Mindy Woods is a proud Bundjalung woman, chef, and author reshaping Australia’s culinary identity through the power of First Nations food. A finalist on MasterChef Australia 2012 and recipient of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 Champion of Change Award, she is nationally and globally recognised for revitalising Indigenous culture through contemporary gastronomy.

As the founder of Karkalla, Mindy champions native ingredients and seasonal, locally sourced produce, weaving cultural storytelling into every dish to honour the world’s oldest continuous food culture. She works alongside communities and knowledge holders to protect sovereign Indigenous food systems, mentors the next generation of First Nations chefs in hospitality, and inspires audiences worldwide to connect more deeply with Country through food.

For Pearls and Plates Broken Bay, Mindy will showcase local producers alongside ancient and contemporary techniques in a dining experience that is intentionally designed to slow people down, bring them together around the table, and create shared moments through food.