Ultimo acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this nation. We recognise the Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our company is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present. Ultimo is committed to learning from and honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.
THE ULTIMO JOURNEY
The delicious business of food
Ultimo are a highly recognised Perth catering company and market leader in the industry. Since 1997 we have been connecting with West Australians through memorable catering and event experiences.
We have earned our reputation as Perth’s most trusted caterer for corporate events, private functions and weddings. Since commencing business, Ultimo has catered for functions and events with numbers ranging from 5 to 17,000 people. These functions include large indoor and outdoor events, weddings, formal dinners, cocktail parties, buffet dinners and many government contracts. Although Ultimo is based in Perth, we have successfully catered for large events and functions all around Australia. Including events in Kalgoorlie, Busselton, Northern Western Australia, Bunbury, Port Macquarie, Melbourne, Sydney, Maitland and Canberra.
Ultimo have established an enviable reputation for delivering fresh & modern cuisine, with a personalised experience, for each and every event. This experience includes a seamless organisational and holistic management approach, from start to completion.
Honest food has nowhere to hide. Our chefs design our menus based around local suppliers and fresh seasonal produce, creating food that evokes emotion with flavour, texture and contemporary presentation.
Our focus is always quality food, executed to perfection, served with class.
The Ultimo Philosophy
IMAGINATION
in all aspects of our food & events
INNOVATION
in our menus, systems, products & service
INTELLIGENCE
in our experienced & knowledgeable team
Our Team
Good people are the most important resource Ultimo can offer.
Recruitment and retention of our team is paramount to Ultimo maintaining our high level of service to our clients. Ultimo employs some the most knowledgeable and experienced hospitality experts in Australia.
Our company goal is to provide a professional, friendly and enjoyable environment for our employees, which ensures we are a preferred employer for the industries best talent.
Our team’s collective experience in the hospitality industry spans many years and provides us with the skills to reliably deliver the outcomes required to be a consistently successful event catering company. Employees we seek to join our team, display characteristics aligned with our company values, including integrity, “a can do attitude”, passion for the hospitality industry, initiative, knowledge, experience, and an understanding of the importance of customer service.
Our chef team consists of a diverse mix of local and international chefs with a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of the culinary arts. Many chefs have joined Ultimo with backgrounds from some of the best restaurants in Australia and beyond.
MEET OUR CORE TEAM
CLARK WILMOT
Corporate Accounts | Director
After retiring as a federal agent from the Australian Federal Police, Clark joined Ultimo in 2000 as a Director and has embraced the career change – his experience in all aspects of the catering industry, particularly for corporate accounts and functions is invaluable. He has successfully coordinated countless events for corporate and private functions including many VIP events for some of Perth’s most prominent business leaders.
Clark’s passion for the hospitality industry is fed by guiding staff to achieve outstanding results for clients and themselves. He is proud of his role in building Ultimo as a business and believes in retaining clients by building relationships with a continued high level of service and efficiency. Clark has an established reputation as a reliable, honest and diligent operator in all things catering.
Clark’s personal life is busy enough with his children’s sport, coaching, surfing, football, boating and family holidays with his wife and three children.
EMMA BRAND
Marketing + Business Development
Originally from New Zealand, Emma moved to Perth upon completing her tertiary studies in Communications. Emma joined Ultimo in 2013 after travelling extensively and working remotely for her own branding and marketing venture. Since joining Ultimo, she has been integral in our rebranding, repositioning and growth in the market – building the Ultimo brand to its esteemed position today. She delivers brand management, strategic marketing and business development, as well as hands on digital design skills to the business.
Emma has always felt a pull towards the hospitality industry – specialising in applying her professional skills in this space. This ensures she is well placed to create event concepts and develop and launch new products / services in the market with proven success. Her ability to wear many hats in business, along with her industry knowledge and passion, are responsible for her promotion to various positions across branding, marketing, events & sales within Ultimo. She responds proactively to industry trends and creates engaging content and marketing campaigns, as well as driving our strategic development in her current Marketing & Business Development role.
Emma loves the overlapping opportunities that branding, marketing, food and events create for emotive connection. Sharing a meal is universal across cultures and she believes good branding and good food should both make you feel something. Emma enjoys dining out, hosting parties and cooking for her fiancé and friends.
