How Paris helped this aerospace engineer survive anorexia

Oct 30, 2025

Kate Reid, founder of Lune Croissanterie and former aerospace engineer, shares her captivating journey from Formula One to baking. She discusses the challenges of her career, battling anorexia, and the turning point a library book about Paris provided. Kate highlights how her time in a Paris boulangerie reinvigorated her passion for food, paralleling her engineering background with pastry-making. Her croissants, meticulously developed through a scientific lens, now form the heart of a thriving business, illustrating her transformation and resilience.

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ANECDOTE

A Single Race That Changed Everything

Seeing a Formula One car live at the 1996 Australian Grand Prix changed Kate Reid's life and focus.
The V10 engine's sound

ANECDOTE

Working At Williams And Meeting Sir Frank

Kate worked at Williams F1 and even met Sir Frank Williams during late nights at the office.
Sir Frank remembered her name and often asked about her parents, which felt extraordinary to her.

INSIGHT

Why Wind Tunnels Matter

Wind tunnels let engineers simulate airflow and measure downforce and drag to optimise car parts.
The rolling road tunnel models tyre rotation for more accurate aerodynamic data.

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Kate Reid inherited her love of Formula 1 from her dad. She put her heart and soul into qualifying for a job with the renowned racing team, Williams, but her dream job turned out very differently to what she expected. Then, a public library turned out to be a bridge to Kate's recovery.

Growing up in Melbourne, Kate was an asthmatic child who developed an extremely close bond with her dad.

He would care for Kate during her frequent asthma attacks by operating a whirring nebuliser, staying next to her as she regained her breath in her bed.

Kate became obsessed with her dad’s favourite sport — Formula 1 racing.

Once Kate experienced the vibration ripping through her body at a race, she decided she would become an aerospace engineer and work in the area she and her dad loved so much.

When her dream job turned turned sour, Kate’s life took a dangerous turn and she developed depression and anorexia.

Kate returned to Australia for treatment, and it was thanks to a public library in Melbourne that she started on the next obsession, the one that would heal her.

Kate's croissanterie, Lune, is now a thriving business.

Further information

Destination Moon is published by Simon & Schuster.

If you need support with an eating disorder, you can visit the Butterfly Foundation or call on 1800 33 4673.

https://butterfly.org.au/

This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores eating disorders, disordered eating, pain au chocolat, Paris, Ousia, hospitality, hospo, cafe culture, croissants, start up, self made, CEO, life of a CEO, France, pastry chef, laminated pastries, obsession, control, perfection, perfectionism, tin tin, sibling love, family support, tight family unit, Du Pain et des Idées, boulangerie, Christophe Vasseur, changing careers, formula 1, formula one, racing, motorsports, pit crew and Monaco.

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