UK
Roberta SIAO & Niki KOPCKE
Nikandre Kopcke
Born in Berlin and raised in New York City, Nikandre uses food to practice feminism. She is a proud daughter of the Greek diaspora, raised and fed by women whose strength, resilience, and glorious cooking ignited her passions for food and gender equality. Nikandre is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and Sciences Po Paris, and holds an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation from the London School of Economics.
In 2012, inspired by her own Greek godmother’s immigrant story, Nikandre founded Mazí Mas, a roaming restaurant that celebrates the rich culinary legacies of migrant and refugee women in London. Mazí Mas came to life when Nikandre met Roberta Siao, whose indefatigable spirit and irresistible pão de queijo won her a place as one of Mazí Mas’ first chefs, and have fueled the company ever since.
Roberta Siao
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Roberta has been cooking since she was a child. Though her early career was spent working in a bank, food has always been her real passion, and working at Mazí Mas has allowed her to fuse her love of cooking with her commitment to the fight for women’s rights. Through her work as General Manager, Roberta has become a vocal advocate for the rights and visibility of immigrant mothers, and continues to help women translate their exceptional culinary ability into jobs, new opportunities, and wider social recognition.
Speaking at
Nikandre Kopcke
Born in Berlin and raised in New York City, Nikandre uses food to practice feminism. She is a proud daughter of the Greek diaspora, raised and fed by women whose strength, resilience, and glorious cooking ignited her passions for food and gender equality. Nikandre is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh and Sciences Po Paris, and holds an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation from the London School of Economics.
In 2012, inspired by her own Greek godmother’s immigrant story, Nikandre founded Mazí Mas, a roaming restaurant that celebrates the rich culinary legacies of migrant and refugee women in London. Mazí Mas came to life when Nikandre met Roberta Siao, whose indefatigable spirit and irresistible pão de queijo won her a place as one of Mazí Mas’ first chefs, and have fueled the company ever since.
Roberta Siao
Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Roberta has been cooking since she was a child. Though her early career was spent working in a bank, food has always been her real passion, and working at Mazí Mas has allowed her to fuse her love of cooking with her commitment to the fight for women’s rights. Through her work as General Manager, Roberta has become a vocal advocate for the rights and visibility of immigrant mothers, and continues to help women translate their exceptional culinary ability into jobs, new opportunities, and wider social recognition.
