Kate Reid was in conversation with Alex Sloan on her new book Destination Moon. A memoir of fast cars, French pastries and finding purpose. Destination Moon is an open-hearted memoir about passion and finding purpose from the woman whose mid-career, 180 degree turn, led her from the elite world of Formula 1 to opening in 2012 Melbourne's famous Lune Croissanterie, that has gone on to revolutionise the art of croissant-making.
At 13, Kate Reid already knew exactly where she was headed: a career in Formula 1, a life lived at full throttle. Like a master cartographer she had drawn the map of her future – all she had to do was follow the course she’d charted. But after earning a degree in aerospace engineering and taking up a coveted position at one of the top F1 teams in the UK, Kate discovered that the reality didn’t exactly live up to the dream. The pursuit of perfection that had once made her reach for the moon now sent her spiralling into a life-threatening battle against depression and anorexia.
From the grey skies of England and Monaco’s glittering, million-dollar harbour, to Melbourne’s trendy café scene and the spellbinding counters of Parisian patisseries, Kate searched for something that would bring meaning and passion back into her life: a destination worth driving towards at full speed.
‘A truly inspiring story of tenacity and humility, of strength and vulnerability, of dreams shattered and achieved – told so eloquently, honestly and bravely (and with Kate’s wicked sense of humour). It is also a story of love – for her family, for her passions, and in the end for herself.’ Nicole Piastri
Kate Reid is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Lune Croissanterie. Her career path has been anything but conventional with Kate initially pursuing aerospace engineering at RMIT University before following her lifelong passion for Formula 1 racing. After three years, however, she realised that the reality of the job didn’t match her expectations, prompting her return to Melbourne with a fresh goal: to forge a career in pastry. Kate honed her skills at one of Paris' top bakeries before opening in 2012 Lune Croissanterie, In 2023 Kate was awarded the RMIT Honorary Doctorate of Business honoris causa.
Alex Sloan AM is an award winning journalist, panellist, MC and commentator whose extensive media career spans 30 years, including 27 years with ABC Radio. Alex is a Director and Deputy Chair of Australia's think-tank, The Australia Institute and a Director of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. In 2017 Alex was named ACT Citizen of the Year and in 2019 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the Canberra community and to the broadcast media as a radio presenter.
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Kate Reid was in conversation with Alex Sloan on her new book Destination Moon. A memoir of fast cars, French pastries and finding purpose. Destination Moon is an open-hearted memoir about passion and finding purpose from the woman whose mid-career, 180 degree turn, led her from the elite world of Formula 1 to opening in 2012 Melbourne's famous Lune Croissanterie, that has gone on to revolutionise the art of croissant-making.
At 13, Kate Reid already knew exactly where she was headed: a career in Formula 1, a life lived at full throttle. Like a master cartographer she had drawn the map of her future – all she had to do was follow the course she’d charted. But after earning a degree in aerospace engineering and taking up a coveted position at one of the top F1 teams in the UK, Kate discovered that the reality didn’t exactly live up to the dream. The pursuit of perfection that had once made her reach for the moon now sent her spiralling into a life-threatening battle against depression and anorexia.
From the grey skies of England and Monaco’s glittering, million-dollar harbour, to Melbourne’s trendy café scene and the spellbinding counters of Parisian patisseries, Kate searched for something that would bring meaning and passion back into her life: a destination worth driving towards at full speed.
‘A truly inspiring story of tenacity and humility, of strength and vulnerability, of dreams shattered and achieved – told so eloquently, honestly and bravely (and with Kate’s wicked sense of humour). It is also a story of love – for her family, for her passions, and in the end for herself.’ Nicole Piastri
Kate Reid is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Lune Croissanterie. Her career path has been anything but conventional with Kate initially pursuing aerospace engineering at RMIT University before following her lifelong passion for Formula 1 racing. After three years, however, she realised that the reality of the job didn’t match her expectations, prompting her return to Melbourne with a fresh goal: to forge a career in pastry. Kate honed her skills at one of Paris' top bakeries before opening in 2012 Lune Croissanterie, In 2023 Kate was awarded the RMIT Honorary Doctorate of Business honoris causa.
