy Director of ALIGN (Alliance for a Greater New York), Annabel led policy and communications for climate and social justice coalitions. Previously she was Deputy Director of Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, setting up the New York office in 2007. With the Resource Centre she created a global information hub on children’s rights and business.
Most recently, Annabel established a global programme on human rights and the built environment with Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), and as Principal of It’s Material has provided facilitation and research for non-profits, foundations, and trade unions. Annabel is the creator of local initiatives in New York that have engaged communities and and youth such as “I live here – Queens” and “30th Ave – A Year in the Life of a Street”.