The Judges and Mentors
Meet the Netflix® Stars
Click a name below to learn more about that cast member.
- Sara Schonour
- Rodolfo Goncalves
- Edwin Chiu
- Cindy Ngar
- Menuka Gamage
- Hannah Walden
- Vanessa Barcelo
- Andrew Smyth
- Stefan Price
- Tamara Robertson
Sara Schonour
Engineer
Sara Schonour wears many hats: accomplished engineer, lighting enthusiast, and entrepreneur. As the founder of Luxsi, she combines engineering, education, and entertainment in her cross- curricular creative consulting practice. Prior to Luxsi, she spent 16 years at the world-renowned architecture firm CannonDesign, where she built their award-winning Lighting Studio from the ground up. Her expertise spans speaking engagements, educational outreach, strategic consulting, and more. Sara earned a Bachelor of Architectural Engineering degree from Pennsylvania State University.
Rodolfo Goncalves
Baker
Rodolfo Goncalves, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, moved to New York City in 2004, where he discovered a passion for baking. His journey has been filled with creativity and challenges, shaping cakes into anything imaginable. Along the way, he was recognized by Brides Magazine as the creator of the “Most Beautiful Cake in America,” won two Cake Wars competitions, and claimed victory in “Wiener Cake Wall” on Food Network®. He also earned the title of champion on Netflix®’s Baking Impossible, alongside his partner Sara Schonour. Additionally, Rodolfo previously owned a bakery in New York City, showcasing his skills and dedication to the craft.
Edwin Chiu
Engineer
Edwin Chiu’s passion for Electrical Engineering began at an early age when he created a unique automatic device from a disassembled remote control car. He continued to explore his interests throughout his education, building electric vehicles from elementary school through college. After college, he took a job at SpaceX where he designed the Falcon 9 engine controller, as well as control electronics on other vehicles: Dragon, Crew Dragon, Falcon 1, Falcon Heavy, Grasshopper, and F9R-dev. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwin co-founded RespiraWorks, to develop an open-source and freely licensed intensive care unit (ICU) ventilator. The organization has since grown to include over 200 volunteers in 11 countries. In 2021, Edwin showcased his creativity and problem-solving skills as a contestant on Netflix®’s Baking Impossible.
Cindy Ngar
Baker
Cindy Ngar is a first-generation Vietnamese American pastry chef, cake artist and entrepreneur. She is the Owner/CEO of Cindy’s Little Cakery and Flutterby Designs by Cindy LLC. What began as a hobby evolved into a passion, and in 2009, Cindy took a leap into the world of cake design. Fifteen years later, her love for the craft remains as vibrant as ever. Her artistic approach celebrates love, connection, and the belief that magic exists within everyone. Through her edible creations and ventures beyond cake design, Cindy hopes to inspire others to embrace their creativity and pursue their dreams. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the power of turning aspirations into reality.
Menuka Gamage
Engineer
Menuka Gamage is the founder and president of Nanopuppet, where he developed a proprietary muscle alloy miniature robotics technology that brings Nanopuppet’s greeting cards to life. As an Electrical Prototyping and Research Engineer at Perception Robotics, Menuka served as the primary engineer on multiple federally funded R&D projects (NSF and NASA SBIR Phase I & II), working on advanced technologies such as pressure-sensitive polymers for wearables and robotic sensors for NASA spacesuits. Menuka holds degrees in Business and Economics from California State University, Los Angeles, and in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering from California State University, Northridge.
Hannah Walden
Engineer
Hannah Walden is a project engineer at Frito Lay with an extensive background in woodworking and hobbyist electronics. Together with her father, she runs a YouTube channel called “Atomic Dairy”, which features a variety of creative projects they’ve constructed over the years, including secret doors, desks packed with technology, giant lawn dinosaurs, and much more. With nearly 15 years of shop experience under her belt, she is constantly looking forward to the next project. Hannah holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Southern University.
Vanessa Barcelo
Baker
Vanessa Barcelo is the owner of One Love Cakes, bringing 14 years of cake decorating experience to her craft. Each day offers her new opportunities to learn and explore the science and artistry of creating spectacular cakes. Vanessa values the ability to give back to the community through fundraisers and charities. Through her cake decorating and participation in shows, she has reached numerous people worldwide. This experience has reinforced the belief that achieving one’s goals requires perseverance through hardships. When faced with challenges, she emphasizes the importance of learning from failures and continuing to strive toward one’s ultimate aspirations.
Andrew Smyth
Engineer and Baker
Andrew is a professionally curious aerospace engineer, baker and presenter. Since reaching the final of “The Great British Bake Off” in 2016 he’s finessed the art of ‘bakineering’ to explain engineering through edible means, created and produced the Netflix’s Baking Impossible and even baked a rotating jet engine cake for Prince William. Andrew divides his time between his aerospace career and as an engineering broadcaster, including as an expert contributor on Discovery Science, the BBC and History Channel. He has toured live shows around the UK and Ireland with the European Space Agency and, as of 2025, is enjoying a new adventure, designing electric planes at start-up Elysian Aircraft in Amsterdam.
Industry Professionals
Stefan Price
Engineer
Stefan Price is a professional artist, maker, and special effects fabricator with nearly three decades of experience blending creative design and mechanical engineering. He holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Theatre from the University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Immersive Experience Design. As founder of Roundtable Productions and co-founder of Makers Hollow, his work spans themed attractions, film, television, and live events, with projects featured in Disney and Universal parks worldwide. A speaker, panelist, and STEM educator, Stefan advocates for the powerful connection between engineering and artistry.
Tamara Robertson
Engineer
Tamara Robertson is a chemical and biomolecular engineer, Emmy-nominated producer, television host, and science communicator focused on making engineering accessible and engaging for the next generation. A graduate of NC State University, she is a patent-holding engineer with experience in additive technologies and manufacturing. Tamara is best known for her work on MythBusters, MythBusters Jr., and SciJinks, and for her STEM outreach as an ambassador for the Society of Women Engineers and Board Director for DiscoverE. She is also the founder of Tinkering Studios and co-creator of STEM-focused media, including books, comics, and podcasts that promote hands-on learning and confidence in young innovators.