Each year, Cuisine compiles a list of the women set to influence our food-and-drink scene.
“Our Top 50 List for 2026 showcases a diverse array of talents, ranging from established leaders to those quietly shaping the industry from behind the scenes. It includes influential executives, innovative entrepreneurs and creative visionaries, all making significant contributions to the food-and-drink scene.”
Included in this year’s list is prominent Parnell chef and business owner Sachie Nomura.
Sachie Nomura is the founder, chef and educator behind Elemental Cooking School by Sachie, through which she shares her love of Asian cuisine by demystifying its techniques for the home kitchen. She is a multi-award-winning innovator, receiving eight Global Food Innovation Awards for her avocado milk beverage, now stocked across the US and featured on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Good Morning America.
In 2025, through Sachie’s Kitchen Season 2 on TVNZ and the launch of the Takumi Wok, she continued championing the stories of Aotearoa’s growers, makers and food leaders.
Congratulations to Sachie on this prestigious achievement!
