Victoria Artist @rovinghaggis

A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Ali Stoner says she intends to give nothing less than 150% in the famed MasterChef kitchen, and her attention to detail means she’s one to watch in the feared pressure tests. But the mystery box is where she really hopes to showcase her skills. Each week, Ali has a seasonal box of organic vegetables delivered to her Bayside home which she uses as the basis for many of her family meals, so surprise ingredients are welcome. With more than 200 cookbooks adorning her shelves, she arrives armed with inspiration.

Proud mum to Maggie and Evie, Ali is an artist, working in both kiln formed glass and paint. Born and raised in the west of Scotland near Glasgow alongside her brother, Ali enjoyed a creative childhood before moving to London at 18 where she remained for two decades becoming a leading graphic designer in the retail industry. In 2011 she made the big move down under with her husband and girls, and hasn’t looked back from the Aussie sunshine.

With a passion for exercise, Ali loves the gym and has competed in both marathons and triathlons, and always makes time for a daily walk with her dogs. With food idols including Yotam Ottolenghi, Nigella Lawson and Alla Wolf Tasker, Ali most enjoys cooking with fresh seasonal produce with a passion for seafood, crediting the latter to her Scottish upbringing.

With a leaning to savoury over sweet cooking, Ali admits the precise nature of desserts and baking doesn’t play to her strengths, but says her greatest skill in the kitchen will be her instinctive creativity.