ROSL Chairman Alexander Downer AC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Annette Prandzioch as the organisation's new Director-General, who will take up her appointment on Monday 29 June 2020.
Annette brings to ROSL extensive experience and significant networks both in and beyond the Commonwealth. A Barrister for 18 years by profession, Annette specialised in commercial and property law, and brings strong advocacy and analytical skills as well as an understanding of negotiation and dispute resolution. She gained management experience in her chambers as a member of the board of directors and remains a door tenant.
Annette subsequently left legal practice to take up the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Royal Commonwealth Society where she was responsible for leading the team, ensuring the smooth running of the organisation and managing external partnerships. In this role she strengthened collaborations with High Commissioners and created new stakeholder relationships. In her current external relations and business development role at the International School for Government at King’s College London, Annette has worked on charting the strategic direction of this newly established school, from its formal launch to acting as its ambassador and building from scratch a network of global relationships.
In 2018, Annette was elected a governing Master of the Bench of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, an Inn of Court with a worldwide membership, where she sits on committees making strategic decisions that encompass broad-ranging issues including international engagement and renovation projects.
The Hon. A J G Downer AC, ROSL Chairman, said:
“In these unprecedented and challenging times we are pleased to be welcoming Dr Annette Prandzioch to the ROSL family in June. We are anticipating that Annette’s commencement in role will coincide with, or take place shortly before or after, the reopening of the Clubhouse, and we believe her leadership attributes, extensive experience and energy will help to ensure a strong and bright future for our organisation, our members and our team.”
Annette, who is already in regular contact with ROSL's Central Council and outgoing D-G Diana Owen, said:
"I am privileged and honoured to be taking over as Director-General of ROSL. One thing I have learnt from the COVID-19 restrictions is the immense importance of communities such as ROSL, and how valuable it is to belong. And while we are all looking forward to the re-opening of the clubhouse and a return to our normal social interactions, even now ROSL continues to engage virtually with members, through music and the arts and an online newsletter.
"I intend to build on Dr Diana Owen’s excellent legacy – and would like to thank her for her tremendous work in placing ROSL onto a solid course going forward. Together with a strong team, we will carry out essential works to the clubhouse, and refurbishment works to improve members’ comfort and enjoyment, and with a view to preserving ROSL’s heritage.
"As an accredited Commonwealth Organisation, I will also seek to strengthen ROSL’s Commonwealth ties both in the UK and across the Commonwealth. This international network has become more, rather than less, important these last few years, and ROSL is well placed to be a leading ‘go-to’ hub for Commonwealth activities.
"It will be a pleasure, given my lifelong love of music and the arts, to support the ROSL ARTS programme, which has been such an intregral part of ROSL’s identity, and engage with its prestigious and longstanding annual music competition.
"I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming months, and intend to visit the ROSL branches in the UK and across the world over the course of 2021."
Please join us in welcoming Annette to club life when she begins in her new role on 29 June 2020.
