Western Australia, 20, Commerce Student

Working as a waiter at Nobu, Perth, Steven has seen some of the finest cuisine on offer. It’s a role that has made him realise that his skill and passion for food needs to be harnessed in the kitchen itself.

Born in WA’s Pilbara region, Steven’s first memories are of red dust in the town of Newman, before the Peh family moved to Perth when he was three.

The Aussie lifestyle and his Chinese-Malaysian background ensured that Steven was exposed to the best of both worlds in terms of food and culture growing up.

Mother Cathrine is an advertising consultant, while dad Guan is an engineer. Elder brother Vincent, 25 is also an engineer, while sister Bronwyn, 22 is an accountant.

Steven’s work at Nobu has provided real inspiration, igniting his creativity and excitement when it comes to food. But it’s a passion that extends back to memories of his mum’s home cooked meals.

Steven says that “my mother is my inspiration to cook”, and recalls helping out in the kitchen, mixing spices for his mum in the mortar and pestle and chopping vegetables.

Extra learning done online has helped Steven develop his skills and it’s within the past year that he has really thrown himself into the kitchen with gusto.

Studying for his Bachelor of Commerce at Curtin University, Steven has realised that a future in finance isn’t where his heart lies.

“I feel as though food is my calling.”

Nominating his food heroes as Peter Gilmore, Heston Blumenthal and Nobu Matsuhisa, Steven would also relish the chance to cook alongside Marco Pierre White, with his drill sergeant style.

Outside of the kitchen, Steven is a self-confessed adrenaline junkie and loves sport. His competitive nature has seen him triumph in table tennis, representing WA. He also played volleyball at a national level, and basketball at a state level, plus he’s played gridiron and golf.