Guest Names
Nornie Bero
Episode Number
№2
Nornie Bero is a Torres Strait Islander chef from the Komet Tribe of the Meriam people of Mer Island in the Torres Strait.
Raised by her father, Nornie grew up immersed in the traditional food culture of the Islands, learning from an early age to cook, fish, forage and live from what the land and sea provided. Her father was one of the defining influences in her life, teaching her not only about food, but about her Meriam culture, language, identity and the importance of knowing where she came from.
As a child, she would head onto the reef before sunrise to catch octopus and collect shellfish, help make pumpkin damper and other food with her father, and experience cooking as an everyday part of family and community life.
When her father became seriously ill while still a young man, Nornie was forced to grow up quickly. His dreams, resilience and influence would remain a powerful force in her own life and career.
Today, after more than 25 years as a professional chef, Nornie is the founder and CEO of Mabu Mabu and one of Australia’s most prominent advocates for Torres Strait Islander food culture and native Australian ingredients.
Her journey from a childhood on the Islands to building a major food business and bringing the ingredients, traditions and stories of her culture to a national audience is an extraordinary story of family, identity, resilience and ambition.
