Yesterday the RAD launched their new grades 1-3 here in Sydney. Ian and I were delighted to be able to join the very enthusiastic audience of teachers, examiners and organisers from across Australasia to witness the unveiling of this wonderful new syllabus and it’s fabulous orchestrated music. The work was beautifully demonstrated by local children and the work explained to us by Lynn Wallis, Artistic Director RAD and Paula Hunt who is the Chair of the International Panel of examiners at the RAD. Luke Rittner, CEO of the RAD had introduced the day and the keynote speaker who was David McAllister AM. David spoke beautifully about how important dance teachers are to their students and finished his talk with a demonstration of the dance he had performed as a small boy entering his first RAD ballet exam!  Finally, Darcey Bussell, who, like David is a Vice President of the RAD, coached some senior students in a Sleeping Beauty solo. Darcey was delightful and gave us all a rare insight into the tiny nuances that can make a good performance into a great one.

Today saw us heading off to North Strathfield to The McDonald College where Jacqui Dumont stages a fantastic dance summer school every year. Several hundred children were dancing in seven great studios and obviously all having a wonderful time. I was able to catch up with my former PA, Jane Devine, who was a dancer with the Royal Ballet Company and  former Genee medal winner and who now teaches on the faculty at this brilliant summer school. Here are Jane and I catching up outside The McDonald College.

Anne and Ian were delighted to be able to attend last nights special event to celebrate the re-building of the RAD Sydney Headquarters. The building was officially opened by Darcey Bussell CBE and David McAllister AM and the whole event was sponsored by IDS so all those attending had a special IDS “goody bag”!

The fabulous new offices have transformed the Sydney HQ into a modern space which is so much more suitable for such an influential organisation as the RAD.

Here is a picture of Darcey and David with Bronwen who is the Australian regional administrator for the RAD as well as a photo of Ian with Luke Rittner (RAD CEO) and some of the RAD Sydney staff who helped to distribute our goody bags.

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a happy and prosperous 2012.
I am sure the new year will present many challenges to us all but those challenges will make our businesses fitter and better if we use our imagination and innovate where we can.
Ian and I are off on a much needed break….but with a little business too. Watch this space to see what we get up to next!
Here we are celebrating the New Year before heading to Heathrow.

I am delighted to tell you on December 7^th I won the Hera Everywoman Award for inspirational businesswoman. I am absolutely thrilled winning an award like this is only made possible by the dedication of my wonderful team, but do want to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me.

There was a glittering awards ceremony at the Dorchester in London in a room full of amazingly enterprising and successful women. I was delighted to be able to share the day with Ian as well as Chris her PA and our very supportive Nat West bank manager Wendy Manfield.

Listen to my talking about the award @ http://www.everywoman.com/resources/video/anne-walker-mbe-2011-natwest-everywoman-awards