Résumé

ANNABELLE LEE JIA WEN

Annabelle_004 2022

X (formerly Twitter): @annabellybutton

Languages: English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bahasa Malaysia, basic French, basic Spanish

Work Experience

Independent Journalist and Writer Mar 2022 – present

Published “Building Arks for Corals” – a longform data and research-driven article on coral health in Malaysia – in Malaysian environment and sustainability publication Macaranga, Taiwanese financial magazine Commonwealth 天下 and Austrian political and cultural magazine DATUM.
Wrote weekly newsletters for independent publication Between The Lines summarising the most pressing Malaysian and international news (Jun 2022 – Nov 2022)
Compiled research work for CNN International
Wrote “Changing Chinatown” – a longform feature article on how Kuala Lumpur’s Petaling Street area has changed across the decades – for a writing programme supported by ThinkCity. The piece is slated to be published in the first quarter of 2024 as part of a magazine.

Keju by Carmen Jun 2023 – Dec 2023

Event Assistant

Took on multiple roles in a small and established luxury food, beverage and events business. Designed and executed beverage offerings for clients. Assisted with food, floral and gift presentations. Assisted with onsite food grazing tables. Produced budget and costing sheets.

Malaysiakini Mar 2017 – Mar 2022

Journalist with the English desk

Covered people, policy, politics and a pandemic under four federal governments
Experience in investigative reporting, conducting interviews, election reporting, speaking on press freedom issues, live-tweeting events and asking tough questions at press conferences.
Provided news commentary on national radio station LiteFM (105.7FM in the Klang Valley) from 2018-2022
Part of the team that won the Malaysian Press Institute-Petronas Best Multimedia Journalism Award 2019 for May 13, never again

Participant

Worked with journalists to put together a multimedia feature report on migrant workers in Kuala Lumpur
Conducted live interviews, recorded sound bytes and filmed behind-the-scenes footage of a migrant worker hostel

Intern Journalist with the Current Affairs team

Conducted live and phone interviews for Currents Affairs and The Week In Review shows
Pitched and researched news stories
Wrote scripts
Cut and edited sound bytes for radio
Converted live radio recordings into podcasts
Topics covered: Russia and Crimea, Charlie Hebdo, Universiti Malaya student activists (UM8), Yemen, Local Council Elections, Photojournalism, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, National Human Rights Action Plan.

Intern Writer

Education

2022-2023 Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program: Scaling Your Business

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania (conducted online)

2013-2016 Bachelor of Arts

University of Melbourne, Australia

2011-2012 Cambridge A Levels

Taylor’s College Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur

2006-2010 School Leaving Certificate (SPM)

SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur

Selected Community and Leadership Roles

Agape Mission School 2022-2023

Volunteer teacher

Organising Committee

Helped set up the only Malaysian student activist group in Melbourne
Ran fortnightly discussions on Malaysian politics and current issues
Helped write and edit press statements to be published in the media
Launched a university-wide campaign fighting for fair work rights for all international students

Organising Team & Emcee

Helped organise and coordinate the Melbourne chapter of Bersih 4 and 5 rallies
The Bersih movement demands clean and fair elections, the right to dissent, institutional reform & the strengthening of parliamentary democracy

President

TEDxUniMelb 2014 – 2015

Social Media Officer