Jackie James: "A Life of Passion, Persistence, and Purpose"

Chat Session 154 with Jackie James

Topic- Empowering Independence Through Safe Design

Monday 11th May 2026 1pm https://rppfm.com.au

Founder of Kiddies Food Kutter

The Company - Safety Food Kutter is a proudly Australian made, designed, and owned business based in Melbourne. Founded in 2000, it reflects more than 26 years of passion, resilience, and determination by its founder, Jackie James.

Early Life & Personal Journey

From an early age, Jackie demonstrated discipline and drive. Baking & Cooking meals from as early as 8, to assist with two hard working parents, there was always an interest in fresh food, real ingredients & imagination in the kitchen.

She excelled at school—particularly in sport—and was a straight-A student until the age of fourteen. However, following her parents’ separation, her path changed dramatically. At just fourteen, she was required to leave school and enter the workforce.

Jackie began working in a pharmacy, where at fifteen she met the man who would later become her first husband. She married at twenty-four during an emotional time—her father was terminally ill with lung cancer and wished to see her married. Sadly, he passed away just six weeks before the wedding.

By the age of twenty-six, Jackie realised she had outgrown the relationship. She took off to travel. Her journey took her across Europe and the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, Israel, and Turkey, where she attended the Anzac Service. She completed a scuba diving course in the Red Sea and later lived in Santorini for three months, working as a travel agent. This period profoundly shaped her independence, resilience, and outlook on life.

Building a Career & Independence

Returning to Australia, Jackie entered the corporate world through an insurance company, starting in VDU data input at the dawn of the computer era. Through determination and capability, she progressed through multiple roles and organisations.

During these early years she also worked the doors of nightclubs, a side hustle, three evenings a week. She was eventually recruited by American International Group, where she managed Personal Superannuation portfolio and played a key role in transitioning systems from manual ledger cards to digital platforms alongside IT teams.

Financial independence was always a priority. Jackie purchased and renovated her own Victorian home—another milestone in building her self-reliance and confidence.

She later joined Norwich, where she spent a total of ten years managing Superannuation portfolio, before becoming National Credit Manager – reporting to the CEO who became her Mentor, a personal friend indefinitely.

Her career continued at Marsh Insurance, where she managed BHP Billiton’s marine and general insurance tender. By refining systems and processes, she significantly improved efficiency and workload management.

At the same time, Jackie returned to study, completing her accounting qualifications part-time over three years, achieving honours and distinctions & graduating at 40.

A Life of Health, Discipline & Drive

Between the ages of thirty and forty, Jackie lived an intensely active lifestyle. She ran daily, cycled to work, completed over one hundred triathlons, and ran aerobic classes for colleagues. Another paid side hustle.

During this time, her strong belief in health and nutrition continued—a philosophy that would later underpin her business: “Fresh is Best.”

Love, Partnership & Life Balance

Jackie later met her second husband, and in a bold leap-year moment, proposed to him herself and they married in Hawaii. From day one, they were inseparable, sharing a deep love of music, fine dining & travelling the world at every opportunity. Curiosity for life was a common denominator.

The Birth of Safety Food Kutter

In 2000, Jackie launched a side hustle based on a simple but powerful idea: creating safe kitchen tools to help children develop independence and confidence.

She developed two products:

-The Kiddies Food Kutter

-The Safety Food Peeler

Both were eventually proudly manufactured in Australia.

For over two decades, Jackie demonstrated tirelessly attending up to 100 farmers markets, children’s events, and disability expos each year, while still maintaining her corporate career. She spoke directly with thousands of families, carers, and educators, gaining invaluable insight into real-world needs.

Her mission remained clear:

To create simple, safe, practical tools that empower people of all ages and abilities.

Her design philosophy became the foundation of the brand: “Perfect design meets perfectly safe.”

Innovation Through Listening

By listening closely to customers, Jackie developed the NEW Safety Food Kutter—a larger, more versatile design created for:

-Children with larger hands

-Teenagers and adults with special needs

-Older adults maintaining independence

Completed after delays during COVID, the updated design features:

-A larger ergonomic handle

-A wider, longer stainless-steel blade

This allows users not only to cut safely, but also to spread

toppings—supporting greater independence at mealtimes.

The product range supports individuals living with:

-Low vision

-Diabetes

-Parkinson’s disease or hand tremors

-Dementia

-Limited hand strength or coordination

Children gain confidence in preparing their own meals, while parents have peace of mind knowing safety is built into every detail.

Resilience Through Life’s Challenges

As COVID emerged, Jackie faced personal challenges. Her mother 87 living with diabetes for 27 years —who lived next door, passed away.

At the same time, her husband, aged just 52, was given a life expectancy of four years. He passed away at 58.

Jackie considers it a privilege to have palliative cared for him during his final years, particularly throughout the isolation of the pandemic. She remembers him as kind, charming, and funny—a man with whom she shared fun, laughs, music, travel, and treasured memories.

A Personal Triumph & Pride

Jackie wanted to share something deeply personal—she is a recovering alcoholic, having started at 13 years of age. Her father was also an alcoholic. Jackie drank almost every day of her life—high functioning—but stopped cold at age 53. No rehab, no assistance, and she has not had 1 sip since! That is one of the proudest and greatest achievements Jackie has ever attained in her life.

Reinvention & Growth

During the lockdown period, Jackie pivoted her business entirely to online. Teaching herself e-commerce from the ground up. She successfully diverted the company over the next two years in another direction.

A Thriving Australian Business

Today, Safety Food Kutter continues to grow as a successful online business and a passive income stream—built on decades of persistence, innovation, and resilience.

The product range—including the original Kiddies Food Kutter, the NEW Safety Food Kutter, and the Safety Food Peeler—is proudly Australian made, designed, and owned.

Jackie continues to support local manufacturing and Australian businesses wherever possible, staying true to the values on which she built her company.

Discover more about the products, tips for safe food preparation, and ways to support independence in the kitchen

Connect with Safety Food Kutter

Website: https://www.kiddiesfoodkutter.com.au

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KFKutter

Instagram: @jacklynjames2024

My hope is that when you’re looking at yourself in the

‘The Daily Mirror’

YOU SMILE

EMBRACE BEING YOU

AND FIND 10 MINUTES IN YOUR DAY TO NOURISH YOUR SOUL!

To get in touch with Cathy email smileinthedailymirror@gmail.com 

'The Daily Mirror' acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.