The Team

MEET THE TEAM BEHIND PRANCING PONY BREWERY

At Prancing Pony Brewery, we’re more than just a team. We’re a family of passionate individuals who love what we do. Each member of our crew brings their own special skills, creativity, and personality to the table.

Whether it’s brewing beers, cooking delicious meals, or ensuring our guests have a fantastic time, our team is dedicated to making your experience unforgettable.

FRANK SAMSON

HEAD BREWER, CO-FOUNDER AND PHYSICIST AND THE GUY WITH THE INSANE MO

At the Pony, Frank is the engine behind the brewing team, and responsible for all things related to the brewery. The packaging, the brewery operations, R&D and engineering and maintenance.

A big job but with a background as a trained mechanical Engineer and Physicist and having worked as an R&D scientist in Optics. There is almost nothing that can’t be done by this clever man.

Privately, Frank has ridden his motorbike unaided through the Sahara Desert long before mobile phones and GPS systems. Not once but twice and he has built his own house with his very own hands.

He does not like cold weather. He is a dedicated beer drinker. His favourite Pony is the Piper WCIPA and he loves any food that requires yeast. Bretzeln and freshly baked bread are his nemesis. His favourite past time is listening to his favourite music (Pink Floyd, Jimmy H. or other old-style rock and blues) while drinking a beer and spending time with his family.

His hobby is to hurl his Suzuki GXR 750 down a hastily laid-out racing track on a 65 million old salt lake (Lake Gairdner) at the top speed. He has done 181mph and still looking for more power.

And yes, for most of Frank’s life, he had a crazy Mo.

CORINNA STEEB

CEO, CO-FOUNDER AND MEDICAL SCIENTIST AND ENTREPRENEUR

Corinna is the glue that holds a lot of the pieces together at the Pony. She is responsible for the Sales team, marketing, the finance operation, and overseeing the Front of House operation of the business.

After a career in Medical Sciences, she has held some amazing Senior Executive positions including COO of Jurlique, CEO of Nut Producers Australia, CEO of Te Tika and General Manager at Longview Vineyard.

She has been asked by the former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands to make a present for Queen Elizabeth’s Dimond Jubilee as part of a cosmetic company that Corinna was involved with.

Corinna insists that her greatest achievement is to have brought up 2 loving daughters. Both enjoy spending time with her and that have created great lives for themselves. Her favourite past time is to spend time in her veggie garden, listening to great music (Nina Simone is her favourite) and cooking traditional meals for the family and enjoying a Black Ale, her all time favourite Pony.

Like Frank, Corinna loves riding motorbikes but insists that she had a motorbike before she had a boyfriend. She currently holds a land speed record on her 2015 Royal Enfield Conti.

SKYE BULLIS

HEAD CHEF AND PIZZA QUEEN EXTRAORDINAIRE

Skye Bullis joined the Pony in 2017 as Sous Chef before being promoted to Head Chef. Skye is the driving force behind the smooth running of the Pony kitchen. She is the friendly face in the Pizza section and one of the first persons that patrons encounter as they walk up to the bar.

On her own admission, Skye says she loves the vibe of the Prancing Pony, her Co-workers and the visitors and the atmosphere.

Skye is a local and she is super accommodating to any food request that she may get. But, she will tell anybody that the most unusual request for a Pizza that she made was a gluten free/vegan cheese pizza, topped with oyster sauce, chicken and pineapple, only. She hated making it but then our customers are King/Queen, and we all differ in our food tastes.

Skye loves dogs and she loves it when patrons bring their dogs to the beer garden. She is always humbled when people compliment her on the food or service.

Her favourite Pony dish is a Margarita Pizza with either Hopwork Orange, India Red or the Black Ale. In her own words, ‘I love them all, just can’t pick my favourite’.

In her free time, Skye adores painting stones and other objects such as garden fountains or large stone sculptures in need of restoration.

DARREN HILDITCH

FOOD AND BEVERAGE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER AND SALES ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Darren started with the Pony initially as the Food and Beverage Manager. For the past 18 months he has represented the Pony in the role of Sales Account BDM.

Like many at the Pony, Darren has a distinguished hospitality career spanning over 30 years. As a trained Chef he has seen it all. Darren has spent quite a bit of time in Asia, where he was responsible for the opening and set up of sizable Hotel operations, restaurants, bars and breweries.

Darren loves beer (good beer) and he knows how to make it. He has recently completed a Diploma in Project Management and he is a great generalist supporting the Pony in many areas.

Privately, Darren loves nothing more than spending time with his family, going fishing and coaching his son and daughter Soccer teams.

Like Frank, Darrens favorite beer is the Piper WCIPA. He is a connector, knows many people in the Hospitality Industry and he is not afraid to ask.

Darren is one of the most energetic and versatile people at the Pony. If anybody has a question, or needs something done regardless of what it is, Darren is your man.

MATT BLYTH

CUSTOMER SERVICE AND VENUE MANAGER

A dedicated hospitality professional, Matt has been involved with well-known venues and his career spans over 20 years. Matt has joined the Pony in 2023 and he has already left his mark on the operation.

He is dedicated to delivering good service, in a calm and measured manner. He directs the team of Service assistants. His biggest joy is to have all customers leave feeling special and happy with their experience.

His focus is on training young people from the ground up. He loves order, organization, planning and structure.

Matt also loves the atmosphere at the Pony, the repeat customers and he being busy is his mantra. The busier, the better.

His favorite Pony is the XPA, an easy drinking Session ale. He is responsible for the great music play-lists at the Pony, and organizing the musicians and getting the team ready for Pony music events makes his day.

Privately, Matt likes to spend time with his family and friends, going out to see live bands or to travel. His favourite music genre is Blues. When not working, Matt can be found enjoying some good Blues at venues around town.

BOBBI HUTCHINS

FINANCIAL CONTROLLER AT THE PONY

Bobbi joined the Prancing Pony in 2016 as the accounting clerk. Over the years, Bobbi has advanced her knowledge and in 2023, she was promoted to Financial Controller after successfully completing her Diploma in Accounting.

Incidentally, Bobbi and Corinna worked together at Jurlique, where Bobbi was a CRM consultant.

Bobbi loves the variety of tasks that her position entails at the Pony. She says, ‘I know it may sound strange but I love numbers, but I’m also a full-time multi-tasking Ninja, but that’s not an actual job title so Accounting it is’.

Bobbi is the most approachable person at the Pony, and she just gets on with the job regardless what it entails – but she will always make time to talk to everybody, each time with a massive smile on her face. Friendly, passionately, caring and understanding, Bobbi is also the main contact for all employees as part of her role in people culture.

Her favorite beer is the Zeppelin NEIPA, for sure. In her own words, ‘There’s nothing more refreshing and rewarding after a hard day’s work in the garden, to knock back a cold, fruity, delicious pink can’.

Bobbi loves her family more than anything and her school age children mean the world to her. In-between school and sports activities, Bobbi loves gardening and to travel around Australia and the one thing that we all did not know about Bobbi but are about to reveal.

She can sing the Alphabet backwards, just ask her when you see her next.