A Hospo Entrepreneurs Journey & Achievements
2002-2004 – Lived in London, Advertising Sales in B2B publications for EMAP, Gastro Pubs
2004-2009 – Various roles with West Australian newspapers; Agency Sales, Sections Sales Manager, Circulation Manager
2008 – Owner Built in Shoalwater
Oct 2008 – Bono arrives
Feb 2010 – Built & Opened Rustico Rockingham
2010 – Gold Plate awarded to Rustico Rockingham
Mar 2011 – Married Corey, on the beach in front of Rustico Rockingham, Cocktail Reception at the venue
2011 – RKCC Business Awards Judges Commendation
2012 – Built & Opened Kent St Deli Café & Catering with Head Chef from Rustico Rockingham
2012 - RKCC Business Awards Medium Business Winner & Business of the Year
2012 – Gold Plate awarded to Rustico Rockingham
2013 – Attended Eldred Hospitality Consultants, Leadership Training, Melbourne
2013 – Gold Plate awarded to Rustico Rockingham
2014 – Winner “I love food” awards; Rustico Rockingham & Kent St Deli
2014 – Attended Eldred Hospitality Consultants, Recruitment & Retention Training, Melbourne
2014 - RKCC Business Awards Tourism Hospitality Winner
Mar 2015 – Event Manager, Inaugural Rockingham Long Table Lunch
Aug 2015 – Sold half share to business partner in Kent St Deli Café & Catering
2015 – Eldred Hospitality Consultants, Profit Management Training, Melbourne
2015 - RKCC Business Awards Medium Business Winner & employee awarded Young Business Person of the Year
2015 – Restaurant & Catering WA, Small Wine List Winner
Mar 2016 – Event Manager, #2 Rockingham Long Table Lunch
May 2016 – Internal upgrades to open Rustico @ Hay Shed Hill
Nov 2016 - First Gourmet Escape Stall
2016 – Eldred Hospitality Consultants, Sales Training, Melbourne
Mar 2017 – Event Manager, #3 Rockingham Long Table Lunch
2017 – Gold Plate awarded to Rustico Rockingham
2017 – MRCCI Medium Business Award Winner awarded to Rustico @ Hay Shed Hill
Nov 2017 - Gourmet Escape Stall & Sponsor catering
Feb 2018 – Inaugural Rustico Rocks Rosé event
Nov 2018 - Gourmet Escape Stall & Sponsor catering
2019 – Engaged Lawrence Management Accountants to support both businesse
2019 - Gloucester Cres Shoalwater property subdivision, owner built new on rear, renovated front, sold both
Feb 2020 – Rustico Rockingham 10 year Anniversary
March 2020 – Covid lockdowns
April 2020 – Relaunch Rockingham Takeaway, then limited dining
May-July 2020 - Rusticola Dunsborough, takeaway & tavern, pop up
June 2020 – Relaunch Rustico @ Hay Shed Hill, limited dining
Nov 2020 – Builders Registration, Wingman Building Co
Dec 2020 – Purchased property for major renovation by Wingman Building Co
Dec 2020 – Roxy arrives from the Hunter Valley
2021 – Celebrate Ashton’s 10 year employment Anniversary
April 2022 – Renovation & landscaping complete @island.addiction
2022 – Purchased public share offer in Republic of Fremantle Distilling
Nov 2022 - Purchase, renovate, launch Rusticoq Staff accommodation
Nov 2022 – Celebrate Manuel & Mike’s 10 year employment Anniversary
Nov 2022 – Sydney & Barossa trip with Assistant
Feb 2023 – Frank the rescue retriever arrives
April 2023 – Renovate & Open Rusticoq B&B Guest accommodation, Cowaramup
June 2023 - Roxy & Frank have puppies
March 2024 – Mike & John in Melbourne for more Evolve Training
August 2024 – Sold Rustico Rockingham
Nov 2024 – Attend Adapt or Die Entrepreneurs Summit
Nov 2024 - Celebrate John’s 10 year employment Anniversary
March 2025 – Attend Aaron Sansoni Empire Mastery 4 day course, Melbourne
April 2025 - Attend Aaron Sansoni Sales Mastery 3 day course, virtual
April 2025 – Launch Rustico Rides
May 2025 – Attend Aaron Sansoni Brand Immersion 3 day course, virtual
July 2025 - Rustico @ Hay Shed Hill wins R&C Best Tourism Restaurant in WA
September 2025 - Attend Aaron Sansoni Deal Mastery 3 day course, virtual
September 2025 – Attend Aaron Sansoni Empire Mastery 4 day course, Sydney
October 2025 - Launch Rústica Estate, Dunsborough. Stage 1 - Villas
November 2025 - Attend Aaron Sansoni Wealth Immersion, Melbourne
November 2025 - Attend National Restaurant & Catering Awards, Darling Harbour
I’m looking to partner with businesses seeking guidance, momentum and long-term strategic value — including equity opportunities.
Immersed in food and wine destinations around the globe.
Foodie trips – Melbourne annually; recently Maison Batard, Hardware Lane Café, Tip00, Gimlet, Coda, Movida, Nextdoor & Aqui, Supernormal, Chin Chin, Pastusos, Cutler & Co, Vue de Monde, Tonka, Raine and la roux, Society, Noosa International Food & Wine Festival 2014 & Noosa Eat Drink 2025
Wine Region trips – South Aus 2012, Central Atago & Marlborough 2013, Yarra 2018, Lovedale Long Lunch 2019, Barossa 2022 & 2025
Med Europe 2004, Barcelona, Majorca, Ibiza, Sorrento, Ischia 2012
Other regularly travelled destinations – Fiji Islands, Port Douglas, Broome, Noosa, Byron Bay, Bali, Lembongan, Rottnest, Thailand, KL
Howard Park Global Champagne Tasting Nov 2024, Fleur de Miraval Rosé Champagne Tasting May 2025