The art OF THE MEAL

Kate Davis, Plate Up Ballarat director, goes from retail to championing our region’s best produce and dining experiences.

AFTER a successful career in retail, 10 years ago Kate Davis took a new direction when she launched her event management business.

Focusing on beer, wine and food events, Kate was one of the founders of the Ballarat Beer Festival, now a mainstay of the Ballarat tourism and events calendar.

In 2018 Kate took her desire to make Ballarat the culinary heart of Victoria to a whole new level, with the launch of Plate Up Ballarat.

Providing strategic marketing, event services, delivery and project management, Kate collaborates with Ballarat’s thriving and diverse hospitality industry to create and deliver new and exciting food experiences, based on her mantra that “great food starts with great produce”.

Kate is passionate about Ballarat and surrounding region, and everything it has to offer. Kate has embraced the opportunity to develop Plate Up Ballarat focusing on connecting and collaborating with local producers across Western Victoria, Ballarat’s restaurants and cafes, and the all important consumers.

Kate continues to innovate and create new events and ideas, aimed at boosting tourism and hospitality businesses, including current projects Plate Up Ballarat (which won Best New & Emerging Business at the 2018 Commerce Ballarat Business Excellence Awards), and recently launched Eat Drink West, a new business connecting regional suppliers to chefs.

Kate has a unique ability to generate breadth and depth of value through collaborative events, which have the capacity to boost both brands and value at many levels. Not only does Kate work with frontline operators, she also understands the importance of building relationships from primary producers to artisans to chefs and venues and ultimately the consumer.

Plate Up Ballarat has recently released its 2019 program, which can be found at plateupballarat.com.au, and tickets for events are now on sale.

When not working, Kate loves to create memories and share experiences with her two beautiful daughters, new husband Luke and his three children – which makes for a very busy household!