Ray, 39

Carpenter, NSW

Rimoun (Ray) is a Sydney-based builder and father of three. Born in Iraq, his family fled war to Sweden before he moved to Australia later in life. Food has a deep meaning for Rimoun as his mother’s cooking was ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’ and gave him a sense of safety during the war. Before becoming a builder Ray’s dream was to become a chef. ‘I make it a priority to cook at least one meal a day for my family,’ he says. He regularly cooks traditional Iraqi dishes such as dolma (stuffed vegetables) and maqluba (a layered rice and meat bake) for family, friends and for community gatherings, adding modern elements where he can.