What began as a part-time university job quickly developed into a career and a deep passion for cheese, particularly the people and stories behind Australian cheesemaking.

Before joining Boatshed Market in January 2025, Chanel spent almost three years at Little Sister Delicatessen, progressing from Retail Assistant and Cheesemonger to Shop Manager and Senior Cheesemonger. During this time, she developed her knowledge through customer education, cheese tastings, masterclasses, supplier relationships and working with a diverse range of cheeses. She also spent time in Paris before returning to Perth and joining Boatshed, where she now leads the cheese department and oversees a team, stock, suppliers, merchandising, sales and customer service.

Chanel is particularly passionate about Australian cheese and the people behind it. She sees cheesemongering as an opportunity to share knowledge, tell the story of each cheese and help customers appreciate the quality, diversity and craftsmanship of Australian cheesemaking. She also enjoys the creative side of the role, particularly creating beautiful displays and what she describes as “cheese art”.

Career highlight: Visiting Barthélemy in Paris

Favourite aspect of the job: Hearing customers return to say how much they enjoyed a previous recommendation

Most frequently asked question: “What’s the difference between Brie and Camembert?”

Career aspiration: To be inducted into the Guilde des Fromagers

Cheese hero: Cindy Hobbs, her boss, whose passion, respect for the product and creativity in presenting cheese have been a constant inspiration