“Creativity has no rules! Start where you are with what you have!”
As Global Creative Lead Chef for Callebaut, Minette is leading the creative side of the Callebaut brand, crafting new innovations, inspirations, and actionable solutions for chefs and entrepreneurs around the globe. Minette’s career with Barry Callebaut began in her home country of South Africa, where she led the opening of the first Chocolate Academy™ Center in Africa in 2017. She was Head Chef at the Academy from 2017 to 2022, supporting all regional technical efforts while leading and driving global sustainability initiatives. Minette’s passion in life is culinary arts, but she has always had a particular affinity for chocolate, pastry, and confectionery arts. This was evident to her chefs and mentors from the very beginning. She excelled as a student at the Warwick Chef School in South Africa, and her continued drive and dedication led her to jobs working alongside world-renowned chefs in top restaurants and hotels all over the globe. She represented South Africa in the Sigep competition in Italy in 2011 and the Global Pastry Chefs Challenge in Namibia in 2013. She won the Bronze Medal in both events at the IKA Culinary Olympics in Erfurt in 2016. Chef Minette also serves as part of the Jury team for the Callebaut Patissier of the Year for India, hosted in Mumbai. She believes in developing and equipping people and teams on all levels, focusing on constant, consistent growth.
