Zak Chalmers is a woodfire potter based at South Leongatha, Victoria. His Valley Plains Pottery, established in 2004, is on the top of a hill with views of Wilson's Promontory in the distance. He has two kilns on his property - a four metre Anagama kiln built while he was in his second year of a Bachelor of Applied Arts in ceramics at Monash University (completed with Honours in 2002) and one based on a catenary arch design. He became interested in pottery through his art teacher at Leongatha High School, Al Whitmore. While studying for his degree, he worked with Robert Barron at his Kardella Pottery. His mark is an impressed or incised 'ZC'.