Popular cook Nagi Maehashi’s RecipeTin Eats books have been a constant companion for hundreds of thousands of time-poor and conscious Australians this year.

Maehashi has been named the most culturally powerful person in Australia for 2025.

The list ranks the movers and shakers of Australian society and their ability to shape the nation’s view of itself.

Scroll through to see who made the list for 2025.

At the age of 17, sprinter Gout Gout has already been described as a generational talent.

Hailing from a South Sudanese family who migrated to Ipswich, he has emerged as a poster child for the migrant community.

Australians have rallied around the teenager, who went on to break the Oceania 200m record and reach the semi-finals at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

As the head of two of the biggest sports in NSW, Peter V’landys has made the cultural power list for a second consecutive year.

The Rugby League Commission boss has lobbied for $600 million to add a Papua New Guinea team to the competition.

He has also made strides to attract millennials to racing with The Everest race in his role as head of Racing NSW.

Music producer and DJ Dom Dolla has made waves in the international music scene.

Back in July, the artist pulled what organisers of Lollapalooza told him was the biggest crowd ever to a single stage at the US festival.

In December the DJ will play to a sold out 40,000-strong crowd at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

Jo Horgan opened her first Mecca store on Toorak Road in Melbourne in 1997.

The business has since become a powerhouse in the retail sector, employing more than 7400 people.

This year Horgon opened up a 4000-square-metre mega store in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall.

At the age of 30, Kip Williams is the youngest artistic director in the history of the Sydney Threate company.

His work both at the theatre company and on the smash hit The Picture of Dorian Gray has earned praise and attracted new audiences.

5. Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino

Artists Khaled Sabsabi and Michael Dagostino were selected by Creative Australia earlier this year to represent Australia at 2026’s Venice Biennale.

Their invitation was revoked when some of Sabsabi’s earlier work, which referenced terrorism, was raised in federal parliament.

After calls from more than 4000 people, their invitation was reinstated.

The saga raised conversations about art’s role in provoking conversation.

Australian actor and producer Nicole Kidman is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood.

Back in 2017, Kidman vowed to work with a female writer or director every 18 months through her production company Blossom films.

She has since worked with 28 talented women on a range of projects including the critically acclaimed film Babygirl.

It is safe to say 2025 has been a big year for Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Inman Grant.

Grant is championing a world-first ban on social media for children under 16, with new laws due to come into force on December 10.

With nine Formula 1 Grand Prix wins under his belt, the world is Oscar Piastri’s oyster.

The racing driver’s skill and success has helped boost the sport’s popularity in Australia following beloved Aussie Daniel Ricciardo’s retirement.

Popular cook Nagi Maehashi has inspired Australians to save money and time in the kitchen with her RecipeTin Eats website and books.

Her recipes have been viewed 30 million times a month online and her 2022 cookbook sold more than 500,000 copies.