2026 Women in Horticulture Award: Going above and beyond

Women in Horticulture Award 2026, Nardia Stacy, Pomewest, WA. Photo credit: Nigel Welch

“Anything is possible and there’s no such thing as ‘it can’t happen’.”  

That philosophy has defined Nardia Stacy’s career and leadership in Western Australia’s apple and pear industry. A former ballet dancer, she credits her early years of discipline and focus with shaping her belief in persistence, resilience and possibility – qualities that have underpinned her success and earned her the 2026 Women in Horticulture award. 

As Executive Manager of Pomewest for the past 15 years, Nardia is widely respected for her energy, leadership and unwavering commitment to growers. Known for her ‘can do’ approach, she has built strong relationships across the industry and fostered a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. 

“I love working for WA growers and my team’s focus is about passionately serving them,” she said. “It’s such a rewarding time in my career. I have visited orchards all over Australia, taken on amazing projects to improve the apple industry and built long-lasting personal and professional relationships.” 

A key focus of Nardia’s work has been strengthening consumer confidence and driving demand for locally grown fruit. She played a leading role in introducing maturity standards for WA apples – an initiative that has significantly improved fruit quality, increased consistency and helped unify the industry. 

“If you produce a bad tasting apple, consumers won’t come back,” she said. “By developing and implementing the local quality program, we’ve changed the culture, improved consistency and ensured that WA growers can command prices to sustain profitability and success. 

“Through initiatives such as preharvest testing and support of the Pomewest team, our growers are supported to meet strict quality benchmarks before the fruit reaches the market.” 

This approach has positioned WA as a leader in quality control and reinforced its reputation for premium produce. 

Nardia has also played a pivotal role in the rise of Bravo® apples. As a passionate advocate for the ANABP 01 variety behind the brand (also marketed as Soluna™ internationally) since commercial production began in 2014, she has worked closely with growers, nurseries and Fruit West to support its development and expansion. 

“Western Australia has always been the home of the Pink Lady (Cripps Pink) apple, and now we have the beautiful Bravo,” Nardia said. “With its rich, burgundy skin and sweet, complex flavour, it’s exciting to see something developed in WA gaining strong demand and export potential to markets including China.” 

Despite her contributions, Nardia is quick to acknowledge the collective effort behind the variety’s success.  

“It wasn’t just me. I was one of many, part of an army, and in the right place at the right time,” she said. 

Beyond her role at Pomewest, Nardia contributes at a national level as a member of the Hort Innovation Strategic Market Development Panel which provides strategic advice on marketing investments for the apple and pear industry, a consultant for marketing project submissions and evaluations, and WA’s representative for APAL. 

She is also a passionate advocate for local produce at major events such as the Perth Royal Show and the Donnybrook Apple Festival, where she connects directly with growers, consumers and industry stakeholders. 

Nardia values the collaborative culture of her workplace, describing her Pomewest colleagues as an ‘all-girl team’ she is proud to be part of.  

“I’m very fortunate to work with two amazing women in a positive industry, supported by dedicated growers who help guide our strategic direction,” she said. 

While optimistic about the future, she acknowledges the challenges facing the industry, including climate variability, water scarcity, and rising input costs.  

“We need to be innovative, especially when conditions aren’t ideal,” she said. “It’s about adapting and finding solutions that support growers in the long term.” 

Despite these pressures, Nardia remains driven by the opportunity to support growers and strengthen the industry’s future.  

She credits her energy and enthusiasm to a disciplined routine that includes daily yoga, as well as the mindset instilled through her ballet training. 

“That taught me that nothing is impossible, especially when you’re surrounded by great people and take a positive approach.” 

This article was first published in the Winter 2026 edition of AFG.