Jo grew up in the Shoalhaven attending Huskisson Primary school and Shoalhaven High. Her first job was at Rhonda’s Restaurant and Dukes takeaway both in Huskisson.
Jo then undertook studying commercial cookery at Goulburn and East Sydney TAFE.
Jo says the highlights of her career have been obtaining an apprenticeship with Tony Bilson at Bilsons. And working alongside and becoming friends with international chefs Peter Gilmore and Peter Kuruvita.
To add to her highlights she achieved a Chefs Hat at Milson’s Restaurant Kirribilli and was featured in both Gourmet traveller and Vogue magazines.
Jo’s career has led her to working in beautiful restaurants in London & the USA including cooking for the Kennedys.
She returned home after travelling to grow her family just as the Hospitality industry was developing and moving forward on the South Coast where she worked in her business as a caterer and later worked in the role as head chef at Gunya Paper Bark Camp Woolamia
Jo’s passion these days is working as a commercial cookery teacher at both Ulladulla and Nowra Illawarra Institute of TAFE campuses where she says that she has been fortunate to work with students from all walks of life, both young and old who want to be a part of the hospitality industry.
With a lifelong background and diverse hospitality work experience she is able to share her life’s experiences through teaching and training students who are looking for new career paths in the hospitality food scene here in the Shoalhaven and beyond.
Jo passion extends to seeing the industry in the Shoalhaven grow and earn recognition regionally and nationally.
