Kellie began her hospitality career as an Apprentice chef in the Gippsland area, working in various restaurants and hotels while attending the Gordon Institute in Geelong . She was inspired by passionate trainers who encouraged her to compete and awarded multiple cookery medals throughout her training which led her to a love for competitions. Over the years as a Chef she became an Australian Culinary Federation committee member and certified National Judge, now she encourages others and judges at various Local, State and National competitions.
Also working in Vocational Education and Training as a Culinary Studies Teacher for the past 30 years, doing what she loves, “passing on her knowledge and passion for the industry”, with her additional title of the Victorian Young Chefs Mentor for the Australian Culinary Federation for the past 11 years, she has volunteered her spare time to the next generation of up & coming chefs to engage & promote friendship, culinary excellence & the importance of cultural understanding & humanitarianism not only in Australia but around the World. She recently was nominated & appointed on the committee for World Association of Chefs , Global Youth Development Team where she will inspire more Young Chefs from around the World to be better versions of themselves & have Chefs of the future to progress to senior leadership roles for the ACF & WACS.
Kellie has been a driving force for Young Chefs with industry development, social networking, fundraising events, attending the World Chef Congress, running masterclasses also a member of LTB ,AITC where she creates pathways, opportunities, education and growth to nurture these young chefs for a sustainable culinary future. Kellie has helped raise over $70,000 for Young Chefs from around Australia to attend the world chefs congress in Norway, Greece, Kuala Lumpur , Abu Dhabi & Singapore to ensure more Young Chefs get this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country.
With three decades of training students and young chefs across Victoria & the World, Kellie’s passion remains the same.
“ To inspire and nurture young chefs .”
