Mindy Woods

Mindy Woods is a woman of the Widjabul Wiabul and Nyangbal clans, Bundjalung Nation (Northern NSW), best known for her native ingredient–driven restaurant Karkalla Byron Bay – which evolved into the cultural and culinary experience Karkalla on Country in 2024 – and her two seasons on Masterchef:  2012 (season 4, Andy Allen's season), where she came 4th; and 2022, where in the 'Fans and Favourites' edition, she championed First Nations cooking and was a fan favourite with her engaging and warm approach to inviting Australians to celebrate the country's incredible array of native foods.

She is a member of the 2023 Indigenous Entrepreneur Program with Food Futures/Charles Sturt University and is the former CEO of Lotus Dining Group in Sydney. She lives in Northern Rivers, NSW. Karkalla at Home: Native foods & everyday recipes for connecting to Country will be released in Sept 2024.

 

The Bendigo Writers Festival acknowledges that the City of Greater Bendigo is located on Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung country.