our team
Becky Paskin, Founder
Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks journalist with over 15 years experience covering spirits and cocktails for print, digital, TV and radio. The former editor of The Spirits Business and scotchwhisky.com, she now regularly contributes to drinks publications such as Club Oenologique and is a regular presenter on ITV’s Love Your Weekend and This Morning. A fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion, she founded the OurWhisky Foundation in 2022 to promote equity and recognition for women within the whisky industry.
Becky is a Keeper of the Quaich, IWSC Communicator of the Year and has been named one of the 50 most influential people in the global drinks industry by Drinks International for the past four years.
Marissa Johnston, Executive Director
Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Marissa Johnston has honed her expertise in brand management, advocacy, influencer and experiential marketing with over 15 years in the industry. Previously, she served as the Global Head of World Class & Advocacy at Diageo, where her passion for fostering trade advocacy drove successful global programmes, enhancing engagement and brand loyalty across diverse markets.
In her role at the OurWhisky Foundation, Marissa is dedicated to championing the contributions of women in the whisky industry, forging meaningful connections and inspiring the next generation of leaders.
Millie Milliken, Content & Communications Manager
Millie Milliken has been writing about food and drink for over 10 years. Having previously worked for The Good Food Guide, SquareMeal and Imbibe UK, she now freelances for both trade and consumer publications including Club Oenologique, Evening Standard, Whisky Magazine, The Caterer and Courier Media.
Millie primarily writes about spirits, cocktails, bars and bartenders and is passionate about democratising spirits, making whisky and other categories more understandable and accessible for consumers and showcasing the incredibly talented people who make them and the drinks they appear in. Her work was recognised in 2022 when she was awarded with The Alan Lodge Young International Drinks Writer of the Year award, and in 2021 with the IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year award.
Samantha Staniforth, Global Head of Community & Events
Samantha Staniforth has worked in the drinks industry for around eight years, predominantly in marketing, community engagement and visitor experience with brands like The Macallan, Highland Park, Benriach and Glenglassaugh.
Originally from the US but now calling Scotland home, Samantha was a graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s mentorship programme before joining the team as its administrator. Now as the organisation’s global community and events manager, she is responsible for helping expand the programme’s impact globally, ensuring more women in whisky feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Work With Us
We are a fast-growing organisation with ambitious goals to support, empower and recognise women in the global whisky industry, fostering learning, equity and community around the world.
Join our passionate, hard-working team and help us make a difference in the world of whisky.