Kirsten Tibballs

Kirsten Tibballs, an accomplished Australian pastry chef and chocolatier, has not only represented her country at global championships but has also served as a judge for international competitions. In 2002, Tibballs established the Savour Chocolate and Patisserie School in Brunswick, Melbourne. With two cookbooks to her name, she is a regular contributor to pastry publications and has made appearances on various television shows, including MasterChef Australia. Recognized as the 'Queen of Chocolate' and one of the most followed female pastry chefs on Instagram, Tibballs has significantly influenced the chocolate industry.

Born in Leongatha, Victoria, to parents Christine and Allan, Tibballs grew up in Pearcedale, cultivating her interest in pastry from an early age. At 12, she began baking and entered cake-making and pastry competitions at the Dandenong Show. Tibballs commenced her apprenticeship at a small patisserie in Mornington and later, at the age of 20, joined the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Melbourne as a commis pastry chef. Two years later, Tibballs earned the National Australian Baking Scholarship Award, a recognition that took her to Europe to work with pastry chefs in Brussels and Paris.