Profile

General Manager / Secretary

With an illustrious career as a chef, Deb has worked in establishments ranging from cafes to 5-star restaurants and resorts. Her career began 1981 in McLaren Vale South Australia as a kitchen hand job sharing with her mother, a full-time apprenticeship was offered in 1984 when she finished school & she completed her apprenticeship at a winery function centre McLaren’s on the Lake and her studies at Regency TAFE.

Moving to Cairns not long after she was part of the opening crew at the Cairns International Hotel.  After a brief stint on an international Luxury Motor Yacht & 12 months on Hayman Island Deb returned to Adelaide in 1992, two years later she was offered the job as Executive Chef at the Reef House in Palm Cove. 1998 saw a move to Rydges Plaza in Cairns as Executive Chef & in 2000 Deb moved south to the Gold Coast to The Australia Sovereign Hotel during which time she event managed the Asia Pacific Forum including the inaugural International Secondary Schools Culinary Challenge for the ACF & went on to be promoted to Food & Beverage Manager.

In 2005 she went to work with Xtreme Chef Consulting & in 2006 made the move with the company to Melbourne.

Deb is the second longest serving active member on the ACF board has held several positions, she was appointed treasurer in 2003 a volunteer position. In 2009 she was employed as the ACF Office Manager part-time & since December 2012 full time as the General Manager / Secretary.

Deb manages and coordinates the day to day aspects of the association office including the membership & marketing. She coordinates all the national events, conferences and competitions & has been the director of The Nestle Golden Chefs Hat Award since 2009.

In 2018 in Kuala Lumpur Deb was awarded the Presidents Medal from Worldchefs President Thomas Gugler in recognition of her services to the industry