Don Hancey Biography

Don Hancey is recognised as one of Western Australia’s most dynamic and innovative chefs for his simple, yet brilliant, ability of pairing regional produce and premium Australian wines.

Don’s 30-year strong career has seen him in a vast selection of roles including management and catering for prestigious wineries such as Cape Mentelle, Voyager Estate, Howard Park, Cullens and West Cape Howe.

In addition Don has received numerous invitations to Guest Chef throughout the world.

  • 1998 Consultant to Palandris $8 million dollar winery/restaurant Margaret River. This involved pre-opening consulting on kitchen layout/design equipment planning/employment of key staff/system implementation/menus and budgets.
  • 1998 Member – Executive Committee Hospitality and Media at the inaugural Australian Wine Tourism Conference, Margaret River.
  • 2000 Consultant to the West Australian Minister for Primary Industry, on ‘Regional Branding & Value Adding Project’. This project focused a spotlight on the Great Southern Region’s food and wines and was instrumental in the creation of the Great Southern Regional Marketing Association and Farmers markets.
  • 2000 Western Australian Fisheries Department, Guest Chef and Speaker at the WA Fisheries launch of ‘Sustainable Fisheries’ at AQUA, Hillary’s. Don still enjoys an ongoing consulting role with the West Australian Fishing Industry Council.
  • 2000 Three Month Consultant Chef to Sodexho, the exclusive catering company of ‘Stadium Australia’ at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
  • 2000 Coordinated the Food and Wine Master class at Clairault Winery Willyabrup. 
  • Appointed Manager of Margaret River Regional Producers Association Farmers Markets
  • Founding board member, Margaret River Regional Producers Association Inc and jointly organized the ‘Autumn Harvest’ at Cullen’s Winery ‘Paddock to Plate’
  • Hosted a series of cooking demos at Mount Barkers Goundrey Winery 25th birthday celebrations.
  • Organising Chef ‘Great Southern Land’ a food and wine matching event held at Gershwins Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Hotel Perth.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

1997

  • Judge at Association of Professional Cooks and Apprenticeships of WA ‘Apprentice of the Year Competition’
  • Spokesperson and Vice President of Margaret River Wine Region Festival
  • Manager of Team Margaret River, gold plate winners at the Inaugural  Regional Culinary competition at  Tasting Australia
  • Master class Chef Presenter of ‘Simply Seafood’ demonstrations, matching food and wine with Leeuwin Estate viticulturist John Brocksopp, Perth Parmelia Hilton.

1998

  • Hospitality Lecturer, Commercial Cookery 11 (part-time) at the Margaret River Campus of TAFE
  • Spokesperson – Margaret River Wine Region Festival
  • 8th FINA World Swimming Championship, Perth chef in charge of ‘Corporate City’
  • Two week Guest Chef at the Western Australian Food & Wine Promotion at Tokyo Bay Hilton, Japan.

1999

  • Regional Co- Coordinator – Western Australia Tasting Australia’s Feast of the Senses’ Regional Culinary Competition
  • Guest Chef Rheingau Gourmet Festival Germany – cooking demos and Wine Dinners
  • Guest Chef at Commerce and Trade Selfridges London, promoting West Australian food and wines.

2000

  • Chef and Co-Coordinator of the “Australian Wine Bureau Australian Themed Restaurants” at the London Wine Trade Fair.
  • Guest chef for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) 9 cooking demos at Catering Institute of Australia’s Trade Expo Burswood Dome featuring Meat Standards Australia beef.
  • Conceptualised and managed the Annual Cape Mentelle Great Cabernet Tasting Lunch with Guest Chef – Cheong Liew

2001

  • Hosted a series of Talks and Cooking Demos to celebrate olives and the olive oil harvest at the Western Australian Olive Oil Conference:
  • Catered for 4000 meals at ‘Taste Odyssey’ Rotary International District conference 9460, Margaret River.
  • Guest Chef at the world’s largest silver service dinner At Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London (11,533 guests at Vodaphone Annual Dinner)
  • Hosted a series of Australian Food & Wine Tastings at the annual Oddbins Consumer Show, London.
  • Commenced a weekly live radio session with ABC Radio Eion Cameron’s 720am program – discussing food, wine and lifestyle issues.
  • Appointed Manager of Margaret River Regional Producers Association Farmers Markets
  • Guest Speaker at New Zealand Food & Wine Tourism Conference and first Australasian Gastronomy Seminar in Hawkes Bay, NZ.

