William is baking up a successful career at WorldSkills to carry on the family tradition

Published: 03 Jun 2025

Born into the world of patisserie, William spent his life surrounded by sugar, flour and family passion. His journey began in the Southern Highlands, where his parents opened a patisserie in 1995. Growing up in this environment, William is no stranger to the kitchen. By the age of eight, he had already decided that the patisserie world was where he saw his future. From the age of 12 onwards, he was working in the kitchen during weekends and school holidays and has never looked back since. His passion and enjoyment of the art continue to grow every day.

30 years of family legacy

This September marks a special milestone for William and his family as they celebrate 30 years of their beloved patisserie. For William, the business is much more than a workplace, it’s a symbol of inspiration, resilience and unity. His parents have weathered life’s ups and downs together, raised two children who both chose the same career path and built a thriving business with 90 employees. Their patisserie has become a destination for visitors far and wide.

“When you provide a customer with something and see their reaction or hear that it’s for someone they love, it’s truly an honour,” William reflects. “The hours aren’t easy and the work is demanding. But when customers come in and tell you it’s their tradition to visit every year on the same weekend and that the quality is still the same as 30 years later that’s the real reward. I’m very honoured to work in the family business.”

A family of champions

William comes from a highly competitive family, especially in the world of patisserie. Both his father and brother are past winners of WorldSkills in the patisserie category. This year, William will follow in their footsteps, stepping onto the national stage at the 2025 WorldSkills Australia competition in Brisbane and hoping to carry on that legacy.

“I want to showcase my skills and hopefully sit on the same chair as them,” he says. “We’re a competitive family and it only pushes me to be better and work harder to make sure I’m getting closer to the goal.”

Inspired by his brother’s competitions and his father’s achievements, William has dreamed of representing Australia at WorldSkills since he was young. For him, stepping onto the world stage is the ultimate goal of a pastry chef.

Guided by mentorship at CIT

William’s journey has also been shaped by his time at CIT, where he found invaluable support and inspiration from his teachers.
“Chef Dammika is incredible, he’s so kind and caring and willing to share his skills and knowledge with all young inspiring pastry chefs,” William shares. “That’s what makes CIT such a great institution. The teachers don’t just pass on skills, they guide you to become your best self.”

WorldSkills, the tradespersons Olympics

As William prepares for the national competition, he approaches his training with the mindset of an elite athlete.

“Olympians don’t train once a week and for trades, this is our Olympics,” he says. “It’s about daily commitment, pushing yourself and striving to produce outstanding work.”

For William, being overprepared is far better than risking being underprepared. The competition has helped him grow immensely, especially as a second-year apprentice.

“I’ve learned how to temper chocolate, create showpieces and make intricate desserts, things I wouldn’t normally get to do at work,” he says. “it’s been an eye-opener to just how vast the industry is and it's laying the foundation for my future.”

Growth beyond the kitchen

For William, the most valuable skill he’s gained from CIT is learning how to be a better version of himself.

“Having chef Dammika as a mentor and a teacher, he taught me not only how to be a good pastry chef but how to be a good person” William says. “That’s something I’ll carry with me and something I hope to pass on one day by mentoring young chefs myself. By passing down the knowledge and skills, this is how we build the next generation.”

Pushing boundaries, embracing opportunity

William’s advice to any future students thinking of taking on a competition like WorldSkills is simple: just do it.

“It’s hard work yes, but it’s so rewarding,” he says. “It’s about pride, building your skills and laying the foundation for a lifelong career in your trade. No matter what trade it is, you’ll grow so much by being part of it.”

After completing his studies at CIT, William has big dreams of going abroad and exploring the hospitality industry overseas.

“I want to work all over Europe, in fine dining restaurants, chocolate shops and patisseries and learn as much as I can,” he says. “There’s always something new to discover and I believe every day offers a chance to grow.”

William’s journey is one of drive, perseverance and pride. From the family business to the national stage, he’s mixing tradition with ambition and proving the recipe for success starts with passion.

Learn more about studying patisserie at CIT