Other Life: Cooking up a storm

A 'CEO CookOff' led Aussie's James Symond to form a partnership with food charity OzHarvest

Other Life: Cooking up a storm

A 'CEO CookOff' led Aussie's James Symond to form a partnership with food charity OzHarvest

Like many CEOs, for James Symond charitable work meant writing cheques and attending dinners, “but I hadn’t genuinely got my hands dirty”. That changed in 2016 when he was invited to OzHarvest’s CEO CookOff , where Australia’s captains of industry sweat it out in the kitchen in a culinary and fundraising battle.

Two years on, Aussie’s partnership with OzHarvest has helped feed around a million vulnerable Australians, with 250 leg hams and 340 Christmas hampers donated last Christmas. Aussie’s general manager people, Lynda Harris, helps Aussie brokers and staff get involved in OzHarvest events, including bake-offs, the Night Noodle Markets, collecting donations at stores, and Cooking for a Cause.

“I believe that if you’re in a position to give back, whether it’s with your time, money or other resources, then you should,” says Symond. “And even better if it’s a worthy cause connected to the community you live and work in.”