A leading Australian executive is throwing down the gauntlet, challenging other senior business leaders to swap the boardroom for the kitchen in the name of charity through the OzHarvest CEO CookOff.
Lucy d’Arville, Partner at Bain & Company said the CookOff is a night where hierarchy dissolves and purpose becomes personal as Australia’s most influential executives and business leaders cook shoulder‑to‑shoulder with chefs and volunteers to serve those experiencing food insecurity.
“As a leader it can be easy to experience purpose from a distance, whether that’s through a report, a board update or a set of impact metrics. The CEO CookOff strips all of that away and puts you front and centre. There’s no hiding behind a title when you’re cooking under the guidance of a professional chef – you’re part of a team and just as accountable as everyone else in that kitchen. Taking part in CEO CookOff has changed the way I think about purposeful leadership more broadly. It’s about being willing to show up, get involved and see the impact of the work first-hand,” Ms d’Arville said.
“Sharing the meal you’ve just cooked with the people OzHarvest serves is one of the most humbling experiences I’ve had. It’s an incredible reminder of what real impact looks like.”
Her experience reflects a broader truth: leaders are searching for ways to connect their influence to meaningful impact. The CookOff gives them that chance — directly, visibly, and without the buffer of corporate distance.
“These were fellow Australians living near me, with jobs, who could not sustainably feed themselves and their families without OzHarvest. It shattered my assumptions,” Ms d’Arville said.
This year, over 30 days, across eight states and territories, 300 CEO’s and business leaders will come together to take orders and cook for 2000 people as part of a push to help deliver five million meals, while learning from the country’s top celebrity chefs like Neil Perry AM, Matt Moran and Peter Gilmore.
OzHarvest Founder Ronni Kahn has watched hundreds of CEO’s walk into the CookOff unsure what to expect, and walk out with a new perspective on leadership and human connection.
“Leadership is an all‑consuming role. As a leader you want to be as close to the societal issues as well as those affecting your team. I often hear from CEOs that even with the very best intentions, they often feel distanced from leading with purpose – internally and externally,” Ms Kahn said.
“The CEO CookOff changes that. It gets leaders out of the boardroom and into the kitchen, elbow to elbow, learning from each other and from an incredible chef and engages their team in supporting their participation.”
Food insecurity is not a fringe issue. It’s widespread, invisible and growing.
The latest OzHarvest data shows more than 350,000 Australians are now seeking food relief every month, and more than 74,000 of them are turned away. The harsh reality is one in three are now asking for help for the first time, including mortgage holders and double incomes households.
“As you sit down to break bread and share the beautiful meal you’ve just cooked, with someone doing it tough right now, it provides a unique experience which grounds you in humanity,” Ms Khan said.
“And if you’re worried you’ll mix up your shallots and onions? Being an experienced cook is not what this is about. Who cares! What matters is connection: meeting people you might never otherwise cross paths with, hearing their stories, and rolling up your sleeves together for something bigger than any one of us.”
The CEO CookOff is one of the few events that brings leaders face‑to‑face with the reality of food insecurity while directly funding the solution.
Leadership isn’t defined in the boardroom.
It’s defined in the moments you choose to show up – and the CEO CookOff is one of those moments.