Ashley Probert

With a background that spans kitchen management, dish and recipe development, and people training and coaching, I bring practical, real-world experience to my Culinary Arts Management classes at UCB. My extensive industry experience includes menu development in schools, managing busy kitchens, and working in Michelin-starred environments, all of which allow me to share real-world scenarios and challenges with my students here at UCB.

I’m passionate about guiding students from their very first day in a kitchen to the point where they’re ready to work in some of the world’s best restaurants. There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing students develop confidence, skill, and creativity, especially when they start with little experience and go on to achieve remarkable things. I also love the challenge of taking a simple ingredient and finding innovative ways to elevate it to a high standard.

One thing I try to make clear to my students is that working in a kitchen is far from easy. It’s a tough, high-pressure environment with long, unsociable hours. But the sense of pride you get from a hard day’s work, knowing you’ve helped create memorable experiences for others, is unmatched. While anyone can cook, it takes a special type of person to handle the demands of professional cooking day after day, serving thousands of people each year.

The proudest moments of my career to date have been watching students I’ve taught walk across the graduation stage, especially those who’ve overcome significant challenges along the way. Understanding the value of a degree or qualification from my own experience, I show my students that success in the industry doesn’t only come from landing a job in a Michelin-starred kitchen.