Press Releases

SYDNEY - 28 February 2024: As part of the International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) 2024 Asia Pacific Study Tour, Cliftons recently hosted the regional round of the Copper Skillet Competition. This prestigious competition recognises the vital role that food service plays in conference venues and aims to showcase the skills of venue chefs from around the world.

We're delighted to announce that this year's APAC Copper Skillet Chef of the Year is Cliftons' very own Daniel Townsend from our Melbourne team. Daniel and his fellow competitors were required to create a dish from a mystery basket of ingredients, with the dish to include two proteins, plus items from a set pantry list. Daniel's winning dish was 'pan fried rockling with duck fat and a bay leaf crust, accompanied by charred corn and chive salsa.'

"The Copper Skillet competition is a test of a chef's creativity and skill. Chefs are given a set of mystery ingredients on the day and need to plan, cook and present a dish in just 90 minutes all together. Daniel's dish blew the judges away with its combination of simplicity and memorability, demonstrating the care and creativity that can go into food at conference venues," says Vanessa Green, Cliftons CEO.

Having joined the Cliftons Melbourne team 12 months ago, Daniel brings a depth of experience both in restaurants and larger event catering. As part of his role, he coordinates catering across the Cliftons Melbourne venues, catering for up to 600 people on any given day.

"I loved the chance to showcase my favourite cuisine - modern Australian - and the sensational seafood that is so prevalent in Australia. For the Copper Skillet competition, it was a great challenge to draw on my skills and favourite cookery methods to produce a show-stopping dish that could be used in a corporate catering environment in just a short period of time," says Daniel Townsend, Head Chef Cliftons Melbourne, and winner of the APAC IACC Copper Skillet Chef of the Year.

Daniel will now go on to represent Asia Pacific at the IACC Global Copper Skillet Chef of the Year final in New Jersey in April.

About Cliftons Event Solutions:

Cliftons Event Solutions is a privately-owned business events solutions and delivery provider for the corporate and government sectors.  For over 25 years, Cliftons has been the go-to destination for creating remarkable events.  Bringing together spaces, people and technology, Cliftons provides a one-stop shop for all your event management needs, using our contemporary venues and partner venues globally to suit events big and small. Through our in-house team and trusted partnerships, Cliftons can take care of all aspects of project management, audiovisual, marketing, team building, speakers and event logistics. We make seamless global event planning, management and delivery effortless. Cliftons is proud to be officially recognised as one of AU/NZ's AFR BOSS Best Places to Work 2023.    

About IACC:

Founded in 1981, IACC is dedicated to representing the best meeting venues globally and is, by definition, the future of the meetings industry realised. The association brings together the brightest, most innovative minds from around the globe.  IACC elevates the meeting experience by creating a unique point of entry that is inclusive of the best-in-class meeting venues internationally.  IACC membership is a symbol of meeting excellence and exceptional connections amongst the best in the meeting industry.  This exclusiveness makes IACC's members part of an elite group representing the most innovative, forward-thinking and results-driven meeting venues globally.  

All members meet a set of stringent Quality Standards and agree to a Code of Ethics.  IACC includes over 400-member conference venues from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Canada, and the United States. 

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact Dimity Maratos, Cliftons.