Event details
Event: Canberra CEO Cookoff
Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
Time: 3pm - 10pm
Location: Compa - 148 Bunda Street, Canberra City ACT 2601
Join us in Canberra!
Join us for an extraordinary night, as Matt Moran’s iconic Compa Ristorante transforms into a buzzing event space where business leaders join culinary masters AK Ramakrishna and Mindy Woods in the kitchen to cook, connect and create change.
This is a powerful leadership experience where CEOs swap strategy for service, teaming up with top chefs to prepare and serve a gourmet meal to special guests from charities OzHarvest supports.
This immersive evening will be filled with sizzling pans, shared stories, community spirit and real impact. As Compa hums with energy, music, and laughter, you’ll be part of something truly powerful - a movement that goes beyond charity, creating meaningful change through the simple but profound act of sharing a meal.
With demand for food relief higher than ever in the ACT, there’s never been a more important time to support our cause. To join the event, participants pledge to raise crucial funds for OzHarvest to feed people in need. Every plate served is a reminder of what’s possible when community, compassion, and leadership come together.
So, roll up your sleeves, bring your heart to the table, and help create an unforgettable night for those who need it most. All funds raised will help feed people in need in the local community.
Our Impact to feed people in Canberra
6
Leaders
cooking to create change
$3721
Raised
towards our $15,000 goal
7442
Meals
to feed people in need
Our Chefs
Mindy Woods
Restaurant: Karkalla Byron Bay
Byron Bay’s Mindy Woods is a celebrated Indigenous chef, proud Bundjalung woman, and owner of Karkalla Byron Bay. Renowned for her work preserving and sharing Indigenous food culture, Mindy’s contributions were recognised when she won a World’s 50 Best Restaurants award. Mindy combines native ingredients with sustainable, community-focused cooking to tell powerful stories of culture, place, and connection.
AK Ramakrishna
Restaurant: AK's Diner
Known for shaking up Canberra’s food scene, AK Ramakrishna is the chef-owner of AK’s Diner, a cult favourite renowned for its vibrant curries, feather-light roti, and authentic flavours inspired by his mother’s home cooking. After closing the doors of XO – his acclaimed fine dining fusion restaurant – AK surprised everyone by going back to basics, with food lovers from across Canberra queuing for his rotating menu of soulful curries, crunchy pickles, and comforting rice boxes. AK has redefined fast, casual dining by proving that humble food, when cooked with heart and heritage, can be as memorable as any fine dining experience.
Alexandra Carlton (MC)
Alexandra Carlton is a highly respected journalist with nearly 20 years of experience across news, current affairs, food, and travel. Blending journalistic rigour with a genuine passion for food and culture, Alexandra is regarded as one of the country’s leading voices in the culinary media landscape.
Our Leaders
Gerard Benedet
Executive Director
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
$1,300
Stephen Wood
General Manager
National Convention Centre Canberra, IHG
$1,091
Adelina La Vita
Chief Executive Officer
Royal National Capital Agricultural Society
$1,014
Bryden Campbell
Founder and Managing Director
Brand Rebellion
$317
Ray Hezkial
Managing Director
Icon Water
Darren Pearce
Chief Executive Officer
Canberra Racing Club
Thank you to our sponsors
$300
National Convention Centre Canberra, Ihg
$264
Brand Rebellion
$264
Insightfully
From the looks of your tiramisu everyone’s in for a treat!
$264
Handmade Canberra
Well done Adelina.
$264
Stephen Wood
$250
Adelina La Vita
$211
Anonymous
$150
Daniel Kicuroski
Great cause. Cook well!
$106
Caroline Wood
$106
Mary-anne Krnc
You go girl ❤️
$106
Mel Sykes-bridge
Love this! Cook up a storm
$106
Meagan Lawson
To think Sam is the BBQ captain!
$100
Dee Zegarac
Will happily taste test if gluten free ;)
$100
Jeff Popp
$100
Indira K
$100
Francis Owusu
All the best Steve!
$53
Dirty Janes
Well done Steve, Great to see you donning the apron for such a great community provider.
$53
Gerard Benedet
$53
Stephen Thirgood
Have fun legend.
$53
Nathan Freebody
Goodluck Gerard!
$53
Murray Charlton
Well done Adelina
$53
Aaron D'souza
A worthy cause and a great organisation. Go well GB.
$53
Mell Burke
$53
Nomes
Go Adelina! You’re a superstar x
$53
Rian Kent
Great cause.
$53
Mercedes Magaz
Well done Adelina!. All the best!
$53
Allen
$53
Lilian Prdjan
Yeah go for it!!
$50
Sylvie Rose
$50
Andrew Jones
Great work Adelina. Worthy cause.
$50
Joanna Watson
Good luck Steve , great a cause. xx
$50
Claire Treadgold
Go Steve! If is anything as impressive as your efforts in the great “Risotto Off”, you will blow them away!
$32
Liz Bendeich
$32
Thi Nguyen
$21
Lynn
Good on you Adelina
$16
Genevieve Aranda
Amazing Adelina 💕
