Back of House, Front of Mind Healthy Mind Menu

In this conversation we chat with Will Parkes, the driving force behind Fornever Coffee in West Perth. Will's journey in hospitality began at 18, but it was in his mid-20s that decided to open his first cafe in subiaco to make some extra cash whilst studying at uni full-time. Despite lacking experience, Will jumped in the deep as a solo business owner. With unwavering determination and the guidance of a seasoned barista, he brought his vision to life. Now, after relocating due to redevelopment, Fornever Coffee continues to thrive, celebrating a year in its new home at Boobook Bottles and Bar.

In this episode, we explore Michael Payne's journey as the founder of Lightning Minds. His decision to quit alcohol in July 2020 led to the creation of Lightning Minds, driven by a mission to promote a 'positive balance' in alcohol consumption. Inspired by personal transformation, Michael aims to share this positivity with others through his venture, utilizing Non-Alcoholic beer options to maintain social connections without alcohol.

In this conversation, we'll chat with Kabir Ramasary, the Group Director of the venues The William Street Bird, Ezra Pound and North Bird. Kabir is a versatile professional having ventured from IT and financial planning into hospitality where he now owns three thriving businesses.

With his loyal companion Winston by his side, Kabir balances his entrepreneurial endeavours with a passion for fitness and a commitment to mental health advocacy. Having worked in various roles within the hospitality industry for nearly 6.5 years, Kabir embodies the essence of a jack of all trades, seamlessly navigating positions ranging from bartending and accounts to management and marketing, underscoring the multifaceted nature of success in this field.

In this episode, we are delighted to feature Jerry Fraser, also known as "The Oysterman," who runs a freelance oyster bar business. With forty years of hospitality experience across five continents, Jerry specialises in catering to international and interstate events, along with various venues and restaurants in WA. Presently, he lends his expertise to eight different venues, demonstrating his commitment to delivering exceptional oyster experiences.

Perth-born Amanda Yong has over a decade of experience working in 5-star hotels, and some of Perth’s best restaurants (Wildflower & Rockpool) and has owned her own café and her own brand Tartes by Amanda.



She currently teaches full-time at Empyrean Education Institute where she trains new people coming into the industry. Amanda discovered her culinary passion throughout her younger years growing up in Singapore.



Not always interested in academics, Amanda excelled at the At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy in Singapore where she graduated with a Diploma in Pastry and Bakery Arts. Amanda also co-founded Project WOMN, an initiative based on a series of pop-up charity food and wine pairing dinners featuring all-women chefs and entrepreneurs from WA. Amanda was also crowned WA's Young achiever of the year 2019 for the restaurant and catering Australia.

Jamie has been working in hospitality since he was 14 where his passion for the industry was sparked during a work experience placement at a well known Perth brewery. He's worked in some of Perth's best coffee venues and is passionate about the local specialty coffee scene and providing good customer service. He has a love for people and creating community, and after immersing himself in the Perth coffee scene over the last 10 year he decided it was time to do his own thing, and started Obi coffee with his business partner CJ in 2022. This venture has provided him with the opportunity to cultivate a healthy work environment for the Obi team, with emphasis on employee wellbeing and mental health