About
PARABERE is an independent, international and non-for-profit platform featuring women’s views and voices on major food issues.
PARABERE is committed to improving the state of gastronomy, food, nutrition and agriculture by engaging leaders in various fields, from business and academia to politics and social issues.
Deploying women’s experience and expertise across all generations and geographies, it offers practical discussions on how to overcome barriers and create new horizons and opportunities, both locally and globally, as well as in-depth and innovative debate on important ideas.
PARABERE also promotes the advancement of women world-wide via business and social networks.
Board
President
Maria Canabal
Secretary-General
Thais Compoint
Thais Compoint is a Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity Consultant with over 15 years of a solid international experience across industries.
She received the 2015 Diversity Leader Award by the prestigious American “Profiles in Diversity” Journal, as one of the diversity officers who advanced Diversity & Inclusion in the corporate world.
She led successfully the Diversity & Inclusion strategies at Vinci, Coca-Cola Entreprises and Cisco. Prior to that, she worked as a Senior Socially Responsible Investment Analyst and as a Senior Corporate Social Responsibility Auditor for Vigeo, Europe’s Leading social and environmental rating agency.
Thais was born and raised in Brazil, lived half of her life in France, and is currently based in the UK, after having lived in Spain, Italy and the US. She speaks fluently 5 languages and has an education background in Law, International Relations and Human Rights. She is married, has three adorable teenagers and loves practicing meditation and yoga.
Country correspondents
Brazil
Roberta Sudbrack
Sudbrack’s determination to make haute-cuisine with simple and local ingredients made dining at her former restaurant “Roberta Sudbrack” (Rio de Janeiro) one of the best experiences Brazil.
Her keyword is respect and her cuisine has only 3 ingredients: hands, fire and brains.
That says it all.
Roberta was the first chef cooking at Brazil’s presidential palace and her former restaurant “Roberta Sudbrack” was ranked N°25 in 2016 by the “Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants” and holded a Michelin star.
She was awarded as “2015 Best Latin American Female chef” by “The World’s 50 Best Restaurants”.
Canada
Joshna Maharaj
Joshna Maharaj is a busy chef with big ideas about good food!
Joshna’s strong social justice and sustainability ethics are rooted in her time at The Stop, a community food centre where she built innovative and delicious community food programs. Recently, Joshna has been working with institutions in Toronto building new models for institutional food procurement, production and service, proving that the institution is a viable tool for social change. Joshna is currently an expert panelist on TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin and makes regular appearances on CBC radio.
She is also a two-time TEDx speaker and recently made the shortlist of nominees for the inaugural Basque Culinary World Prize recognizing chefs who use gastronomy to make social change.
Ireland
Jess Murphy
Jess Murphy is an award winning chef and co-owner of the iconic Kai Restaurant, located in the heart of Galway City.
Coming from Wairoa New Zealand, Jess moved to Ireland in 2003. She has since made Galway her home. After opening up Kai Restaurant in 2011 with her husband Dave Murphy, this extraordinary husband-wife team has continuously nourished the souls (and bellies) of all who pass through the doors of Kai. With a clear emphasis on community and sustainability, Jess has made it her mission to provide sustenance through food as well as friendship.
With the only Michelin Green Star in Ireland, Kai is celebrated for their environmentally focused menu working closely with over 100 local producers and farmers ensuring your plate is full of honest local ingredients.
By working to build up the community around her, Jess’ impact is insurmountable and is highly valued by all around her.
Mexico
Zahie Tellez
Zahie dining experiences produces easy to understand gastronomic experiences, resulting from a successful walk through the Mexican and Italian cuisine enriched by their Lebanese-Mazatlan roots and the practical study of many world cuisines and ingredients. Her knowledge, empathy, ease of words and presence has successfully led her gastronomic experience to television (six seasons at The Gourmet and apprearance at THE CHEW), taught undergraduate courses (CEESA), made countless demonstrations, presented at food festivals abroad (India, Italy) and guided numerous appreciation and food pairing events.
Zahie is also a Brewery Master Sommelier. Successful entrepreneur in “Jose Guadalupe Platos de Cuchara” is proponent of Mexican cuisine of modern technique and great quality. Zahie frequently appears on radio, television as well as in newspapers and magazines articles.
