Annette Dixon was the World Bank Group Human Resources Vice President until July 2022. As the WBG supported its clients to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and pursue green, resilient and inclusive development, Annette led the Human Resources function of the WBG to attract, develop, engage and deploy top talent, building the WBG’s brand as the employer of choice in development, with a diverse and inclusive workplace, and accelerating the Bank’s transition to the new world of work. 

She was previously the Bank’s Vice President for Human Development (HD) at the World Bank Group, overseeing the Global Practices for education; health, nutrition, and population; gender; and social protection and jobs.  In this capacity she launched the Human Capital Project, including the Human Capital Index.

Prior to her role as HD Vice President, she was the Vice President for the South Asia Region. In managing the World Bank’s engagement in South Asia to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity, Annette led relations with eight countries, including India—the institution’s biggest client. She also oversaw lending operations and trust-funded projects worth more than $10 billion a year.

Before joining the region, Annette was Director, Strategic Planning in the Budget, Performance Review and Strategic Planning Vice Presidency and Country Director to Central Asia, then South East Asia. She joined the Bank in 1999 and worked as Sector Director to Human Development in the ECA region.   

Annette is a long-standing champion on gender issues.  Under her leadership, the regional priority for South Asia was to support countries to improve women’s labor force participation, and in Human Development she lead the scale up of women’s economic empowerment programs.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Annette Dixon worked for the Government of New Zealand as Chief Executive of the Ministry of Youth Affairs.  She also served as General Manager, Sector Policy; Deputy Director-General in the Ministry of Health; Director of Health Policy, Department of the Prime Minister; and Manager Policy Division, Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Born in New Zealand, Annette holds a Master of Public Policy. She was also awarded the Harkness Fellowship in Health Policy and Management at the George Washington University in 1994-1995.