NSW Season 4 @msmindywoods

Proudly passionate about her food, country and culture, Mindy Woods is back in the MasterChef kitchen to showcase world class ingredients and dishes so often forgotten in family meals.

A former physiotherapist, Mindy came in fourth place on Season 4 of MasterChef Australia, and has used the years since to hone, develop and enhance her culinary knowledge and ability. Working as the Head Of Culinary Development for the Lotus Group she moved into the role of CEO before returning to country in 2020 to open her own venue, Karkalla in Byron Bay. In 2021 she was asked by the Australian government to represent Australia as a guest chef at the World Expo in Dubai, an achievement she’s immensely proud of.

A proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul Wia bul clan, Mindy has a strong desire to connect indigenous and non-indigenous people with Aboriginal culture, art and stories through food, and to increase awareness and encourage the use of the world’s oldest living ingredients.

Born in Melbourne, Mindy and her family travelled across Australia and overseas as a child as her dad worked as a cook in the Australian air force. She can still fondly recall making her parents breakfast in bed with a cold cup of tea, and while her appetite and ability has risen, her passion to cook for those she loves has never wavered.

Inspired in the kitchen by her dad, and with a flair for savoury cooking, Mindy’s current favourite dish to cook is beautifully prepared snapper with native curry and handmade roti.

Out of the kitchen Mindy loves to spend time at the beach with her wife Rachelle, a production manager with 10 and EndemolShine Australia’s Gogglebox Australia, and the couple’s two cats, Leopold and Lucy.