Event details
Event: Canberra CEO Cookoff
Date: Monday, 13 October 2025
Time: 3:30pm - 9:30pm
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
10
Leaders
cooking to create change
$32,120
Raised
towards our $50,000 goal
64,239
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
$7,107
Nathan Hayes
Dealer Principal
Gerald Slaven Ford, Volkswagen & Chery
$6,066
Neale Guthrie
Board Chair
Canberra Memorial Parks
$3,723
Ray Hezkial
Managing Director
Icon Water
$3,349
Stephen Wood
General Manager
National Convention Centre Canberra, IHG
$2,862
Lara Troy
Brigadier- Commandant
Australian War College
$2,411
Darren Pearce
Chief Executive Officer
Canberra Racing Club
$2,246
Adelina La Vita
Chief Executive Officer
Royal National Capital Agricultural Society
$1,982
Nic Purdue
Managing Director (ACT)
CBRE
$1,280
AK Ramakrishna
$751
Bryden Campbell
Founder and Managing Director
Brand Rebellion
$343
Thank you to our sponsors
$1.5k
Nathan Hayes
$1,000
Quinn On
Great job Gerard
$541
Luke Radford
Well done! Keep it up
$520
Christopher Doogan
Just donated $500.00 Nic.
$520
Scott Wakeling
Looking forward to seeing the pork knuckle!!
$520
Wholelife Pharmacy & Healthfoods
$520
Ford Australia
$520
Kim's Car Detailing
MasterChef here we come :) congrats mate
$500
The Pharmacy Guild Of Australia, Queensland
$500
Joe Zhou
$500
Evan Moorhead, Anacta
Good luck Gerard! Save some for us.
$470
National Convention Centre Canberra, Ihg
NCCC fundraising to help people in our community in need
$380
National Convention Centre Canberra, Ihg
Giving for Good Month fundraising from NCCC
$369
Anonymous
Great work, Neale. JM.
$360
Icon Water Team
$300
National Convention Centre Canberra, Ihg
$264
Barry Neame
$264
George Loupis
Good Luck Ray, I know you’ve got this!!!
$264
Phillip And Angela Gakadellis
So good! I think they’re in for a surprise.. they don’t realise you have a secret weapon training you at home 😉
$264
Mario Barone
What a wonderful thing, cooking for a cause!
$264
Brand Rebellion
$264
Trent & Georgina Twomey
$264
Insightfully
From the looks of your tiramisu everyone’s in for a treat!
$264
Paul Dearlove
Proud of you xo
$264
Handmade Canberra
Well done Adelina.
$264
Grace Hayes
To my generous hubby, this is such a massive effort & I'm super proud of you. Your putting smiles on peoples faces.
$264
Lauren Miller
You’re the best CEO cook I know!!!! Also the best husband 😘
$264
Stephen Wood
$250
Ververis Family
Ray the Bear! Have a ball
$250
Adelina La Vita
$250
Royal National Capital Agricultural Society
$211
Anonymous
$211
Alan Hodges
Well done Neale. All that experience with ration packs should give you an edge!
$211
John Brophy
$211
Ross Gray Motor City
WELL DONE NATHAN
$211
Alexander Wilson
Nice one Nathan!
$211
Richard Braid (wagga Motors)
$211
Peter Lewis
Darren, Good luck Vote 1 Peter Lewis
$200
Elijah And Zara
Cook like nobody is watching!
$200
Viola Kalokerinos
$200
Team Threesides Marketing
Great job Adelina. Happy to help put the money where the mouths are that need it. Cook up a storm. - Todd, Rach + Team Threesides
$200
Crowne Plaza Canberra
$150
Irini & Hamid
Make sure you protect your recipes, and only disclose some of the ingredients, but most importantly never the exact amount.
$150
Daniel Kicuroski
Great cause. Cook well!
$114
Neradine Tisaj
Go Daz!
$106
Nicola Doogan
Go Nic!
$106
Maple
Best wishes for the cookoff.
$106
Anthony Tassone
Great work Gerard. Good luck!
$106
Michael Troy
$106
Steven Probert
$106
Judith Phillips
$106
Andrew Bullpitt
$106
Carthew's
$106
Tony & Madeleine Maple
Neale Guthrie is a good man.