PETER JAMIESON
Major Events | Director
Peter is a founding director of Ultimo from when the company commenced in West Perth in 1997, and oversees our major events & accounts. Peter’s logistical event management experience is second to none in the industry and he has been integral in growing Ultimo’s trusted reputation in this space. Known in the industry for making things happen and never daunted by a challenge, Peter listens to our clients’ needs and finds a solution, where other businesses might say it was too difficult.
Peter has overseen the operation of the Quarry since the commencement of our contract in 2014, with demonstrated success. He has excelled running some of Ultimo’s biggest accounts such as the WA Festival of Cricket, Kalgoorlie Cup, Groovin the Moo National Tour, Future Music and Stereosonic National Tours, City to Surf, Ironman Triathlons Busselton, Port Macquarie and Melbourne, Sydney Festival – to name a few. Brutally honest, a great lateral thinker and extremely motivated; Peter is the go-to person for large events in the Perth hospitality industry. Passionate about good food – he will ensure the quality of Ultimo’s menus, no matter the size of the function.
Despite being across the latest in the culinary world, Peter’s favourite food is the humble French fry (ideally served with freshly caught and chargrilled Crayfish). A Scarborough local, an ex VFL / WAFL player – Pete is actively fit and loves getting out for a surf whenever possible. Peter is a devoted family man, and is kept busy by his two adult daughters and wife Jill.
MAX LING
Executive Chef
Max joined the Ultimo team in 2015. Qualified and experienced in Hong Kong, Max went on to work in 5 star Luxury Hotels in Australia and Michelin Star restaurants around the world, including the highest hotel in the world, The Ritz Carlton HK.
Always aware of the latest trends of the culinary world, Max likes to combine cuisine styles with different methods when designing a menu. He researches the latest cooking techniques and applies them in larger scale to catering. Get Max started talking about food and you’ll see his passion. He just LOVES cooking. He seeks to use the best local products and is a firm advocator for supporting local suppliers and buying as geographically close as possible to ensure maximum freshness.
Max is an excellent communicator and an extremely organised team leader who thrives under pressure. He endeavours to create a professional and dynamic kitchen environment that encourages camaraderie amongst colleagues and delivers a high standard of food quality and presentation at every Ultimo engagement. An adept and calm leader, he oversees our commercial kitchen, and all of our countless functions and events, without ever throwing his tongs.
When he’s not wearing his chef hat, Max enjoys family time with his wife and 3 young children, and making time for windsurfing, 4WDing and camping when possible.
RAJA RICHARDSAMY
Executive Sous Chef
Joining our senior chef team in early 2021, Raja is a dedicated and knowledgeable professional chef with over 17 years of experience in food preparation and kitchen leadership.
His professional background includes senior chef roles in highly recognised establishments such as Aloft Perth, Westin Perth, Royal International Convention Centre Brisbane and Borneo Convention Centre Malaysia. He has worked for many 6 star and 5 star international brand hotels such as Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Hilton, Raffles, Mandarin, Le Royal Meridien.
Raja has experience working with guest celebrity chefs, Michelin star chefs, and catering for international politicians including George W. Bush, Obama, Putin, Royalties like HRH Princess Anne and VIP’s like Sir Richard Branson, Celine Dion, Elton John, and Hollywood actor turned politician Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Singaporean/Malaysian with a Tamil background, Raja loves South East Asian influenced cooking & was classically trained in French cuisine. He is very passionate about serving only the best quality food to guests. Compliments from guests are what fuel his motivation to continually develop his skills and keep innovating.
Aside from cooking, Raja spends his time reading, driving and enjoys watching movies with his wife and his chocolate Labrador.
NAKEERAN THILLAIRAJ
Sous Chef
Joining Ultimo in 2017, Nakeeran is part of Ultimo’s senior chef team. Originally from South India, he possesses a professional history working for renowned restaurants internationally, as well as his previous role as Sous Chef at Akis Woolloomollo, a one hat Sydney restaurant, Nakeeran is a skilled and experienced presence in the kitchen. Bringing strong technical knowledge and impeccable presentation to every function he is involved in. He lives by the philosophy of ‘if you can’t do it well, don’t do it at all’.
