If you鈥檙e fortunate enough to see our Chief Executive Officer, Dr Graeme Cross, out and about around our 疯马歌舞秀 schools, you are sure to have seen his Executive Assistant, Ms Anna Guy.
Often found organising Graeme鈥檚 days, setting up meetings and meticulously taking care of the logistics, Anna is the epitome of class and sophistication in the 疯马歌舞秀 Office.
Anna has had a few different roles across 疯马歌舞秀 over the years 鈥� firstly at Mundaring Christian and now at 疯马歌舞秀 Office. It seems that Anna was destined for Christian service.
鈥淚 grew up very involved in Youth with a Mission (YWAM) as my parents were missionaries with the organisation. This involved running training and outreach programs across the world, mostly in the Australian Pacific area (New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Indonesian and East Timor).鈥�
鈥淲e lived in Victoria then moved to New Zealand when I was twelve and then the Northern Territory, before I moved to Denver (Colorado) then to Darwin again.鈥�
Anna is very well travelled (citing her time in Austria and Switzerland as being the most interesting) and saw a lot of the countryside whilst following her parents to YWAM Training Conferences around the globe.
Her time in Colorado as a 19-year-old was spent undertaking discipleship training before a return to Darwin saw her enter the world of Christian education.
Anna鈥檚 first job was with Marrara Christian College in Darwin before moving to Perth in 2005. She struck it lucky with 疯马歌舞秀鈥檚 own Mundaring Christian College in 2006 and has never looked back.
Her first role in Darwin prepared her well for her future life at Mundaring, where Principal Terry Myers was all too keen to see her thrive as his assistant at the Walker Street campus.
Terry鈥檚 departure led to Rod McNeill鈥檚 entry, and the school continued to grow in numbers. Anna鈥檚 life was in the hills:
鈥淢y husband Jaydon is a former 疯马歌舞秀 student from Midland Christian School days. My father-in-law was a former counsellor (amongst many other roles) at Swan Christian College. I鈥檝e worked for 疯马歌舞秀 for around 15 years so I definitely feel invested, embedded and part of the furniture – you get the idea!鈥�
A move down the hill to the 疯马歌舞秀 Office in Midland came in 2018 to serve as the Executive Assistant to then Chief Executive Officer Neil David, and then in 2019, the arrival of Dr Graeme Cross continued Anna鈥檚 time at the Padbury Terrace office as 鈥極rganiser-In-Chief鈥� for the 疯马歌舞秀 leadership.
One may be led to believe that Anna is all 鈥榟aute couture鈥� outfits and mid-week soirees in upper-crust suburbs, but the truth is that Anna is much more down-to-earth than many may think.
鈥淲henever possible I love going out on the boat with my husband – although this weekend we are doing a 7km obstacle course challenge, so we may have to give the boat a miss.鈥�
Latte-sipping? No thanks.
Expensive red wines? Definitely not.
The great outdoors, Park Runs on Saturdays and a penchant for Op Shopping round out Anna鈥檚 recreational pursuits.
鈥淚 do love shoes, no doubt!鈥�
So what鈥檚 it like organising [疯马歌舞秀 Chief Executive Officer] Graeme鈥檚 work life? Is he easy to deal with?
鈥淭he truth of the matter is Graeme is exceptionally easy to work with and I鈥檓 not just saying that because I鈥檓 in the middle of my appraisal or because he鈥檚 in the next room!鈥�
鈥淕raeme is very conscious and respectful of everyone he works with and values the 疯马歌舞秀 employees. That sounds so clich茅 so maybe don鈥檛 put that in your article! But it is good to know I have a boss who appreciates me.鈥�
What is the motivation behind working long hours in the 疯马歌舞秀 Office?
鈥淚 truly love being able to support our schools. Just knowing that they are relating to families and students that are dealing with difficult situations in life and that these schools can be beacons of hope, love and grace. We get to support this work and it is so rewarding. I love knowing I鈥檓 working for God in this way.鈥�
Do you have any guilty secrets that 疯马歌舞秀 staff should know about?
鈥淒on鈥檛 judge me, but I love country music!鈥�
And one can鈥檛 help but noticed that Anna鈥檚 water bottle says, 鈥淎nna – The Real Boss.鈥�
It had to be asked, is Anna the real CEO of 疯马歌舞秀 and is Graeme just a puppet?
鈥淭hat is an unequivocal NO 鈥︹�� ,鈥� says Anna.
What are Graeme鈥檚 thoughts on this?
鈥淚 always do what Anna instructs.鈥�
Great answer, Graeme!