25 mentees selected for 2024 mentorship programme
The OurWhisky Foundation has revealed the 25 women and non-binary individuals selected to participate in its first mentorship programme this year.
Chosen from over 140 applicants, the 25 mentees will begin the six-month intensive programme in January 2024, which includes the award-winning, confidence-building Power Room as well as monthly personal development workshops and regular one-to-ones with their carefully matched mentors.
They will also join a dedicated WhatsApp group where they can network, share experiences and advice, and have regular check-ins with the OurWhisky Foundation team.
Applications came from all parts of the industry and countries all over the world, from established whisky-producing countries like Scotland and the US, as well as England, Finland, Argentina, India and more.
The first group of mentees joining the programme in 2024 are:
Alenei García Henao, brand home lead guide, Oban Distillery (Scotland)
Cory Martin, distiller, Glasgow Distillery (Scotland)
Gemma McColl, assistant brand manager, Chivas Brothers (England)
Hannah Mitchell, account manager, North of England & Scotland, Speciality Drinks (Scotland)
Holly Aynsley, PR & events manager, Holyrood Distillery (Scotland)
Jam Barber, former assistant distillery manager, Cardrona Distillery (New Zealand)
Kala Pugh, sales associate, Parkway Wine & Spirits (USA)
Kayla Duyck, manager, Jim's Market/ Banks Liquor (USA)
Kelly Bodnar, head distiller, Asbury Park Distilling Company (USA)
Kirsty Thomson, malts ambassador, Diageo GB (England)
Lauren Gray, marketing manager, Wolfcraig Distillers (Scotland)
Line Karoline Nielsen, brand ambassador, Mackmyra Svensk Whisky (Sweden)
Lisa McIntyre, commercial finance partner, Edrington UK, (Scotland)
Lucy Connor, senior visitor assistant and senior bar assistant, The Scotch Whisky Experience (Scotland)
Moa Nilsson, content creator & writer, freelance (Scotland)
Natalia Grego, sommelier, Moet Hennessy Argentina (Argentina)
Nika Oblak, asset integrity manager, Loch Lomond Group (Scotland)
Prashita Patil, Heriot Watt Distilling graduate (Mumbai)
Rebecca Kathleen Marshall, marketing coordinator, Morrison Glasgow Distillers (Scotland)
Rebecca Kean, assistant distillery manager, Falkirk Whisky Distillery (Scotland)
Rebecca Murphy, operations manager, Two Trees Distilling Co. (USA)
Smita Jha, managing partner, Tiddly Tavern Bar and Grill (India)
Tracy Dawn Shachtay, communications & copywriting, freelance (Scotland)
Tracy Fraser, founder, whisky start-up (Scotland)
Winnie Ng, distilling trainee/operations director & co-founder, Whisky Concerto (Finland)
Becky Paskin, founder of the OurWhisky Foundation, said: “We’re so excited to welcome these talented whisky professionals into our 2024 programme. Every year the personal and professional development of our mentees blows me away, and I can’t wait to see what our next intake are going to accomplish.
“Take a good a look at these names – they will form the future of the global whisky industry.”
Since its inception in 2022, the OurWhisky Foundation mentorship programme has helped guide 150 women working in the whisky industry toward their goals, while providing opportunities to build their network.
Applications for the second 2024 intake will open in April. Full information and application forms can be found here.
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