endangered and it could disappear within two generations. It needs all the international attention it could get. I'm compelled to do my part." Her pioneering work was recognised in the inaugural Australian Arts in Asia Awards. In recognition of her cultural work in Taiwan, Ivanova received a scholarship from the Taiwanese government to undertake Chinese Language studies at the Mandarin Training Center of National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan, which came to fame as the college of Australia's Chinese-speaking Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Over the course of her career Ivanova has received over 55 awards from national and international institutions, becoming the most successful independent curator in Australia. In 2016, Annie Ivanova became the first cultural representative to receive the prestigious ANZ Chamber of Commerce Business Award for "outstanding contribution the Australia-Taiwan Relationship". She is also the only businesswoman awarded that year. Annie Ivanova is also the Regional President of Asia Designer Communication Platform, which helps designers show their work and has held events in cities within Asia. Personal life Annie Ivanova was born in Tryavna, Bulgaria to an artistic family. Her father was an industrial designer and her mother drama teacher. Her grandfather had a professional photographic studio in the 1930s. During the 1989 revolution Ivanova was working as a junior reporter, assisting Reuters photographer Oleg Popov. She was a front-line witness of the dramatic events leading to the collapse of communism in Sofia. Soon after, with the help of a colleague, she moved to London where she studied design at the London College of Fashion. In 1994 Ivanova immigrated to Australia. Ivanova identifies herself as an Australian of Bulgarian heritage. She has commented that her international work has always been about “persuading through culture and ideas that reach across borders”. She has said the Balkan atrocities of the 1990s have left a very deep mark in her mind, becoming a motivational force to pursue a career in international relations. Following long term interests in Asian culture, since 2010 she has been living between Melbourne and Taipei. The Chinese name given to her by a friend is 易安妮 (Yì Ānnī). Yì was taken from the character in I-Ching "Book of Changes" as an auspicious match. In Taiwan she is known by her Chinese name. Taiwan by Design Annie Ivanova is the acclaimed author of "Taiwan by Design: 88 products for better living" the first comprehensive design book from