CEO Cookoff Raises Funds for Australia's Vulnerable

 Alan Joyce 

Thirty six celebrity chefs from Australia's top kitchens will join forces tonight with business leaders to cook for one thousand Sydneysiders in need.

A joint initiative of OzHarvest and Qantas, the CEO CookOff aims to increase awareness of excess food which could be used to feed disadvantaged Australians, with a special focus in 2013 on women and youth in crisis.

Celebrity chefs stepping up to the plate include Pete Evans, Maggie Beer, Peter Gilmore, Miguel Maestre and Guillaume Brahimi who will join Rockpool Director and Qantas Executive Chef, Neil Perry AM to design and produce a meal.

CEOs have paid $1500 to register and this year's aim is to raise more than last year's total of $945,000.

Each chef will take charge of an outdoor kitchen and lead a team of CEOs to prepare, plate and serve three courses.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce will join other CEOs and business leaders from a diverse range of industries including Justin Hemmes from Merivale, Terry Davis from Coca-Cola Amatil Limited, Rachel Argaman from Toga Hotels, and Geoff Wilson from KPMG - just to name a few.

Alan Joyce said he was proud to be putting on an apron to support such a worthy cause.

"This event gives the nation's business leaders a unique opportunity to give back to the community," Mr Joyce said.

"Tonight our corporate leaders will help raise awareness of the problem of food security as they prepare food and share a meal with those less fortunate."

OzHarvest founder and CEO Ronni Kahn said funds raised at the event will allow her organisation to deliver at least one million meals to those in need.

"Thanks to the generous support of our participating CEOs and the efforts of our wonderful chefs, we will also be able to continue our new educational training program, NEST, which provides vulnerable Australians with life skills as well as better budgeting, dietary awareness and food preparation skills," she said.

All proceeds will be shared between OzHarvest, The Big Issue and ONE80TC.

Guests on the night will be entertained by legendary Australian rock band Icehouse.

For a full list of CEOs and chefs participating or to make a donation, visit: www.ceocookoff.com.au

Donations can be received until 28 February 2013.