Diana Todd-Banks is a woman who can overcome even the highest hurdles to make things happen.

During her hectic life she has survived life in a Chicago slum living on just $1 a day, she has been a major mover and shaker in the international business arena, she introduced America to the delights of Vegemite and Australian wine, has battled a crippling three-year bout of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, worked in a range of 'men's jobs' such as shearing and tobacco picking, then contrasting this she designed and made wedding gowns.

But in recent years Diana has had to deal with the death of others and these experiences have prompted her to write a book to be titled 'Wrapping It Up'.

Diana grew up in Adelaide where part of her training was 'how to be a good business executive's wife', but the energetic Diana was not content to sit back and bask in someone else's glory.

At her first job at a major daily newspaper, Diana learned some basic skills of journalism and throughout her life has written about and promoted a vast array of products and people both in Australia and the US.

In 1969, she set out for the US so her husband could study at the University of Chicago. Money was tight and they were forced to live in the slums of a South Chicago ghetto.

The infamous race riots of the 1960s were still fresh in everyone's memory and her neighbours in the predominantly African-American ghetto weren't too keen on sharing their space with foreigners.

As the cold weather settled over Chicago, Diana found the only way to keep warm was to spend time in the local supermarkets. One day while waiting in the check-out queue Diana flicked through a magazine and spotted what was to become a life-long dream.