Deborah inspires the next generation of hospitality professionals

Her career began in the mid-90s when she graduated from university with a Bachelor of Business in hospitality management.

Starting from entry-level roles like bartender and restaurant assistant, Deb honed her hospitality management, guest service, staff development, leadership and operations skills, gaining valuable hands-on experience that paved the way for her teaching career.

By the late 90s, Deb had found her calling as a hospitality teacher and joined TAFE Queensland, motivated by passing on her skills and knowledge from the industry.

For the past 25 years, Deb has been an inspiring mentor, dedicating her time and expertise to nurturing the next generation of hospitality talent.

She has been instrumental in training students at TAFE Queensland, where her passion for teaching and dedication to excellence earned her the prestigious ‘2022 Educator of the Year’ award.

Deb emphasises the importance of foundational experience in hospitality, which TAFE offers as training for new people aspiring to join the industry.

Her teaching style is hands-on, and she integrates her extensive experience into her training, inspiring and preparing students with the skills they need to thrive in hospitality roles.

Known for her innovative teaching methods and deep industry insights, Deb has inspired countless students to pursue excellence in the hospitality sector.

Beyond her classroom achievements, Deb is actively involved with WorldSkills Australia as a Skills Expert in the Restaurant Service skill category, having been recognised as the foremost specialist in the industry.

Drawing on her extensive experience, she guides competitors, preparing them for the rigours of national and international competitions. She recently returned from the 47th WorldSkills International Competition in Lyon, France, supporting Elli McRae from Brisbane.

Under Deb’s guidance, Elli earned gold in the Restaurant Service category at the Regional and National Championships before flying out to challenge herself against 36 other countries in the Restaurant Service Category.

For her efforts against the best in the world, Elli received a Medallion for Excellence after obtaining a high level of excellence, with 700 or more points.

“Watching Elli walk off the regional, national and now international stage with a well-earned Medal of Excellence around her neck and Australian flag held high above her head was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and achievement that makes me beam with pride.”

“Preparing for, competing and participating in any WorldSkills competition is a wonderful experience. It’s tough and entails many hours of hard work but is incredibly rewarding and opens up many opportunities,” said Deb.

Deb’s role as a Skills Expert goes beyond training; she mentors builds resilience, instils confidence and creates a commitment to excellence in her students, helping them navigate the complexities of competition with poise.

Her contributions exemplify her unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and fostering excellence within vocational education and training.

This dedication to teaching inspires and ignites curiosity in the next generation of hospitality professionals, making her a respected figure in both education and the competitive world of WorldSkills​.