Blind Australian of the Year Awards Gala Dinner 2026 Guest Speaker: Julie Goodwin

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Julie Goodwin will be joining us at the 2026 Blind Australian of the Year Awards Gala Dinner on Saturday, 10 October at the Royal on the Park Hotel.

Guests attending the Gala will have the opportunity to meet Julie on the red carpet, before she takes the stage as our special guest speaker, sharing her reflections on this year’s inspiring theme: “Finding Light in the Darkness.”

About Julie Goodwin

In 2009, Julie became a household name after being crowned Australia’s very first winner of MasterChef Australia. Audiences instantly connected with her warmth, honesty, humour and down-to-earth cooking style.

Her debut cookbook, Our Family Table, became a publishing sensation, holding the number one position on Australian book charts for more than 10 weeks. Since then, Julie has gone on to publish seven bestselling cookbooks, become a familiar face on Australian television and radio, and inspire audiences across the country through her storytelling and authenticity.

Julie has appeared regularly on Today, written for The Australian Women’s Weekly, and starred in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and MasterChef Fans and Favourites.

In recent years, Julie has also become a passionate advocate for mental health awareness, openly sharing her personal journey and working alongside Beyond Blue to encourage important conversations around mental wellbeing.

Her deeply personal memoir, Your Time Starts Now, released in 2024, further cemented her reputation as one of Australia’s most authentic and inspiring voices.

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating resilience, courage and community.

Tickets for the Gala Dinner are now on sale – secure yours today.