Described as where innovation and creation of new processes happen when world-class pastry artistry meets industrial design and documentary filmmaking, Australia’s first creative space and art studio for hospitality, Skills Collider, is bringing its world-first chocolate, bread and sugar creations to a global audience with the launch of a brand-new Skills Collider YouTube channel.

Skills Collider is the brainchild of the creative team consisting of Dean Gibson (international award-winning chocolatier and pastry chef), Jon Pryer (award-winning industrial designer and sculptor), Shane Williams (photographer, filmmaker, and project co-ordinator), and Vanessa Anton (graphic designer).

This team of educators have already earned global recognition with works such as The Boneshaker (the first kinetic chocolate showpiece), The Raven’s Voyage, Iron Shark and the Skills for Trades documentary.

Based in Newcastle, the Skills Collider studio was launched in late 2024 with the kinetic art installation Chocol’art. The collaborative project saw Dean, Jon and a mix of chocolatiers, pastry chefs and apprentices create another world first centrepiece – a giant chocolate white bellied sea eagle with a 2m wingspan with a full-sized coastal bream held in its talons built from 100 per cent Belgium chocolate and suspended from the ceiling.

Dean said the Chocol’art exhibition was partly about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with chocolate, the process of building and presenting the chocolate eagle and sea gulls, and also showcasing the skills and knowledge shared by contributing pastry chefs and the collaboration with other discipline skill sets.

“Skills Collider is not a school. We’re not delivering a course or a qualification. It’s a learning experience of decades of competition and industry knowledge passed onto the next generation of pastry chefs and future industry leaders,” he said.

Dean and Jon talk through the process with an apprentice

Skills Collider is a collective of industry specialists in different fields and a learning opportunity you just can’t get anywhere else. The team have a commitment to mentor and engage the type of professional that wants to expand their capabilities and compete globally, and it’s a place for learning, reflection, ideation to explore ideas, make mistakes in a positive safe environment.

Jon is also passionate about his own industry sector of industrial design, and said, “without access to these types of collaborative work experiences through our projects and the transfer of foundational knowledge and skills, these could be lost to the industry.”

Dean’s mantra is “competition is the incubator of innovation”, and he said the team’s vision has always been to have a space where the apprentices and tradespeople that are participating in regional and national competitions can come in and train.

This opportunity will help them to be as prepared as they can be for a chance to represent Australia or compete internationally without the cost burden that comes with this type of expensive practical education.

A large part of the Skills Collider website and the new YouTube channel was to recognise past competitors and teams that have represented Australia.

Australia has had amazing success in international competitions competing globally in chocolate, pastry, artisan baking and gelato World Cups.

Shane said, “I believe with Dean’s extensive experience in international competition across multiple industry areas including chocolate, pastry, baking and gelato combined with Jon’s unique designs and a potential funding support from the government and industry, we could put Australia on the podium and get back to creating international recognition for our amazing skilled trades people in this country.”

Through the YouTube channel viewers will be able to watch on as each project unfolds in real time. There will also be behind-the-scenes films, live-streamed build and cinematic reveals.

Shane, Dean and Jon said these projects are vehicles for experiential training and will provide pastry chefs opportunities to work on complex kinetic showpieces not available in any workplace or educational facility; as well as for youth inspiration and to help engage future talent in trades and design. Vitally, Skills Collider will also be a safe place for neurodiverse industry creatives to explore advanced artistry in food-based materials.

Having previously collaborated on premiere events such as the Gladiator Sydney movie launch, Skills Collider is now seeking partners, investors, supporters, and sponsors to co-create its next series of activations: from blockbuster film premieres to luxury brand showcases and cultural festivals.

Further information about how to get involved can be found on the Skills Collider website.