Born in Samoa, Annandale-Atherton is the daughter of Edward Annandale and Sina Nelson.
[3] Annandale-Atherton has worked to improve the health and welfare of women and children in the Pacific Islands.
[5] This has included obtaining international funding for projects from USAID, the EU and WHO to support women and children, and initiating family planning services and vaccination programmes in Samoa.
[3] She has been active in the Pan-Pacific and South East Asian Women's Association and was international president from 2004 to 2010.
[8][5] Annandale-Atherton's great-grandfather was Thomas Annandale, a Professor of Clinical Surgery in Scotland.