1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Haley Churchill
Technical Sales Manager | Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits
Holding a biology degree, Churchill became a laboratory analyst at a large-scale craft brewery. During 10 years in the industry, she worked on brewing systems at every scale, developed and implemented quality systems, built sensory programs and optimized operations. Now a Technical Sales Manager for the Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits team, focused on distilled spirits in the U.S., she brings expertise in operations and fermentation to help customers gain a deeper understanding of their processes and optimize their procedures.
Mitch Codd
Technical Sales Manager | Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits
A microbiologist by training, Codd started his career in biotech, as a bio-engineer working on yeast strains and processes for in the sugarcane fuel ethanol industry in Brazil. In 2019, he moved to the Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits (LBDS) team, as Technical Sales Manager for the Distilling Industry in the U.S. He uses a deep understanding of yeast metabolism and fermentation science to improve and optimize the production of spirits distillery customers.
Brendan Cook
Head of Spirit Creation, Driftwood Spirits & Founder | whiskyblndr.com
Cook brings a unique perspective: he's worked with some of the world's biggest spirits brands, and understands building a craft distillery from the ground up. As Senior Distiller at a Glasgow distillery, he created a rum, numerous gins and three whisky styles. As Assistant Master Blender for Brown-Forman's Scotch portfolio, he worked with Master Blender Rachel Barrie on the acclaimed 2019 Benriach portfolio relaunch, and the Glendronach 15 expression that was named World's Best Whisky in 2020. At Driftwood Spirits, he's focused on Canadian Single Malt and recently released two distinct gins. Through his consultancy whiskybldnr.com he provides insights to artisan distilleries on distillery and spirit design, cask management, blending, portfolio management and marketing.
Jenna Diubaldo
Partner & Distiller | Sons of Vancouver Distillery
Jenna developed a love for craft alcohol through homebrewing, which led her to Chicago’s renowned Siebel Institute where she received her brewing technology certificate. In 2017, she attended the Distillery School offered through Sons of Vancouver; in early 2021, Jenna moved from Winnipeg to Vancouver to join the team at Sons of Vancouver, where she now manages spirit production, including Sons’ whisky program. Jenna is Indigenous from the Red River Metis nation, and a member of the LGBT community.
Janet Dorozynski, DipWSET, PhD
Trade Commissioner, Canadian Wine, Beer and Spirits | Global Affairs Canada
Dorozynski left academic life to became Trade Commissioner for Canadian wine, beer and spirits, where she works with companies and the industry on export and international initiatives. She is a longtime wine, cider and spirits writer (Wine Align, Luxe Ottawa, Vines, Quench), reviewer and speaker who holds a WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits, is a WSET certified educator and a Professional Affiliate of Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI). A veteran of many competitions, including judging the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition, she's the Canada contributor to the upcoming 5th edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine.
Andrew Doyle
Founder | Lone Tree Cellars
Doyle the B.C.-born youngest son of international school teachers, spent most of his school years abroad. After multi-year stints in Japan and Mexico, he fell in love with pisco and wine in Chile. Back in Canada, he worked at Vancouver Island vineyards while studying at the University of Victoria, then completed a Master's from the University of Adelaide. He worked with Mark Anthony Brands for seven years before starting his own beverage-alcohol distribution business, Lone Tree Cellars, which represents craft spirits, beer and wine brands in B.C., Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Matt Hamill
Maltster | Red Shed Malting
Matt Hamill is an owner-operator of Red Shed Malting in Penhold, Alberta. Red Shed Malting makes a full range of base malts and specialty malts for distilling and brewing supplying distilleries and breweries across Western Canada since 2015. The malt house is located on Hamill Farms, a fourth-generation grain farm that grows barley, wheat, canola, oats and peas. As a 2017 Nuffield Canada Agricultural Scholar, he wrote his report on best practices in the barley value chain.
Darryl Lamb
Brand Manager | Legacy Liquor Store
With over 18 years of experience, Darryl has seen many different trends come and go in the alcoholic beverage market, and is known for his deep knowledge of the industry as a whole. In addition to his role as Brand Manager of Vancouver-based Legacy Liquor Store and well-known educator, Darryl is co-host of the Sportsnet 650 radio show Ciders, Spirits, and Cocktails, and contributes regularly Saturday Sips on Global News.
Dr. Leonard Lermer
Chair, Chemistry Department | Okanagan College
An organic chemistry teacher and researcher for more than 20 years., Dr. Lermer holds a BSc from the University of Lethbridge and a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry from UBC, where he also completed postdoctoral work. His skills in synthetic organic chemistry and instrumentation have contributed to many successful collaborations with colleagues ranging from botanists to neuroscientists. Dr. Lermer was involved with the initial application for the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre in Penticton, where he is a researcher supporting the local fermented beverage sector.
