Ken O’Connell brings 20+ years of elite international competition experience, with over 90 competition awards, including World Culinary Olympiad and Culinary World Cup medals, and gold at the Battle of the Pacific. President of Bocuse d’Or New Zealand since 2023, a WACS Certified Judge and NZQA Level 4 Culinary Judge, he has coached New Zealand teams through the 2023 and 2025 Asia-Pacific and World Finals and currently serves as Executive Chef for Compass Group New Zealand. A former Irish and New Zealand Culinary Team member and 2024 New Zealand Chefs’ Culinarian of the Year, Ken combines exceptional competitive pedigree, certified judging expertise and a proven record of mentoring chefs to international standard.
"The Bocuse d’Or represents the pinnacle of culinary competition and a responsibility to champion the talent, standards and future of New Zealand cuisine on the world stage.”
