Peter Gilmore

Executive Chef, Bennelong and Quay

Peter Gilmore is the Executive Chef of Bennelong Restaurant and Bar and its sister restaurant, Quay, both iconic Sydney Harbour dining destinations. He reopened Bennelong in the Sydney Opera House in July 2015 with Fink Group, earning widespread acclaim and the title of ‘Best New Restaurant’ across Australia’s major restaurant awards.
 
Peter’s cuisine is inspired by nature. A passionate gardener, he champions heirloom vegetables and works closely with small producers to source exclusive, seasonal ingredients for both Quay and Bennelong Restaurant and Bar. His inventive, original dishes have won numerous national and international awards, and he has published three celebrated cookbooks: Quay: Food Inspired by Nature (2010), Organum (2014), and From The Earth (2018).
 
Peter remains a leading force in Australia’s food scene, celebrated for his creativity, sustainability focus, and mastery of modern Australian cuisine.

Rob Cockerill

Head Chef, Bennelong

Rob Cockerill leads the kitchen at Bennelong Restaurant and Bar, bringing a wealth of experience from seven years as Senior Sous Chef at Quay. There, he honed his skills under Peter Gilmore, forging deep connections with Australia’s finest farmers, fishermen, and producers.
 
At Bennelong, Rob champions the very best Australian ingredients, crafting dishes that celebrate their provenance in a setting that is uniquely Sydney. A respected voice in the industry, he also serves as a state judge for the Delicious Produce Awards, further cementing his reputation as a leader in contemporary Australian cuisine.

Josef Neumeier

Sydney General Manager

Josef Neumeier is the Sydney General Manager of the Fink group, overseeing Bennelong, Quay and OTTO Sydney.

Born in Munich to restauranteurs, Josef has a natural affinity for creating guest experiences. After studying Hospitality Management at Oxford and the Swiss Hotel Institute Montreux, Josef led food and beverage operations across Germany, the U.K., Switzerland, and South Africa, before relocating to Australia. In Sydney, Josef held managerial positions at some of Sydney’s most successful establishments, before joining Quay in late 2023 as General Manager.

In 2025, Josef was appointed Fink’s Sydney General Manager, where he leads the operations of Fink’s iconic waterside restaurants, Bennelong, Quay, and OTTO Sydney, ensuring excellence in dining experiences and maintaining their renowned reputations.

Daniel Unterrainer

Restaurant Manager, Bennelong

Daniel is Bennelong’s Restaurant Manager. Hailing from Bolzano in Northern Italy, Daniel brings a lifelong passion for hospitality and customer service to Bennelong. With experience in Michelin and Hatted restaurants across Europe and Australia, including Copenhagen’s Geranium, Italy’s St. Hubertus, and Melbourne’s Vue du Monde, Daniel joined the Bennelong team in June 2023, stepping into the role of Restaurant Manager in November. At Bennelong, Daniel thrives on connecting with guests, sharing the stories behind our unique dishes and native produce, and working under the sails of the iconic Opera House, which inspires him every day.

Alexander Jacques

Head Sommelier, Bennelong

Alexander is the Head Sommelier at Bennelong. AJ, as he is affectionately known, developed a great love for hospitality and wine from a young age, inspired by his sommelier grandfather. The second greatest influence was his time at our sister restaurant Quay, where Fink Wine Director Amanda Yallop encouraged his formal wine studies.

In 2019, AJ moved to Denmark, where he worked his way to become Assistant Head Sommelier at the award-winning restaurant Geranium. After four years, AJ returned to Sydney and was thrilled to again join Peter Gilmore’s team, this time at Bennelong in one of the most impressive spaces in Australia, with a wine program that celebrates the very best of the country.

Taka Shino

Bar Manager, Bennelong

Taka joined Fink as a part of the opening team at Bennelong in August 2015. Born near Tokyo, Japan, Taka was drawn to the hospitality industry early on, with a passion for Japanese whisky and the cocktail classics; those that are in essence simple and elegant.