Alayne MacIsaac
Co-Owner | Sheringham Distillery
The distillery originally created in her family’s Shirley, B.C., garage in 2015 has since won Best Contemporary Gin at the World Gin Awards, Product of the Year at the BC Food Awards and has twice won the Spirit of the Year in the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition. Instrumental in developing innovative products like the distillery’s alcohol-free Lumette! line, MacIsaac guides Sheringham with her forward-thinking entrepreneurial spirit, and supports sustainable business practices that prioritize quality and remain true to the authenticity, innovation and the company’s culinary roots.
Pheelan Mah
Co-founder & Head Distiller | Confluence Distilling
With minimal exposure to the distilling and brewing industries before opening Calgary-based Confluence Distilling, Pheelan has demonstrated she has what it takes to compete. She is the visionary who develops, designs, and directs all of Confluence’s recipes, products, and packaging. Pheelan’s high-flier attitude drives Confluence to be one of the fastest growing distilleries in Alberta, taking ideas one step further and discovering new ways for people to experience drinking. Many of Confluence’s spirits have been recognized on local and national levels, including its Vinland Aquavit, a three-time CASC best-in-class winner.
Annick Mercier
Business Area Manager (Caribbean & North America), Distilled Spirits | Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits
A microbiologist with a degree from the Université de Montréal, Mercier worked in the food industry before joining the Lallemand Genetic Identification Laboratory, working on R&D projects and focusing on yeast strain improvement. In 2013 she joined the Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits team as a research associate and in 2017 became Technical Sales Manager for the Distilled Spirits Industry in Canada. In 2021 she became Business Area Manager, covering North America and the Caribbean.
Bryce Parsons
Master Distiller/Director of Distilling | Last Best Brewing and Distilling
Parsons is enjoying being in the middle of Alberta’s recent growth in craft distilleries. For the last decade he has been involved in both the brewing and distilling movements, and provides a wide knowledge base on challenges businesses face in entering and growing the distilling industry. Based out of Last Best Brewery and Distillery in Calgary, he has been busy developing his own stamp to put on the next chapter of Canadian whisky history: shooting for world records, flexing his creative talent with award-winning gins, and sitting in the hot seat as Alberta’s president of Alberta’s Craft Distillers Association.
Wesley Peterson
General Manager | BC Beverage Technology Access Centre
BC BTAC in Penticton, B.C., supports the beverage industry's innovation and growth by providing a comprehensive range of analytical, commercial and sensory services and resources. Peterson leads the Centre to support research, development and innovation for the Canadian beverage sector as part of its joint mandate between Okanagan College and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) in Ottawa. Previously a travel and tourism executive, he oversees the Canadian marketing and distribution portfolio of Odin Brewing Company, which he co-owns.
Paul Rickett
Founder/Consultant | VARKeting!
With more than 14 years of liquor retail management, Rickett was voted ABLEBC’s Liquor Retailer of the Year in 2016 while running Bowen Island Beer and Wine Cellar. With many prior years spent in the tech sector, market research and sales management, he now provides decision support and channel strategy services to B.C.’s craft distillers and fermenters through his company VARketing! (varketing.net). He is the author of ABLEBC’s LRS Operational Benchmark studies and #BCWine2021, a landmark study on B.C. wine sales, and a frequent speaker at industry conferences.
Charlene Rooke
Spirits Journalist and Educator | Distill
Rooke is WSET Certified in both Wine and Spirits, and is a WSET spirits educator, teaching its new Spirits Level 3 course internationally. She also holds the SWE’s Certified Specialist of Spirits, various category-specific certifications and studied small-batch distilling at Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She's the Drinks Editor of the in-store magazine of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Food & Drink, and a contributor to publications including Taste, The Alchemist and more. Rooke is Lead Judge for the Canadian Artisan Spirits Competition (CASC) and Academy Chair for Western Canada for the World’s 50 Best Bars.
Debbie Shing
Founder, Quvé Group and Co-founder | Vinequity
Shing's experience spans nearly 20 years across all major Canadian markets, in senior sales and marketing roles at organizations from the BC Liquor Distribution Branch to various wine, beer, spirits and ready-to-drink companies. Based in Toronto, she runs the beverage agency Quvé Group and has been a featured wine expert for CTV Your Morning and guest host for Liquor Control Board of Ontario virtual events. She is a is past board director for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (Ontario) and a WSET Diploma instructor. In 2020, Shing co-founded national nonprofit Vinequity, Canada's largest beverage industry association for people of colour.
Charisse Woods
Logistics Manager | Kentucky Artisan Distillery
B.C.-raised Woods has worked at distilleries of all sizes and scales—from craft operations like Endless Summer Distillery in Kelowna and Mine Hill Distillery in Roxbury, Connecticut, to Crown Royal and Bullet Bourbon. A chemist who also holds a Diploma in Distillation from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling, Woods now oversees logistics for Kentucky Artisan Distillery, an innovative grain-to-glass contract distiller and bottler that counts Jefferson's Reserve Bourbon among its brands.