WorldSkills Australia 
Jessie Lucas
Training Institute: Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE
Regional Results: Gold
National Results: Bronze
Qualification: Certificate III in Commercial Cookery
“WorldSkills is a truly life changing competition and experience. Even if you don’t receive a medal you still get to meet an amazing bunch of people and witness the skills of others competing within your profession and other professions. The skills I have learnt through my journey with WorldSkills will stay with me for my lifetime. WorldSkills has also helped me to realise the many doors and new opportunities which are available to me in my industry.”
Jessie first became interested in cookery during high school. When she was in year 10 she decided to try her hand at the profession and enrolled herself in a Certificate II in Hospitality at her local TAFE in Toowoomba. As she had suspected Jessie had a strong passion for the industry, and in 2007 began her full time chef apprenticeship whilst continuing her study to obtain a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.
What Jessie enjoys most about her profession is experimenting with new and old flavours and techniques. She is also passionate about eating out and researching how other restaurants prepare and present their fine produce, in addition to discovering new wines to compliment certain meals.
Jessie strongly recommends her industry as a career pathway to others, she explains: “Cookery may not be an easy trade, it is stressful and intimidating at times but if you can push past these obstacles it is also a very rewarding and satisfying job.”
Jessie cites Shannon Bennett, an acclaimed Australian chef and creator of the prestigious ‘Vue de Monde’ restaurant, as a mentor and somebody she looks up to for inspiration in her industry: “Shannon always knew what he wanted to achieve as a chef and wasn’t afraid to work extremely hard to achieve his goals, I admire that and aspire to be the same,” says Jessie.
In addition to Jessie’s WSA regional and national medal wins, this budding young chef boasts a number of prestigious accolades including the Queensland Overseas Scholarship, the Nestle Golden Chef’s Hat Award and also the title as the Australian Cookery representative in the 2013 Team Australia Skillaroos.
In the future Jessie aims to achieve her ultimate goal of opening her own restaurant in the Gold Coast Hinterlands and possibly having further involvement with WorldSkills Australia.