Nakeeran is an award winning chef, participating 2 years in a row in the Emirates Salon Culinary Competition in Dubai. Competing against 280 chefs, to win Bronze and Merit medals in the five course gourmet dinner category. He was also part of a team to achieve the TIME OUT award for ‘Best Bubbalicious Brunch’ at the Westin Hotel in Dubai.
His motivation to push himself comes from genuinely loving being a chef. He appreciates the opportunity to work with fresh quality ingredients every day, the adrenaline of a slick and busy service, and hearing guests tell him what they loved about the food. He believes cooking and serving food is about making people happy (both the guests and his colleagues). For Nakeeran, it’s all about nurturing people and showing them why an ingredient is so special. In his own words, “There is no job like it. Food is an amazing thing, and we see it and eat it wherever we go”.
Nakeeran is a keen cricket fan and dedicated family man. He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, and 2 young boys.
VANESSA THOMAS
Function Coordinator
With over 19 years of experience within the catering industry, together with a mix of 10 years in the film Industry, Vanessa can apply her specialist knowledge to organise any style of event, large or small.
Vanessa’s attention to fostering client’s wants and needs has proven successful with customer relationships. Her key priority being that the customer always comes back to Ultimo. Vanessa’s evaluation of what is needed to make an event a true success, is what ensures our clients expectations are always exceeded whether it be for a small private functions or grand scale events. With her passion for food and presentation, she strives for the best guest experience and creates the right atmosphere and style of menu for the occasion. Her proficiency with coordinating an event from start to finish is due to her full understanding of food, beverage and managing staff.
Her beliefs in diversity and equal opportunity tie in with Ultimo’s philosophies, and is one of the many reasons she loves her role and working in the hospitality industry.
Because of Vanessa’s passion for food, she loves cooking, particularly experimenting on her family and friends for big dinner parties. With the perfect wine to compliment the food, of course. Family is a key part of her life, and she takes immense pride in her garden. She will get out there any spare moment she has.
TIANA ROWE
Function & Catering Coordinator
Tiana joined the Ultimo crew in late 2020. She has worked in the hospitality industry for majority of her working life, previously employed at the Novotel Vines Resort in Swan Valley and also spent time in Melbourne as a job advisor / hire agent. Working with Ultimo coordinating functions and driving our deliverable catering service, Tiana is organised, efficient and ensures everything she involved with is executed with incredible attention to detail.
Her love for the industry stems from working so closely with people from all walks of life – being able to provide a service that brings people together.
Originally from New Zealand, Tiana has a large family and lives with her partner and their young son Lyric. Tiana also owns and operates her own cake baking business, and happily keeps the Ultimo team plied with cupcake samples. She loves all things music and food (especially desserts and sweets) and enjoys travelling to new places, when covid allows.
SAVANNAH CLOSE
Event Coordinator
A Perth local, Savannah joined our event team from Three Pound Group, with over 9 years in the hospitality industry. Always feeling a pull towards this career path and possessing a strong drive to succeed, she has consistently grown with her roles – starting as a casual waitress, then evolving to a duty manager and for the past 3 years planning and coordinating large events at The Camfield.
Ready for a new challenge, Savannah is excited for the opportunities working with Ultimo will bring. Including working with people who share similar passion for the industry, travelling for work, getting to eat and drink as part of her role, and taking ownership over some larger accounts and events. She loves watching the all the planning come together and seeing guests enjoying the experience. A creative individual, Savannah injects a fresh approach to our events and functions.
The third oldest of 7 siblings, family is important part of her personal life. She has a niece and nephew that she adores and a large extended family. Savannah enjoys keeping fit and active, and likes weightlifting, walks outdoors, and meditating. She loves to read, take roads trips and go on adventures with friends.
LUIS ALEGRIA
IT Project & Operations Manager
Originally from Colombia, Luis has been with Ultimo since 2018, but it feels like he’s been a part of the team forever. The absolute epitome of team work, he is the go-to guy for anything the team might need. With a professional background as a Telecommunications Engineer, Luis worked for more than 3 years in the Colombian Telco industry, leading projects and implementing solutions for suppliers. Before deciding to travel the world and falling in love with Perth.
Luis is an extremely proactive professional, who will always dedicate himself whole heartily to the operations of Ultimo. He plays an integral and diverse role in the business, looking after everything from business development IT projects and operations. He is the first point of call for troubleshooting any challenges. Luis communicates across all departments to ensure the smooth and seamless execution of IT projects and operations.
