Based in Paris, France, where she is a Pastry Chef Instructor at the prestigious Ecole Bellouet Conseil, Jana Lai’s foundations lie in the suburbs of Melbourne where she was born into a family of hardworking immigrant parents and her baker grandfather, all from East Timor. The home kitchen was a training ground for a young Jana, with both technique and a strong work ethic handed down.  

Beginning her studies at Melbourne’s William Angliss Institute in 2012, Jana has continued her lifelong pursuit of knowledge in the pastry world. After working with some of Australia’s finest chefs, Jana visited and fell in love with Paris, making a permanent move there in 2015. She has since met her idol, Pierre Hermé, and joined the school of her mentor, Jean Michel Perruchon MOF, working alongside him on staff at his Ecole Bellouet Conseil. A passionate teacher, Jana balances both modern and traditional French techniques as she trains the next generation of pastry pros.  

With the relentless pursuit of excellence part of her DNA, Jana has mastered all corners of pastry, from delicate sugar work to chocolate, viennoiseries, Petits Gâteaux and beyond. Her work has graced many revered industry magazines and she has also appeared on French television.  

Motivated by pressure and match-fit for the fierce competition ahead on Dessert Masters, in 2023 Jana became the first ever female to compete for the prestigious French Pastry team in the Coupe du Monde de la Pâtisserie (World Pastry Cup), taking home the Silver Medal. Her determination and never-say-die attitude will serve her well in the competition, honed from years of making her mark in a male-dominated industry.   

Considering pastry a true art form, Jana’s creations look as good as they taste and she is constantly challenging herself to grow professionally, with Dessert Masters representing another chance to do just that.