Sophie Hansen

1994 - 1996

Food writer and social media educator Sophie Hansen shares stories of food, farming and community from her home just outside Orange, New South Wales. She lived at John XXIII College from 1994 to 1996 while studying print journalism at the University of Canberra, beginning a writing career that has spanned more than 25 years across features, content creation and digital storytelling.

Sophie is the author and photographer of five cookbooks, including her most recent release What Can I Bring (2024), and is currently working on her sixth. Alongside her books, she co-hosts the podcast Something to Eat and Something to Read and writes two weekly newsletters, 5 Things to be Cheerful About and What Should I Cook This Weekend, building a loyal audience drawn to her thoughtful, practical approach to food and everyday life. Over the past decade she has also led workshops teaching others how to build meaningful online communities through platforms such as Instagram, where she shares her work via @locallovely.

In 2016, Sophie was named Australian Rural Woman of the Year through the Federal Government’s Agrifutures initiative, recognising her contribution to rural communities. Grounded in life on the land, her work reflects a belief in the power of shared tables and good, simple food to connect us all.

Quote

"Be generous with what you know and do."

All photographs © Bronte Morel 2026 and not to be reproduced.