In his spare time Luis tries to explore some more of WA with his partner Gina. He’s keenly interested in politics and enjoys riding horses.
MELISSA HENDLEY
Staffing Coordinator
Melissa joined Ultimo in 2021, from the City of Perth, Perth Town Hall, where she was employed as their facilities coordinator. Originally from South Australia, she grew up in the Adelaide Hills and eventually moved to Perth. Initially pursuing a career in nursing, Melissa quickly realised hospitality was her real passion – and changed direction.
Her role entails coordinating all of Ultimo’s staffing requirements. A complex and challenging role, looking after up to 300 casual wait staff, bar staff and delivery drivers. Luckily, Melissa enjoys interaction with people; staff, clients, co-workers, suppliers. The thing she loves most about this industry is the variety of people you work with and that no two days are the same.
Melissa’s experience encompasses a broad cross section of hospitality management – making her an ideal leader and advocate for introducing others to the industry. Her professional history includes supervisor, duty manager and venue manager, for some of Perth’s largest and busiest venues, such as the Floreat Tavern and The Breakwater. Her hands on and efficient approach, makes her an asset to our team.
Melissa loves good food, wine, chocolate, and spending time with her family and friends. She has a young daughter (Mia) with her husband Daniel. An extremely positive individual, her mantra is, “Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal”.
JESSICA MILLEN
Weddings
Jessica joined Ultimo in 2016 as our Events and Sales Manager, and after a hiatus to raise her 2 young children she has re-joined the team as our Weddings Assistant. With over 20 years’ experience in the hospitality and catering industry, spanning weddings, events, venue management and sales – she’s an absolute asset to the Ultimo team. Jessica’s hardworking, hand-ons approach ensured she has accumulated knowledge and experience that few in the industry can match.
Whilst at Ultimo, Jessica has organised functions ranging in size, from smaller private parties and weddings to large-scale corporate events at Elizabeth Quay. She has impeccable standards and brings creativity and style to every function she’s involved in. Her superpower is combining that creativity with logistical planning to provide the best possible event experience for clients and their guests. The customer service element and ensuring our clients expectations are exceeded, is what feeds her motivation.
As a working mum of 2, Jessica hasn’t eaten a meal in peace for years – but she is passionate about good food. She thrives on creative projects such as renovating her home with her husband or planning parties and events for friends. She also loves a good wine and a day at the beach, ideally at the same time.
DAWN CRANSTON-ROBERTS
Finance
Dawn has been an integral part of the Ultimo finance team since 2019. She started her career with KPMG in Tauranga NZ, and turned her interest in accounting into her vocation.
A proud kiwi, Dawn brings a laid-back but professional attitude to the role. She enjoys that the hospitality industry attracts people with personality that have a real passion for what they do – particularly at Ultimo. These passionate people create a fantastic work environment that is a real joy for Dawn, in turn enhancing her own job satisfaction.
Dawn is a devoted wife, mum and granny – as well as a keen All Blacks fan. Passionate foodie and traveller – she loves motorsport and the Monaco Grand Prix is on her bucket list.
GERARD HORGAN
Finance Manager
Gerard joined Ultimo in 2017 to manage Ultimo’s Finance department and brings financial clarity to the business. In his early career at KPMG, Gerard discovered the joys/challenges of working for family run SMB’s but more importantly, it was where he met his wife. He has subsequently been employed in management, accounting and sales roles for family run businesses for the majority of his working life. Spanning across the wine industry (20 years), then hotel management and most recently hospitality with Ultimo – Gerard has a lifelong passion for all things related to hospitality and wine.
This love for the hospitality industry comes from the food – the people – the gung-ho attitude – the no airs and graces – the pitching in when it gets busy and the camaraderie that comes from working in a tough industry. He enjoys working alongside our chefs and other colleagues who are also passionate about the same things, creating a deeper fulfilment from his role.
Married into a Chinese/Malay family for over 34 years – who are culturally all about family and food – means Gerard spends his time at regular weekend family gatherings where cooking and eating are very much the focus. Now Gerard’s two children are grown and living outside the home, he is embracing more freedom to pursue his interest in cooking and good food.
