Rachel Crawford

Rachel Crawford grew up in a culinary environment with chef parents. At 17, she began a school-based pastry apprenticeship before advancing to a full-time role in a café’s pastry section. Overcoming various challenges common to her industry, she completed her apprenticeship in just two years and earned a Certificate III in Patisserie.

Her passion for learning led her to take a certificate in Bakery, where she was introduced to WorldSkills Competitions. After regional and national success, Rachel competed internationally in 2022, earning 4th place and a Medallion of Excellence in the Bakery skill at WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition in Lucerne, Switzerland. In 2023, she became the first Australian appointed to the WorldSkills Champions Trust and is now serving her second term as the representative for Oceania and ASEAN.

As part of the Trust, she has spoken on International Women’s Day, presented at WorldSkills General Assembly 2023 in Dublin, participated in global panels with industry leaders, and inspired students to explore Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). She also contributed to the WorldSkills Conference 2024 panel, Collaborating Towards Success: Tools and Strategies for Quality Assurance in TVET, sharing her insights and youth perspective.

Having witnessed peers lose their passion due to toxic workplace environments in the hospitality industry, Rachel now advocates for apprentices worldwide. Through her role with the WorldSkills Champions Trust, she has realized her impact extends beyond baking – she is committed to empowering others to seize opportunities and turn their passions into careers.