Meet the Team

ANDRE SANDISON Team Captain & Sugar Competitor

Team Pastry Australia’s success carries a special significance for Le Cordon Bleu Sydney, at the TAFE Northern Sydney Institute campus in Ryde. Under the captaincy of Head Culinary Teacher André Sandison, the chance to reunite with his former student Justin Yu, allowed them to compete together and win the Asian Pastry Cup 2012. Andre also won best Sugar piece. Andre’s international experiences as a pastry chef combined with his comprehensive training in classic French pâtisserie, has prepared him well for the challenges of competing at this level. Andre clearly sees this experience, “as larger than any one person and only achievable when such a committed and talented team comes together.”

JUSTIN YU Chocolate Competitor

An Australian qualified pastry chef, Justin has a real passion for pastry and in particular chocolate. Having trained in Belgium, Chicago and Taiwan, he has picked up many influences from these regions to advance his knowledge and skills. Having won many competitions including 2012 Asian Pastry Cup, Justin has worked in pastry at the Hotel National in Taiwan, Cacao in Melbourne and with Adriano Zumbo and is currently working with Jian Yao at continental Patisserie.

BARRY JONES Pastry Chef & Ice Competitor
Born into a family of bakers in Wales, Barry has worked around the world in Switzerland, France and Italy at some of the finest establishments including the Dorchester, Savoy and Executive pastry chef of Star City Casino in Sydney, where he saw to all the casino’s restaurants’ pastry needs. Barry now works for Euro Chef Australia as technical adviser for pastry, dessert production.

DAMMIKA HATHARASINGINGHE Mould Maker & Sugar Specialist

Dammika has the most difficult task of Sugar trainer and mould maker for the team, while not supporting the team training Dammika also is main support for the team on the actual competition day, setting up the kitchen, electrical and checking ingredients. Dammika is also a teacher of Patisserie at Canberra TAFE and has also been a competitor himself the International Patisserie Grand Prix Tokyo as well as many national competitions.

DEAN GIBSON Team Coach

Dean's role is to oversee all training as well as day-to-day organisation of the competitors. Having been a competitor himself Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie 1999, World Artisan Cup Italy 2009, Asian Pastry Cup, Singapoe 2010, 2012 and international judge for the IPGP Tokyo, 2009, World Chocolate Masters, Paris 2011 Dean has first hand experience of the international competition and coached the first Australian team to win the Asian Pastry Cup 2012. Dean is looking to bring this experience as well as his extensive expertise, passion and ability to the coaching role along with the knowledge from his position as a teacher at the esteemed Hunter Institute of TAFE.

JIAN YAO Manager
Managing Director of Sydney’s acclaimed Continental Patisserie, Jian’s role within Team Pastry Australia is as Manager, which will see him co-ordinate sponsorship, international trainers and ensure the team’s endeavours are run as smoothly and professionally as possible. In the past, Jian has led many other teams in Coupe Du Monde in Lyon, France & also as the captain/coach of Australia’s pastry team for Asian Pastry cup 2010 and manager for the winning Australian team at APC 2012.