Meet the Team — The People Behind the Château
Meet the Team — The People Behind the Château
A Small Team, Big Ideas & a Lot of Château Magic!
Behind the doors of Château de la Carrière is a small but passionate team who share a love of beautiful gardens, good food, creativity and bringing people together.
We may be small in numbers, but there's never a dull moment! Together, we work hard to make the château a welcoming home filled with personality, laughter and unforgettable experiences.
Collective Efforts
Suzie Jackson — Owner & The Heart of the Château
Eleven years ago, Australian Suzie Jackson fell in love with Château de la Carrière and bought it as a holiday home. Little did she know that life had other plans! Following a change in circumstances, France became her permanent home, and the château her full-time passion.
Over the years, Suzie has lovingly restored the property, room by room, filling it with an eclectic collection of antiques, beautiful objects and unexpected treasures.
A passionate, self-taught cook who once dreamed of opening a cooking school, Suzie has found another way to share her love of food. Today, she's the creative force behind the château kitchen, cooking for guests, celebrations and retreats throughout the year.
With a flourishing potager and orchard just steps from her kitchen, she has the luxury of creating seasonal dishes using ingredients grown right here on the property.
For Suzie, nothing beats delicious food and a room full of happy guests.
Sophie Thé — Business Partner & Creative Director
French-born with an Australian heart, Sophie spent more than 20 years living in Australia before returning to France and joining Suzie at Château de la Carrière.
With a background in interior styling, creative direction, photography and luxury hospitality, Sophie brings her colourful, eclectic style and endless creative energy to château life.
From styling beautiful tables and arranging flowers to organising weddings, retreats and events, Sophie is also the eye behind much of the château's photography, videos and social media.
Fluent in both French and English, she's also the château's resident translator and guide, driving groups around Mayenne to discover charming villages, local brocantes, beautiful gardens and hidden treasures of the French countryside.
A lover of French brocantes, vintage treasures and all things creative, she's always dreaming up a new project, whether it's designing château products, transforming a room or creating another unforgettable guest experience.
Jamie Lesley — Head Gardener
Originally from the UK, Jamie brings a wealth of horticultural experience, having worked in some remarkable British gardens before joining Château de la Carrière.
With beautiful gardens designed by renowned Australian landscape designer Paul Bangay, there's certainly plenty to keep him busy! From the formal gardens to the potager and beyond, Jamie's knowledge, dedication and green fingers help keep the château grounds looking their best throughout the seasons.
Antoine Cousin — Gardener & Champion Earth Mover!
Working alongside Jamie is our very own French powerhouse, Antoine Cousin.
Quite possibly the fastest earth mover we've ever encountered, Antoine brings incredible energy, enthusiasm and a can-do attitude to everything he tackles.
Together, Jamie and Antoine make a fantastic team, keeping our gardens growing, evolving and looking beautiful all year round.
Our Wonderful Seasonal Team & Volunteers
Behind every successful château season are many extra helping hands!
During our busiest months, we're joined by wonderful young people recruited through a local employment agency, who help us welcome guests and keep everything running smoothly.
We're also incredibly grateful for the special people who become part of the château family. People like Jane F, who first arrived as a guest and loved the experience so much that she returned as a volunteer, helping us behind the scenes.
It's these friendships, unexpected connections and generous helping hands that make château life so special.
Small Team, Big Hearts
At Château de la Carrière, we work hard, we love what we do, and we feel incredibly fortunate to share this beautiful place with people from all over the world.
Every season brings new faces, new challenges, plenty of laughter and wonderful memories.
We couldn't be prouder of what we've created together,
and we can't wait to welcome you to experience a little château magic for yourself!