Jacqueline Morland Awards 2025

Adjudicators

Lisa Pavane

Born in Newcastle NSW, Lisa joined The Australian Ballet School as a student in 1978 and trained under the founding Director of The Australian Ballet School, Dame Margaret Scott AC DBE. In 1980 Lisa toured with the inaugural Dancers’ Company (now known as The Australian Ballet’s National Tour). Lisa joined The Australian Ballet in 1981. She rose swiftly to Soloist in 1983 and Principal Artist in 1986. In 1994 Lisa joined English National Ballet as Senior Principal. As a dancer, Lisa appeared internationally as a guest artist with many ballet companies, including the Boston, Kirov and Birmingham Royal. Lisa retired from the stage in 1999.

In 2007 she joined The Australian Ballet School staff and in 2008 became the first graduate of the School’s Vocational Graduate Certificate in Elite Ballet Instruction. Lisa held a number of leadership positions as a member of the School’s faculty. In 2012 Lisa became Head of Student Training, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship and gained her Graduate Certificate in Professional Education and Training through Deakin University.

Lisa commenced as Director of The Australian Ballet School in 2015 and, after almost 10 years in this significant leadership role, stepped down from the position at the end of June 2024. Lisa is now highly sought after for teaching, coaching and adjudicating.

Rachael Walsh

Born in Mt. Gambier South Australia, Rachael first studied ballet with RAD teacher Maxine Lockwood. At 15, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne under the direction of Gailene Stock AM and upon graduation in 1997, accepted a position with Queensland Ballet.

Promoted to principal artist in 2003, she performed a vast repertoire of renowned classical and contemporary ballets. Acknowledged as an artist of unique musicality and dramatic quality, Rachael embraced the complex character roles created on her in ballets such as Klaus’ Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, A Streetcar Named Desire, Cloudland, King Arthur and Fonteyn Remembered.

Retiring as a principal artist in 2014 following the final performance of MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Rachael moved into QB’s business team mentored by Li Cunxin AO and Dilshani Weerasinghe. Her interest in philanthropy and sustainability has led to her commitment to build a legacy of support for the arts in Queensland. She envisions a future where ballet and great artistic experience are accessible to all, enriching people’s health, wellbeing and connectivity with community.

Rachael maintains a connection with the artform as a character artist with the company, returning to the stage in MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet as Lady Capulet (2014, 2019) Derek Deane’s Strictly Gershwin (2016,2023) Liam Scarlett’s Dangerous Liaisons (2019).

Rachael is currently Director of Development and Endowment for Queensland Ballet and in 2025 reunites with Li Cunxin AO with a bold vision to build the endowment that will support the company and academy.