Australian celebrity chef Matt Moran showed good humour and a down to earth nature when he spoke to more than 300 businesswomen and men at an Illawarra Women In Business lunch on Friday.
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Invited to speak by IWIB director Glenda Papac he revealed his family had a Berry connection.
“I have spent a bit of time around Kiama and Berry,” he said.
“In fact my parents met in Berry and had a dairy farm in the 60’s. They had me much later than that (in Tamworth).”
After being introduced by IMB Bank’s Terry Widdicombe he said he was also a Dragon’s fan, had previously stayed at the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach where he spoke on Friday and had visited two restaurants in Kiama on one of the television programs he has been involved with.
Asked if he would ever open a restaurant in Wollongong he said wouldn’t rule it out.
“There is nothing on the agenda now but never say never,” he said.
“I think you have a phenomenal spot here. I think Wollongong is growing more and more. There are some great restaurants down here already.”
Among those excited to meet the owner of 10 restaurants and star of many television cooking programs were Access Law Group’s Tom Ellicott and Wollongong’s chefs to the stars Michael and Martin Papac, of M2 Kitchen.
Mr Ellicott said Moran has inspired him to cook and get better at it and then Mrs Papac’s sons said for them to meet one of the most highly regarded chefs in Australia was a great experience.
“We are a little starstruck. He is what we all as young chefs aspire to be like one day. He has done all the hard work and now runs an empire,” Michael said.
The Papac brothers were particularly impressed when he told them he also ran some catering businesses similar to what they do with M2 Kitchen.
Moran said his success had involved “a lot of hard work and a lot of luck” and an emphasis on “time management.” “I think that is the most important thing. I juggle a lot of things. It is really hard to juggle that life work balance. I think I have got it down pat in the last couple of years. And that is basically about surrounding myself with the right people,” he said.
Moran said people worked with him and not for him. And everyone has a say. “The key to being a successful businessperson is to know you are not always right. And I am aware of my competitors but I don’t try to chase them. That is really crucial. If your competitor does something that makes them successful believe in what you do and keep going. Don’t follow the same path”.
Moran finished his talk by donating $2500 to the Disability Trust.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
