Con Dedes

Owner and Managing Director of Dedes Group, Con Dedes has been in the food business for more than 25 years. Dedes Group has a range of venues in Sydney and one in Fiji. Impeccable service, sensational food, destination driven and most on the water in stunning locations are all hallmarks of the Dedes Group experience. With venues within the group such as Flying Fish in Pyrmont and Fiji, Deckhouse in Woolwich Dock, Dedes Restaurant & Watergrill in Abbotsford and Flying Fish & Chips in the Star, typically the only challenge guests have is deciding which venue to choose.

As a philanthropist with diverse business interests, Con has built Dedes Group from basic principles instituted by his father Stavros, such as "look after your people son" and great service, dedicated staff and the very best produce available seasonally. These qualities exemplify all of the Dedes Groups venues and concepts. 

Alessandro Pavoni

Brescian-born chef Alessandro Pavoni blasted into Sydney's dining scene in 2009 with his first restaurant venture, northern Italian gem Ormeggio at the Spit. In 2011 he opened Spiedo Restaurant & Bar in the new Westfield Sydney.  Millions of people watched him and his apprentice cook on Masterchef Australia. At the age of 36 Alessandro had his first heart attack, followed by a second in 2012. Now he is determined to spread the word that heart research matters.

"After my first heart attack, I kept hearing the doctors using jargon that later I learned were the names of cardiac procedures and methodologies that the Foundation had funded. That was when I first understood that I owed them my life"

Alessandro lives on the northern beaches with his Australian wife, Anna. In his spare time he can be found long boarding on one of the many local beaches, cruising on his Harley or cooking up a storm in his backyard for friends and family.

Chris Russell

Chris is a respected agricultural scientist and successful businessman, as well as a popular keynote speaker and TV personality.

"If it hadn’t been for the North Shore Heart Research Foundation I wouldn’t’ be here today. We should always treat every day as a gift, that’s why they call it the present"

He had his own mortality highlighted by a major heart attack in 2004 and is now an energetic Ambassador for the Foundation.