Annette Zou is a Senior Research Officer and Programs Lead at the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy (CCEP) within the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, where she manages institutional structures and program oversight. She researches decarbonisation pathways for iron and steel supply chains, with a specific emphasis on the trade relationship between Australia and China. This contributes to broader research on Australia's renewable energy superpower ambitions, climate and industrial policy to support green industries, and the system shifts required to achieve a low-emissions economy. In these roles, Annette leverages her expertise in facilitation and co-creation processes to convene high-level roundtables and policy dialogues.

Annette is also a PhD candidate at the Crawford School, where she explores the structural transitions in economic and social systems for low-emissions trajectories. Her approach is informed by her background in design, game design, and systems innovation to understand transitions and develop frameworks for effecting change through climate policy.

Annette previously worked in the United States on methods for understanding complex systems and making decisions to achieve sustainable outcomes in the midst of complexity and uncertainty, including as a Lecturer at Stanford University’s d.school and the Doerr School of Sustainability. She worked with organisations such as the UNDP, USAID, and The Nature Conservancy. In Australia, she has worked with The Superpower Institute and the Climate Council on energy and industrial decarbonisation. Annette's professional background also includes human-centred design and co-creation, consulting with Australian government organisations to improve government services and policies. She was also once a game designer.