$106
Rich
$106
Neale Guthrie
$106
Michael And Kallie Loupis
$106
Christine Goode
Great project Neale!
$106
Matt And Michael
From Matt,Michael,Roger and Gerri. Good work dad x
$106
Ted Acutt
Great job mate
$106
Terrywhitechemmart Goondiwindi
$106
Mike Leader
Nice one Steve!
$106
Pam And Paul Ferrar
$106
Graham Jowett
Thanks for signing up Neale. I hope you have a wonderful experience.
$106
Caroline Wood
$106
Jo
$106
Robert Mikhail
Go Ray, get all iron chef on them …. The Japanese version!
$106
Mark O’neill
Nice one Lara.
$106
James Nicholias
A great cause. All the best.
$106
Mary-anne Krnc
You go girl ❤️
$106
Absolute Orthodontic Services
Go get ‘em Queen of the Tiramasu! xx
$106
Michael Bartley
Look forward to hearing about what you cooked. Grace says you struggle to boil an egg.
$106
Brenton Jobling
Awesome stuff!!
$106
Ainslie Sims
Great cause! Mock Chicken on the menu?
$106
Hannah Mann
$106
Dallas Massen
$106
Lisa N
Ready … steady …. Cook!
$106
Dallas Massen
$106
Chris Flood
Well done Gerard
$106
Michelle Bs
$106
Jenny
Go you good thing.
$106
Redland Bay Wholelife
Well done 👏
$106
Terry And Sue Phelan
Best of luck with the fund raising, Neale.
$106
Tihana R
$106
Helene Obyrne
You will smash it Gerard
$106
Liz Borger
Amazing work, Neale!
$106
Dean Goulder & Hillary Lang
Good luck
$106
Wooof
Thanks for all that you do to support animal welfare and important community and social impact initiatives. As well as feed and nourish us always with a big smile.
$106
Kristy Lam
I’m a big fan of what you do xx
$106
Paul Kalajic
Well done Mr Hayes 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
$106
Anonymous
$106
Graham And Fiona Thompson
$106
Tim Logan
$106
Mildura Motor Holdings Pty Ltd
$106
Anonymous
What a excellent initiative and very worthy cause! Hope you cook up a storm...
$106
Nerys Jones
$106
Glenis Trevaskis
Good luck Darren
$106
Mel Sykes-bridge
Love this! Cook up a storm
$106
Bik Ray
Best of luck for the event!
$106
Matt Walshe
Great work DP!
$106
Hans & Connie Bachor
$106
Simon Miller
Good on you, don't poison anyone.
$106
Meagan Lawson
To think Sam is the BBQ captain!
$106
Chris Edwards
Go well GB!
$100
Deb & Hilly
Very proud to support you Nath. Deb & Hilly
$100
Dee Zegarac
Will happily taste test if gluten free ;)
$100
Pearman Media
On behalf of the team at Pearman Media.
$100
Anonymous
$100
Jeff Popp
$100
Nick Bartels
Well done Mate. !
$100
Keryn Valeri
$100
Louise Desjardins
Good luck Lara!
$100
Indira K
$100
Lydia Z
$100
James Guthrie
Great Initiative Neale! Good luck with the cooking.
$100
Scott Kennedy
All the best, Darren. Hope you make your target.
$100
Wes Dawson
Dont eat all the bacon
$100
Francis Owusu
All the best Steve!
$100
Ccb
Great work SW.
$70
Anonymous
$65
William Persi Vicentic
$63
Bob Brinckley
Great cause. Maybe a "Chefs Hat Award" coming up
$54
Dion Pitsilos
$54
Judy Griffiths
$53
Norton
No Choose your Own Adventure books for the readathon this time Nic...
$53
Lynn Forbes
$53
Sally Mcclellan
Great work Lara!
$53
Natalie Willis
$53
Hal Morris
$53
Phillip Doueihi
$53
Sarah Chehab
Thank you for supporting pharmacy
$53
Joe O'malley
$53
Matt Gillespie
$53
Daniel Childs
Nice work Neale!
$53
Dirty Janes
Well done Steve, Great to see you donning the apron for such a great community provider.
$53
Lara Troy
$53
Harriet Marion Wright
$53
Judy Pettiford
$53
Gerard Benedet
$53
Traci-ann Byrnes
$53
Anonymous
$53
Gregory Dunn
Great charity.
