NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations campaign exists to shine a spotlight on the women shaping and leading, operational careers across Australia. Each feature tells a story of leadership, impact, and the practical pathways women are carving in operational roles – from the factory floor to national leadership.
Today we celebrate Annaclaire Klette, Head of Manufacturing (NZ) at The Arnott’s Group and one of NAWO’s 100 Women in Operations!
Annaclaire holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and an MBA and has built a career in FMCG operations across white goods, fuel and retail, beer and wine, and food. She has moved between operations leadership and continuous improvement, driven by a love for problem solving and leading great teams.
Today, she leads The Arnott’s Group newest factory in Avondale, Auckland, producing snacks including crackers and cookies. With a team of 42 on site, she oversees HSE, Production, Packing, Maintenance and Warehousing, and is a member of the New Zealand Leadership Team.
Her career was shaped early by inspiring teachers and family support that exposed her to engineering. She speaks openly about what makes a role meaningful: having great people, process or products – ideally, two of the three.
She also reflects on the value of allies and the power of taking that next step, even when uncertain. Her leadership is grounded in practical experience, personal insight, and a deep understanding of what it means to thrive in operations.
Nominated for:
- Being a people centric leader who leads with her values, having made a significant impact on the performance and culture of this business unit since commencing in 2024.
- Delivering business transformation as a manufacturing excellence coach and consultant before continuing her leadership success as the Head of Manufacturing
- Sharing her career journey as a keynote speaker at Arnott’s International Women’s Day 2025
- Building a culture where people are truly the focus!
Congratulations, Annaclaire – we’re proud to recognise your contribution to the field.