Elena Duggan

Elena Duggan captured hearts and appetites worldwide as the winner of MasterChef Australia season 8 in 2016. Her warm, down-to-earth personality, paired with remarkable culinary talent, has earned her a loyal following and cemented her reputation as a chef to watch. Dietary inclusivity is a cause close to Elena’s heart, shaped by her own experiences with illness and lifestyle changes. Throughout her time on MasterChef, Elena showcased her ability to create nourishing, delicious food despite dietary restrictions, with only two of her 60 competition dishes containing gluten and all featuring minimal refined sugar. This approach proved to judges and viewers alike that flavor and creativity need not be sacrificed when catering to specific dietary needs.

Since her MasterChef victory, Elena has become an expert in healthy, inclusive cooking. She regularly shares content on ingredient substitutions, equipment alternatives, and techniques, inspiring her audience to live their healthiest lives. Her consulting work with the hospitality industry highlights the potential for businesses to expand their customer base by up to 25% through more inclusive menus and spaces.

With a background in photography, visual arts, psychology, and education, Elena brings a unique perspective to her work, using food as a vehicle for social change. Growing up on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast fostered her deep connection to nature, fresh food, and family, which underpin her core values of respect, compassion, authenticity, and community.

Elena is a passionate advocate for sustainability, waste reduction, homegrown food, and supporting local producers. She champions Indigenous Australian food and works as an ambassador for brands including Australian Lamb, Australian Grapes, Old El Paso, NUK, the Marine Stewardship Council Sustainable Seafood, John West, Hear Us Roar, Shun knives, Sharp, Rabobank, The Hotel School, Australian Bananas, Westfield, delicious. Australia, and NinjaFoodi.

Since becoming a mother, Elena has embraced the challenge of creating quick, nourishing, child-friendly meals and helping families build positive relationships with food. Her role as a special programs teacher further highlights her commitment to using food as a tool for education, resilience, and belonging among young people. With her extensive travel and life experiences, Elena believes that food has the power to bring joy, celebration, and connection, and her honesty, integrity, and optimism make her a joy to collaborate with.