$53
Anonymous
$53
Charles Mailler
Good luck Neale!
$53
Nicole
$53
Stu
Great cause..
$53
Scott Revell
Thank you for making a difference!
$53
Nicola Allen
A very worthy cause! Are you allowed to bring your sausage turner with you?
$53
Shayna Siakimotu
Good luck DP!
$53
Stephen Thirgood
Have fun legend.
$53
John Butterly
$53
Tegan Taungakava
Don’t put too much sauce on the pasta!
$53
Peter Callow
You better cook something nice
$53
David & Wendy Proctor
Awesome cause - great commitment!
$53
Dan Guthrie
$53
Dan Hansen
$53
Anonymous
Thank you for all you do.
$53
Anonymous
$53
Simon Mattiske
Awesome effort Ray and for a great cause.
$53
Margaret Tully
$53
Steve Kersnovske
Nice work Lara 👍😎
$53
George And Jo Androulakis
You can do this Ray!
$53
Laureta Wallace
$53
Melita Williams
What's your signature dish?
$53
Nathan Freebody
Goodluck Gerard!
$53
Regan & Kate Harrison
Great stuff Darren!
$53
Rin
What a cool and generous thing to do.
$53
Ab
$53
John Pearse
:)
$53
Uc Capitals
Fantasic work Nathan - the Caps are grateful for your support and all that you do!
$53
Rebecca Gordon
You will do great!!!
$53
Michael Clifton
$53
Jeanette Troy
I’ve seen your cooking enjoy
$53
Murray Charlton
Well done Adelina
$53
Anne Raccosta
$53
Daryl Read
Go you good thing!
$53
Darrell Johns
Go Nathan!!
$53
Terry Pulford
$53
Stephen Saunders
Not too much spice Guthrie!!!!
$53
Wendy Wheadon
Enjoy
$53
Owen Mellon
Go cook up a storm GB on behalf of the PGA and yourself. A great and worthy cause!
$53
Suzanne Duffy
Keep up the good work LTT
$53
Kate Chetty
$53
Anita Stapley
$53
Donna Sciacca
$53
Jacqui Stenhouse
Cook up a storm beautiful x
$53
Danny
$53
Janelle Lehr
Well done Lara. Any help to our needy is worth every cent.
$53
Anonymous
Thanks Nic!
$53
Jo Smith
$53
Brent Reiffer
Good luck Lara!
$53
James Wallace
Nice work Nic! I’m expecting great things
$53
Scott Masters
Nice work Nath!!!
$53
Jordel Cleaning Aervices
$53
Romi Gyergyak
$53
Sarah Bernie
$53
Paul G
Well done Nic, great cause. Bring out your famous French onion soup!
$53
Nicole Hinton
$53
Aaron D'souza
A worthy cause and a great organisation. Go well GB.
$53
Nigel Corne
Happy to assist you Neale in this endeavour to assist the disadvantaged people in our communities.
$53
Kelly Tanner
So proud of our Guild leader!
$53
Gregory Brown
Thank you for participating Neale
$53
Radhika Jadav
Go GB! Great cause. Every meal offered is a powerful step toward a more equitable and sustainable future—thank you for leading the way.
$53
John And Jeanette Coghlan Coghlan
Darren, Well done and Good Luck with the fundraising
$53
Mell Burke
$53
Jayne Wegrzyn
Love this! Great work.
$53
Nomes
Go Adelina! You’re a superstar x
$53
Shane Yokom
Get after it - awesome work
$53
Gerard O'neill
$53
Rian Kent
Great cause.
$53
Ceilidh
$53
Erica Vowles
$53
Lakshmi Adabal
$53
Andrew Dankiw
$53
Virginia Lloyd
$53
Vani Anjanappa
$53
Margaret Brown
$53
Debi Gair
$53
Anonymous
$53
Steven Fleury
$53
Ross Mcmillan
Supporting a great cause.
$53
Nicole Davis
Nice selection of baked goods. You were obviously busy all weeekend
$53
Sharon
$53
Anonymous
$53
Diana Kao
$53
Shae Lalor
$53
Mercedes Magaz
Well done Adelina!. All the best!
