At the age of 15, high-profile chef and restaurateur Matt Moran made two life-changing decisions. He dropped out of school and he learnt to cook. At the time, it was an unconventional choice for a boy from the western Sydney suburb of Blacktown.

But it paid off. By 22, Moran had bought his first restaurant, which kicked off a decades-long career in hospitality. Today, Moran’s restaurant stable includes the Opera Bar, Chiswick and fine-dining eatery Aria.