Alex Sloan AM is an award winning journalist, panellist, MC and commentator whose extensive media career spans 30 years, including 27 years with ABC Radio. Alex is a Director and Deputy Chair of Australia's think-tank, The Australia Institute and a Director of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. In 2017 Alex was named ACT Citizen of the Year and in 2019 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the Canberra community and to the broadcast media as a radio presenter.
Michael Brissenden was in conversation with Chris Hammer on Michael's new novel, MTA, a dark, gripping thriller that explores the complexities of identity, a search for truth, and the unyielding forces of corruption in a world where lives are lived on the fringe and nothing is as it seems.
Lake Herrod, a once-thriving community, now lies in the shadow of a nearly dry lake. The town, like the water, is evaporating and its residents are left clinging to what little remains.
When Aaron Love discovers a fresh corpse near the cracked lakebed – along with evidence his missing father is alive and linked to a web of organised crime – he is thrust into a world of deception, injustice and betrayal. With the town on the brink of collapse, Aaron and a haunted detective, Martyn Kravets, uncover a web of conspiracy that reaches far beyond the small community.
‘Searing and raw, beautiful and tender for its profound humanity, Dust ventures where few dare – to the true, blistered Australian climate-changed outback, and to the desperate lives and brutal deaths that unfold on its margins. A superb novel, confronting and oh-so real.’– Paul Daley
Michael Brissenden was a journalist with the ABC for 35 years, covering politics, national security issues and spent many years working as a foreign correspondent. He now writes fiction and has published three novels: The List (2017), Dead Letters (2021) and Smoke (2024).
Chris Hammer is a leading Australian crime fiction novelist, including the internationally bestselling Martin Scarsden series: Scrublands, Silver and Trust. Chris’s current award-winning series features homicide detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic: Treasure & Dirt/ Opal Country; The Tilt/Dead Man’s Creek; The Seven/Cover The Bones; and now The Valley/The Broken River.
The vote of thanks was given by Canberra writer, veterinarian and podcaster Karen Viggers
Experience ANU
Kate Reid was in conversation with Alex Sloan on her new book Destination Moon. A memoir of fast cars, French pastries and finding purpose. Destination Moon is an open-hearted memoir about passion and finding purpose from the woman whose mid-career, 180 degree turn, led her from the elite world of Formula 1 to opening in 2012 Melbourne's famous Lune Croissanterie, that has gone on to revolutionise the art of croissant-making.
At 13, Kate Reid already knew exactly where she was headed: a career in Formula 1, a life lived at full throttle. Like a master cartographer she had drawn the map of her future – all she had to do was follow the course she’d charted. But after earning a degree in aerospace engineering and taking up a coveted position at one of the top F1 teams in the UK, Kate discovered that the reality didn’t exactly live up to the dream. The pursuit of perfection that had once made her reach for the moon now sent her spiralling into a life-threatening battle against depression and anorexia.
From the grey skies of England and Monaco’s glittering, million-dollar harbour, to Melbourne’s trendy café scene and the spellbinding counters of Parisian patisseries, Kate searched for something that would bring meaning and passion back into her life: a destination worth driving towards at full speed.
‘A truly inspiring story of tenacity and humility, of strength and vulnerability, of dreams shattered and achieved – told so eloquently, honestly and bravely (and with Kate’s wicked sense of humour). It is also a story of love – for her family, for her passions, and in the end for herself.’ Nicole Piastri
Kate Reid is a visionary entrepreneur and the founder of Lune Croissanterie. Her career path has been anything but conventional with Kate initially pursuing aerospace engineering at RMIT University before following her lifelong passion for Formula 1 racing. After three years, however, she realised that the reality of the job didn’t match her expectations, prompting her return to Melbourne with a fresh goal: to forge a career in pastry. Kate honed her skills at one of Paris' top bakeries before opening in 2012 Lune Croissanterie, In 2023 Kate was awarded the RMIT Honorary Doctorate of Business honoris causa.
Alex Sloan AM is an award winning journalist, panellist, MC and commentator whose extensive media career spans 30 years, including 27 years with ABC Radio. Alex is a Director and Deputy Chair of Australia's think-tank, The Australia Institute and a Director of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. In 2017 Alex was named ACT Citizen of the Year and in 2019 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for her significant service to the Canberra community and to the broadcast media as a radio presenter.
