Peter Gilmore
Executive Chef, Bennelong and Quay
Peter is the Executive Chef of Bennelong and its sister restaurant Quay, both situated at the edge of Sydney Harbour. Peter, along with Fink, reopened Bennelong restaurant in the Sydney Opera House in July 2015 to critical acclaim taking out the title for ‘Best New Restaurant’ at all three major Australian Restaurant Awards.
Across both restaurants, Peter describes his cuisine as food inspired by nature. As a passionate gardener himself, he was one of the first chefs in Australia to embrace heirloom varieties of vegetables and continues to work in partnership with small producers who cultivate produce exclusively for both Quay and Bennelong.
Peter’s creative and original cuisine has seen both restaurants receive an unprecedented number of Australian and international awards. He has released three cookbooks, Quay: Food Inspired by Nature published in 2010, Organum: nature, texture, intensity, purity in 2014, and From The Earth published in 2018.
Peter continues to be a leading figure in Australia’s vibrant food scene.
Rob Cockerill
Head Chef, Bennelong
Rob is the Head Chef at Bennelong. For seven consecutive years prior, he was Senior Sous Chef at Quay where he was able to immerse himself in the innovative cuisine of Chef Gilmore and work closely alongside him in building invaluable relationships with Quay producers – the Australian farmers, fishermen and growers. Rob works hard in delivering the Bennelong experience – the very best Australian produce within a uniquely Australian space.
Sharon Collins
General Manager, Bennelong
Sharon is the General Manager at Bennelong. A steadfast member of the Fink family, she has worked alongside Executive Chef Peter Gilmore and his teams for over a decade.
Drawn to the hospitality industry during her university studies in Adelaide, Sharon spent several years in Europe and the UK before moving to Sydney and pursuing a career in restaurants. In 2010, Sharon began working at Bennelong’s sister restaurant, Quay, where she led the front of house team as Restaurant Manager for over a decade, stepping into the role of Acting General Manager in late 2023, before becoming Bennelong’s General Manager in 2024.
At Bennelong, Sharon continually strives for excellence and creativity in shaping the Bennelong experience under the sails.
Daniel Unterrainer
Restaurant Manager, Bennelong
Daniel is Bennelong’s Restaurant Manager. Hailing from Bolzano in Northern Italy, Daniel brings a lifelong passion for hospitality and customer service to Bennelong. With experience in Michelin and Hatted restaurants across Europe and Australia, including Copenhagen’s Geranium, Italy’s St. Hubertus, and Melbourne’s Vue du Monde, Daniel joined the Bennelong team in June 2023, stepping into the role of Restaurant Manager in November. At Bennelong, Daniel thrives on connecting with guests, sharing the stories behind our unique dishes and native produce, and working under the sails of the iconic Opera House, which inspires him every day.
Alexander Jacques
Head Sommelier, Bennelong
Alexander is the Head Sommelier at Bennelong. AJ, as he is affectionately known, developed a great love for hospitality and wine from a young age, inspired by his sommelier grandfather. The second greatest influence was his time at our sister restaurant Quay, where Fink Wine Director Amanda Yallop encouraged his formal wine studies.
In 2019, AJ moved to Denmark, where he worked his way to become Assistant Head Sommelier at the award-winning restaurant Geranium. After four years, AJ returned to Sydney and was thrilled to again join Peter Gilmore’s team, this time at Bennelong in one of the most impressive spaces in Australia, with a wine program that celebrates the very best of the country.
Taka Shino
Bar Manager, Bennelong
Taka joined Fink as a part of the opening team at Bennelong in August 2015. Born near Tokyo, Japan, Taka was drawn to the hospitality industry early on, with a passion for Japanese whisky and the cocktail classics; those that are in essence simple and elegant.