Meet the Team
Simon Sandall
FounderSimon has been putting his culinary techniques and skills into high profile kitchens across London and Sydney for over thirty years. He owns and operates Boronia Kitchen at Hunters Hill and consults for a variety of Sydney's restaurants. After working in London's top restaurants he joined MorSul as Head Chef of Aria Sydney, and later Executive Chef across the entire group, including Aria Sydney and Brisbane, Aria Catering, Chiswick, Chiswick at the Gallery, Opera Bar, River Bar and North Bondi Fish. He has managed highly awarded kitchens throughout his career, with gold medals from the Torquay International Festival of Food and Wine and the West of England Salon Culinaire.
Michael Jones
Hospitality Operator & Beverage SpecialistMichael Jones is a hospitality operator and beverage specialist with more than fifteen years opening and running standout venues across Sydney and London. He thrives on the high pressure launch, from a heritage members club in the Sydney CBD to Bar 83 atop Sydney Tower, El Pastor in London and the relaunch of Cruise Bar at Circular Quay. As Group General Manager Beverage for Trippas White Group he led programs across roughly 140 properties and won landmark tenders nationally. A former AHA NSW Bartender of the Year, he pairs sharp commercial control with meticulous service and teams that consistently perform.
Bernadette Alcorn
Event ManagerBernadette has a wealth of management experience across both the agricultural and hospitality sectors, most notably The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. Specialising in event management, she continues to deliver exceptional service to both private and corporate event clients. As a trained chef, her years of industry service bring a unique opportunity to combine her skills, where people, produce and purpose come together in a creative and celebratory way. With an eye for the smallest detail and a genuine enthusiasm to reach the best outcomes, Bernadette and her team of creatives thrive on exceeding client expectations to deliver outstanding events.
Joshua Booker
Kitchen & Operations SpecialistJoshua is a seasoned restaurant professional with over twenty years in high end restaurants and hotels. Raised in Byron Bay, he refined his skills under Steven Snow at Fins and Tippy Heng at Dish, then spent three years as sous chef at the three hat restaurant Absynthe. From 2011 he spent five years establishing Merivale venues in Sydney, including Est, Ivy and El Loco, before serving as Food Director and Manager of the Boathouse group for five years. In 2020 he joined Simon Sandall at Boronia Kitchen, building its restaurant and catering business around contemporary Australian cuisine and the finest local produce, and is now a partner in the business.
Bianca Hoi
Marketing SpecialistBianca is the founder of Lemonade, a hospitality marketing agency renowned for delivering creative solutions tailored to the food and beverage industry. With over sixteen years of experience spanning the globe, her career includes roles at the award winning Coutume Café in Paris and the five star Hotel Rieser in Austria. She has collaborated with hundreds of iconic venues across Australia, including Tetsuya's, the Parlour Group and Pendolino. As a multidisciplinary strategist, Bianca specialises in strategy development, search engine optimisation, media buying and compelling copywriting, ensuring her clients stand out while driving measurable results.
Rick Eggins
Human Resources & Recruitment SpecialistRick Eggins is a hospitality human resources and recruitment specialist who connects venues, restaurants and hotels with the people who make them thrive. With deep sector knowledge and a real understanding of what drives a great team, he partners with operators to attract, place and retain standout talent across front of house, kitchen and management. His approach blends sharp commercial judgement with genuine care for candidates and clients, building lasting relationships rather than quick placements. Known for reliability, discretion and an eye for the right fit, Rick is a trusted name for businesses building exceptional teams.