Julie Goodwin

Julie Goodwin's Biography

Julie Goodwin is the epitome of the busy Australian mum and the nation’s favourite home cook. In 2009, a record-breaking 4 million Australians tuned in to watch her become the first ever winner of ‘MasterChef’.  Viewers loved her honesty, sense of humour and humble cooking style, and when her first cookbook, Our Family Table, was published, she became one of Australia's best-selling authors; her book held the number one slot in the book charts for over 10 weeks.  Julie’s family-focused style of cooking and ‘mum next door’ persona made has turned her passion into a hugely successful career.

A native Sydneysider, Julie’s first career was as a youth worker. She spent many years presenting workshops in schools across Australia before working at a juvenile detention centre on Sydney's Central Coast. After having three boys in quick succession, Julie and her husband Michael started their own IT Company, which they built into a success through hard work and determination.

Shortly after winning ‘MasterChef’, Julie became a regular guest on Nine’s top-rated breakfast show ‘Today’ and began writing her regular recipe columns for Australian Women’s Weekly which continues today. She then went on to publish four books, Heart of the Home, Gather, $20 in 20 minutes and ‘Homemade Takeaway’.

over a decade ago Julie Goodwin became a household name overnight when she was crowned Australia’s first MasterChef.  Thrust into the limelight, there were the joys and highs of so many new opportunities, TV shows, best-selling books, radio, appearances, columns, endorsements and the long-time dream of opening a cooking school came true.

‘Julie Goodwin’ was a brand, and whilst always incredibly grateful and humbled for the opportunities MasterChef had created, the person behind the brand began to suffer. The highs were also met with extreme lows; life in the public eye, along with overcommitment and exhaustion, took their toll.  In 2019 it became necessary for Julie to seek help as an in-patient of a mental health facility. This began a long and ongoing process of recovery.

In 2021 when the call came to re-enter MasterChef kitchen, Julie had to seriously consider her next move.  Could she, should she, go there again?  Ultimately her decision to join the show came down to the one question she had been asking herself during her illness – ‘Is there anything left for me to do?’.

Aptly named ‘Food for Thought’ is a 45-minute keynote address where Julie speaks candidly about her journey with mental health. About how busyness does not equal happiness; how asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength; about learning to accept that healing takes time and work, and about the surprising joy and freedom of just letting go.

An accomplished and formidable public speaker, Julie knows how to connect with an audience. Easily traversing through the difficult, to the hilarious, and back again. Delivered with her trademark honesty and great sense of humour, the audience are not only thoroughly entertained but may also see some part of themselves reflected in her story leaving them with food for thought.

“Julie believes that the most important part of any keynote comes at question time, where she hears what the assembled audience really wants to know. No question is off limits, and it’s recommended that time is allowed for this open exchange. It is a transformative part of any session with Julie Goodwin.”

Speaking Topics Include

Food for Thought’ - Julie speaks candidly about her journey with mental health. About how busyness does not equal happiness; how asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but of strength; about learning to accept that healing takes time and work, and about the surprising joy and freedom of just letting go.

Obstacles as opportunities

Positivity, persistence and passionfruit puddle pie.

Choose your attitude

Visualising goals / goal board

Masterchef – the journey