Annette Burgess is a senior public relations consultant, who is a well-known and
respected industry professional.  She has experience in managing communications
at a senior level, and has worked with a wide range of stakeholders in a variety of industries and organisations in New Zealand and overseas (Australia and UK).

In April 1997, Annette launched imPRove it Public Relations, Rotorua’s leading and only multi-award winning full service public relations and communications management consultancy.

An internationally accredited public relations professional (APR), she is a Fellow
of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (FPRINZ) and a Member of the
Institute of Directors in New Zealand (IOD), and is a recent graduate of the IOD Regional Director Development Programme.

Annette has successfully managed the profile of the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust since December 2001, and in an honorary capacity has provided strategic advice to a number of community organisations including the Rotorua Community Facilities Trust (upgrade of the International Stadium), the Older Persons Community Centre Trust (concept to completion of Parksyde Older Persons Community Centre), Rotorua Art Trust and Rotorua KartSport Development Trust.

A Past President of the Rotary Club of Rotorua Lakes, she has been a member of the District 9930 Public Image Committee for the past three years and served on the J R McKenzie Trust Regional Committee for four years.

She jointly initiated the Bay of Plenty Communicators Forum in 2002 and has judged the TrustPower National Community Awards and PRINZ National Awards.

In 2005 Rotorua District Council appointed Annette as a community representative to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Community Trust.  She is currently Vice Chair and a member of the company’s Governance Committee. 

Educated in Rotorua and Wellington, she is of Tainui (Raukawa) and Mataatua (Whakatohea) descent.