Raquel Manks
Community Kitchen Coordinator
Community Kitchen Coordinator
Raquel grew up in Te Tai Rāwhiti, spending their younger years on the sunny Wainui Beach and around the East Coast of Aotearoa. They whakapapa to Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa, and Te Āti Awa ki Whakatū. Later, Raquel moved to San Francisco, where they completed high school and worked as a snowboard instructor in Colorado during the winters.
In 2020, Raquel returned to Aotearoa to study at Victoria University, majoring in Sociology and Political Science, with minors in Gender Politics and International Relations. Their passion for food and community flourished when they began volunteering with BGi in their first year, helping with food prep, cooking, and supporting Māori kaupapa. After a couple of years of volunteering, Raquel transitioned into a full-time role as a junior chef, and is now the head chef and kitchen coordinator. They run cooking classes and teach rangatahi about seasonal, budget-friendly meals and zero-waste practices.
In their free time, Raquel enjoys surfing, swimming in the ocean, and cooking extravagant meals for friends. They also love working on passion projects and immersing themselves in Te Taiao.