Sydney’s culinary finale caps OzHarvest’s nationwide CEO CookOff® series with record-breaking fundraising 

More than 200 of Australia’s top CEOs and business leaders swapped their suits for aprons this year, joining forces with 30 legendary chefs across seven cities to cook up something extraordinary – hope, connection, and three million meals for Australians in need. 

OzHarvest’s flagship fundraiser CEO CookOff® culminated in Sydney, bringing the nationwide series to a spectacular close beating the fundraising goal with an incredible $1.5 million raised which will enable three million meals will help support communities facing food insecurity. Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes generously made a heart-warming, surprise performance to the delight of all the guests. 

The concept was simple but powerful: get business leaders cooking alongside culinary legends to create gourmet meals that were served and shared with members of the community from charities OzHarvest supports. The experience was transformative, breaking down barriers, building empathy, and proving that real change happens when you bring people together. 

OzHarvest founder Ronni Kahn AO said hosting nine events across the month of October was a huge achievement at a critical time. “More people than ever need our help, so bringing back our flagship fundraiser CEO CookOff was much needed, not just to raise vital funds, but to create genuine human connection. When business leaders step into the kitchen and then sit down to share a meal with people from the communities we support, something shifts. They see the faces behind the statistics, have conversations to understand that anyone can find themselves needing help. And they become part of the solution.” 

The nine event, seven city tour brought together corporate Australia’s finest with the country’s most celebrated chefs, transforming kitchens into places of collaboration, compassion, and culinary creativity. Participants didn’t just learn to how to cook, they learned about the realities of hunger in Australia and the power of community action. 

One of OzHarvest’s recipient organisations attending the Sydney event was Lomandra School and Community Pantry in Campbelltown, Principal Leanne Newitt said “I wish I could measure the impact of OzHarvest, but it goes way beyond the person who receives the food – a hamper that goes home with one child may feed a family of seven. I know that without it we’d be looking at a very different society, with many people facing hunger.” 

CEO CookOff has witnessed extraordinary acts of generosity from top chefs donating their precious time, to CEOs and business leaders* who’ve turned compassion into action with Sydney Swans Chairman Andrew Pridham topping the leaderboard, closely followed by bp Australia’s Paul Auge and CBRE Hotels National Director, Wayne Bunz. 

Top fundraiser, Andrew Pridham said “It’s really important for those with the opportunity to help to do so, that’s what life is all about and that’s what business is about – giving back to the community.” 

Senior Vice President, bp Asia Pacific, Paul Auge participated for the first time and spoke about the importance of their long-standing partnership with OzHarvest since 2017 ‘This event is a great way for leaders to understand the needs of the community and how as corporates we can help.  The bp team love supporting the work of OzHarvest through fuelling their yellow vans and sponsoring CEO CookOff so every dollar raised can go to helping people in need.” 

Thanks to Presenting Partner bp Australia and their generous sponsorship of CEO CookOff which is a reflection of their ongoing commitment to supporting communities across Australia. And other national event supporters, IHG, Hexclad and AV1 who made the nine events possible, meaning all funds raised will help OzHarvest deliver three million meals to feed people in need. 

*Top 10 fundraisers & events:
Andrew Pridham, Chairman, Sydney Swans – Sydney 
Ronni Kahn, Founder OzHarvest – all events
Paul Auge, Senior VP Asia Pacific bp Australia – Sydney 
Wayne Bunz, National Director, CBRE Hotels – Brisbane
Avaraam Solomon, Managing Director, Eurocold – Brisbane
Adrian Cosenza, CEO Australian Orthopaedic Association – Melbourne
Cameron Adams, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Canva – Launceston
Darren Mills, Director, Cadence & Co, Sydney
Martina Crowley, Managing Partner, PwC – Perth
Lawrence Goldstone, Chairman, OzHarvest – Sydney 

Chefs:
Neil Perry, Matt Moran, Peter Gilmore, Darren Robertson, Guillaume Brahimi, Andrew McConnell, Miguel Maestre, Colin Fassnidge, Blaze Young, Christin Manfield, Corey Costelloe, “Big” Sam Young, Brendan Pang, Alejandro Saravia, Jacqui Challinor, Karima Hazim, Justin Schofield, Andy Allen, Jessica Liemantara, Jason Staudt, Mindy Woods, AK Ramakrishna, Matt Adams, Craig Will, Cameron Matthews, Jake Nicolson and Parwana Afghan Kitchen 

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:  

Fiona Nearn, National Brand and Communications Lead I [email protected] I 0405 588 186

Jenny Lim, Media & Communications Manager I [email protected] I 0452 321 209    

Note to editors:   

• DOWNLOAD  SYDNEY EVENT IMAGES  HERE 
• More information at CEO CookOff : Home 

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