Kishwar Chowdhury (2000)
At this year’s Foundation Day Assembly, PLC celebrated its rich history and the enduring impact of educating girls to lead, serve and shape the world around them. A highlight of the morning was an address from Old Collegian Kishwar Chowdhury (2000), whose story offered both inspiration and perspective. Following the Assembly, we had the opportunity to sit down with Kishwar to continue the conversation and reflect more deeply on her journey.
Now a Melbourne-based chef, storyteller and finalist on MasterChef Australia Season 13, Kishwar returned to PLC to reflect on her journey since leaving school, and the foundations that continue to shape her path. Speaking to students and Old Collegians alike, she emphasised the importance of staying open to opportunity and having the confidence to pursue unexpected directions.
‘There isn’t always a clear roadmap,’ she shared, reflecting on her own career, which has spanned commerce, design, international business and, ultimately, the culinary world. Rather than following a linear path, Kishwar described a life shaped by curiosity, resilience and a willingness to step beyond the expected. She encourages students to embrace this same mindset, reminding them that success is rarely a straight line.
During her visit, Kishwar was shown a photograph of herself as a Year 12 student, taken 25 years ago during PLC’s 125th anniversary celebrations. At the time, she had contributed a message to Patchwork: ‘Be it good, be it bad…always make an impression.’ Reflecting on those words now, she smiled at their enduring relevance, offering today’s students a refreshed perspective: ‘Be it good, be it bad…give it a go.’
Central to her message was the lasting value of a PLC education. Kishwar spoke warmly of the breadth of experiences offered at school, from academics to the arts and co-curricular pursuits, and how these opportunities foster confidence to try new things. Just as importantly, she reflected on the lifelong friendships formed at PLC, describing them as a constant source of support through life’s many chapters.
A particularly powerful theme of her address was identity. Kishwar encourages students to recognise their cultural heritage as a strength, not something to be set aside. Through her own work, particularly her advocacy of Bengali cuisine, she has sought to celebrate and normalise food and traditions that have often been underrepresented. ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it,’ she noted, highlighting the importance of visibility and representation for future generations.
Since her time on MasterChef, Kishwar has used her platform to advocate for meaningful causes, including her role as a 1000 Girls Ambassador with World Vision Australia. Drawing on her recent visit to Bangladesh, she spoke about the importance of girls’ education and the transformative impact it can have on communities.
For Kishwar, success is not defined solely by public recognition, but by purpose and impact. Whether through her cooking, storytelling or advocacy, she continues to create meaningful change while remaining grounded in the values first nurtured at PLC.
Her debut cookbook, Smoke, Rice & Water, further reflects this journey, bringing together food, culture and story in a celebration of identity and connection.
Presbyterian Ladies’ College acknowledges the Wurundjeri, Woiwurrung and Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians, by God’s gracious providence, of the land on which our school stands.