$53
Adam Mccormack
$53
Anthony Mcgovern
Good on Ya 👍🏼
$53
Burl Doble
Cook well done mate
$53
Trent Mills
$53
Allen
$53
Sneddons
Darren, Cook up a storm and such a worthwhile cause ❤️❤️ Love the Sneddos
$53
Lilian Prdjan
Yeah go for it!!
$53
Nikki Pulford
Well done Darren. A great cause.
$53
Dorothy Topfer
$53
Paul Walshe
All the best Darren
$53
Andrew Jeffrey
$53
Toma Sriubiskyte
Your generosity and heart remind us what community and care are all about and your kindness brings hope and makes a real difference.
$53
Anonymous
What fun! Good luck!
$53
Matthew Tran
Love you AK
$53
Michael Thomson
Good on you Steve!
$53
Tanya And David Larcombe
$50
Sylvie Rose
$50
Emmanuel And Joanna Kalivitis
Go Ray! Cook up a storm
$50
Andrew Abbott
$50
Jodie De
$50
Anonymous
$50
Taylor
$50
Andrew Jones
Great work Adelina. Worthy cause.
$50
James Smith
A great cause. Well done!
$50
Team Roberts
Such a great cause — happy to chip in and support. Really admire what you’re doing.
$50
Fiona Naylor
Great cause. Love ya work!!
$50
Anika Ahamed
Great work GB!
$50
Anonymous
$50
Rick Samimi
Great effort GB to support the great worthy work OzHarvest do
$50
Leena Hirani
$50
Adam Thackeray
It's a great thing you are doing Ray, giving hope to those in need who actually need it the most.
$50
Joanna Watson
Good luck Steve , great a cause. xx
$50
Les Boag
Great Community Support Darren for a wonderful charity
$50
Claire Treadgold
Go Steve! If is anything as impressive as your efforts in the great “Risotto Off”, you will blow them away!
$42
Anonymous
$32
Matthew Dingley
$32
Liz Bendeich
$32
Thi Nguyen
$32
Marie Mannion
$32
Jess O
Great work Gerard!
$32
Gordo
Thanks for delish treats and bonus apron!!
$32
Sue Chalmers
Happy cooking Neale!
$32
Guy Pri
$27
Tim E
$26
Will Davies
❤️
$26
Scott Elias
$26
Veronica Meredith
$26
Anonymous
$26
Anthony Blair
Thanks for the great work!
$26
Amanda Karim
$26
Ishara Hewage
$25
Ramesh Sharma
Thanks for the opportunity
$25
Melissa Bonnitcha
Have a great time!
$25
Michael Vt
Enjoy the cooking
$21
Kate Coller
$21
Joel Dooley
Bon appétit.
$21
Emily Guthrie
$21
Jessica Seeto
$21
Aline Jee
$21
Gary Samuels
Enjoy the experience for a good cause.
$21
Steven & Joanna Vavoulas
Happy cooking boss!
$21
Lynn
Good on you Adelina
$21
Kate Vogel
$21
Fabian
Bring the flavour & a little heat Nath👌🏼
$21
Anna
Kind and thoughtful xx
$21
Anais
Go AK! ❤️ Chris would love this!
$21
Rebecca Stephenson
Amazing fundraiser!!
$21
Johan Briedenhann
Good luck, thanks
$21
Nicolas Morgan
Good work Ray!
$21
Anonymous
$21
Jennifer Fleury
$21
Anonymous
$21
Maree Harman
$21
Anonymous
Yum yum - great cause! Go Adelina 😋
$21
Sam C
Well done
$20
Linda Gellard
Bravo Lara, what a great initiative.
$20
Emezee Batzandan
$16
Adam
$16
Genevieve Aranda
Amazing Adelina 💕
$16
Mellissa Craft
Amazing effort Ray :)
$11
Gerd King
$11
Atturra
$11
Destiny Zamora
$11
Anonymous
$11
Anonymous
$11
Anonymous
$11
Adam Thackeray
They all look delicious
$11
Matthew Sparrow
$11
Megan Cameron
$11
Anonymous
$11
Anonymous
$11
Sonia Hailes
$10
James Rath
$10
Anonymous
$10
Sally Wright
$5
Anonymous
$5
Vanessa Kelly
$5
