Ben Macdonald Biography – Ben Macdonald Wiki
Ben Macdonald is a contestant on MasterChef Australia Season 6 and 17. He placed 6th on Season 6. Formerly he worked as an IT consultant.
Ben grew up two hours north of Auckland in Whangarei, New Zealand. It was a childhood filled with vivid memories of his grandparents’ 10-acre block. A hands-on helper on the farm, when he wasn’t mucking in to pick plums and shear sheep with his granddad, he was cooking with his grandmother.
Having lost his Dad in 2009 to a sudden heart attack, Ben says it is his Dad who inspires him in the kitchen.
“One of the reasons I love to cook so much is it makes me think about good times with Dad – my passion for food is one that he instilled in me.”
After gaining an Honours degree in Manufacturing and Industrial Technology, Ben travelled overseas. He has since worked in the US, France, Denmark, Spain, New Zealand and Australia and been based in the UK for the majority of his career.
It was while living in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2002 that Ben confronted one of the biggest challenges of his life.
Diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Ben spent six months in and out of hospital, followed by a further three years of treatment. Now in remission for more than 10 years, the illness was a turning point in his life, proving his resilience and tenacity.
His love of food intensified as he indulged his love of travel from his UK base. He clocked up visits to almost 100 countries, including India, Thailand, Morocco, Egypt, Mexico, Cuba, Argentina, Japan, Costa Rica and more. Along the way he enjoyed street food, fine dining and everything between.
Two highlights in particular were life changing.
“Eating at Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck changed the way I thought about food forever,” says Ben.
Now back at home in the Brisbane suburb of New Farm, Ben enjoys cooking for his girlfriend of six years, Robyn.
Robyn was a vegetarian when they met, but after trying Ben’s lamb tagine on their first date she was a convert.
Ben’s ambition is to run a restaurant by the sea, combining modern European cuisine with the finest Australian produce. He dreams of inviting chefs from around the world to visit and cook with him.
Ben Macdonald Age
As of 2025, he is 47 years old.His hometown is both Whangarei, New Zealand and Brisbane, Queensland.
Ben Macdonald MasterChef
Chef Ben is a contestant in the 17th season of MasterChef Australia – Back to Win concept. He was previously a contestant in Season 6, and he placed 6th.
He comes Back To Win with the same dry sense of humour and determination he is remembered for. Having run a café, a bistro and a fresh pasta delivery business in Auckland, New Zealand, Ben has added considerably to his culinary skillset in the 11 years since he first landed in the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Fellow contestants in the 17th season alongside him are; Alana Lowes, Andre Ursini, Audra Morrice, Beau Cook, Callum Hann, Cath Collins, Darrsh Clarke, Declan Cleary, Depinder Chhibber, Jamie Fleming, Jimmy Wong, Laura Sharrad, Matt Hopcraft, Pete Campbell, Rhiannon Anderson, Rue Mupedzi, Samira El Khafir, Sarah Todd, Savindri Perera, Snezana Calic, Steph De Sousa, Theo Loizou, and Tim Bone.
Ben Macdonald Parents
Having lost his Dad in 2009 to a sudden heart attack, Ben says it is his Dad who inspires him in the kitchen.
“One of the reasons I love to cook so much is it makes me think about good times with Dad – my passion for food is one that he instilled in me.”
Ben grew up two hours north of Auckland in Whangarei, New Zealand. It was a childhood filled with vivid memories of his grandparents’ 10-acre block. A hands-on helper on the farm, when he was not mucking in to pick plums and shear sheep with his granddad, he was cooking with his grandmother.
His Instagram handle is @foodie_ben.