2002 – 2008

  • Appointed ‘Culinary Ambassador’ to the Moore River Olive Association Food Lovers Club.
  • Assisted on the national launch of Australian olive oil company, Dandaragan Estate and co-wrote a series of olive oil recipes for the website.
  • Co-hosted a charity dinner at the legendary James Beard House, New York.
  • Co-founder of Western Australian based olive oil Company: njoi/redisland – which has received local and international distribution success.
  • Hosted and led the first Gourmet Safari Tour through the Margaret River region. The week long tour showcased the regions chefs and food wine tourism.
  • Weekly Guest Spot on 6PR (88.2) “Eat It” – a one hour talk back program on food & wine
  • Freelance Writing for a number of high profile publications including:
    • Wine Selector Magazine
    • The International Food Companion
    • Australian Small Farmer Magazine
    • Western Angler
    • Cape Mentelle News
    • Augusta Margaret River Mail
    • Busselton Dunsborough Mail
    • Western Fisheries Magazine, Seafood & Wine
    • Australian Olive Oil News
    • WA Woman Magazine
    • Instyle Magazine
  • Community and Charity Involvement
    • Member of WA Starlight Foundation Committee for 5 Chefs Dinner Sheraton Perth 2004 to 2008.
    • Member of Council of Industry Partners West Coast  Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Joondalup WA
    • Participant/sponsor in Ngala Fundraising night
    • Participant /sponsor Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser
    • Founding member of Committee of the Chefs Long Table Lunch INC  an annual event which raises funds for Charities in Bunbury, Western Australia 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
    • Founding Committee member “Taste of the Gascoyne” Dinner for Royal Flying Doctor Service Carnarvon WA 2006, 2007 and 2008
    • Variety Club Toy Bank 2005 and 2006.  “Dynamic Duo” cooking demonstrations with Chef Peter Manifis
    • Judge at Tasting Australia’s World Food Media Awards 2003 and 2007
      http://www.tasting-australia.com.au/
    • Sponsor of Bill Thomson Youth Awards Catering Institute of Western Australia 2005 - 2008 
    • Sponsor West Coast Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Apprentice Chef Awards 2006
    • Chef Sponsor Asia Oceania Conference Redemptorist Monastery North Perth
    • Chef Sponsor Annual Alphonsus dinner Retreat House  Redemptorist Monastery North Perth
    • Chef Sponsor Annual Christmas Dinner 2005/2006 Redemptorist Monastery North Perth.
    • Founding Board Member Cocktails for Cambodia Fundraiser Perth 2006 to present.
    • Founding Board Member VISION CAMBODIA, a vehicle to raise funds and awareness for Cambodian children
    • Judge for Le Cordon Bleu World Food Media Awards 2003 to 2007

Media Appearances

Australian Television:

  • Consuming Passions – ABC
  • Good Morning Australia – Channel 10
  • The Today Show
  • The Land Downunder – Win TV
  • Golden West Network GWN

International Television:

  • Fox News “Fox & Friends” NYC; Live 5 min cooking segment with Don Hancey
  • Carlton Food Network – UK
  • Granada TV Live – UK

Radio Interviews:

  • The Great Australian Bight – Radio National
  • Ted Bull – ABC Regionals
  • Sharon Kennedy – ABC Regionals
  • Radio West
  • Tina Pantelis 1170 6AR
  • Shane Foley ABC Great Southern

Professional Organisations:

  • Past member of Les Toques Blanches
  • Past member of La Chaine des Rotisseurs
  • Past member Toast Masters Australia
  • Present full member Australian Culinary Federation

Referees

  • Ian Parmenter 
    Director Tasting Australia Television Chef and author
    bliss@iinet.net.au
  • Amy Burch
    owner Howard Park Winery Denmark and Margaret River.
    This winery built under the guidance of a feng shui master
    amy@hpw.com.au

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