Meet Michelle Garnaut AO – Stelliers 2023 Judge!

Michelle Garnaut AO
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, M Restaurant Group

Michelle Garnaut AO is an extraordinary entrepreneur, whose culinary and hospitality expertise elevated the dining scene in China and beyond. As the founder and CEO of the M Restaurant Group, she built an iconic regional restaurant group that became a hallmark of the culinary world.

The first to open was M at the Fringe in Hong Kong, which swiftly grew from 1989 into a renowned city institution. In 1999, she launched M on the Bund, the first independent restaurant on the historic Shanghai waterfront and a beloved oasis for locals and visitors alike. In 2009, she opened Capital M on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Her unwavering dedication to culinary excellence and unparalleled service earned her widespread acclaim and recognition, including being lauded by Time magazine as “the pioneer of China’s fashionable dining scene.”

Ms Garnaut’s influence extends well beyond the dining scene. She is the founder of notable cultural events such as the Shanghai and Capital Literary Festivals and the Shanghai Chamber Music Festival and Competition, and the M Literary Residency. Her success has earned her numerous international awards and recognition, including the Business Entrepreneurial Award at the ANZ Australian Business Awards, Entrepreneur of the Year at the International Women of Influence Awards, the inaugural award in Food at the Advance Global Australian Awards, and an AO for her service to Australia-China relations as a restauranteur, entrepreneur and role model.

While Ms. Garnaut closed her China operations in March 2022, the Stelliers team is honoured to welcome her to our esteemed panel of judges for the Stelliers 2023 Awards, where her entrepreneurial spirit and expertise will undoubtedly be a source of inspiration for all.