Digital & Premium Experience Manager, The Sticky Wicket & The Strath

With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Adam Bradshaw has worked in a variety of whisky-centric roles, including as a bartender in Edinburgh and in single malt distillation in Melbourne. He is currently the whisky curator at The Strathcona Hotel (“The Strath”) in Victoria, BC, where he is also the founder of The Dram Association and the local ambassador for the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Bradshaw is known for his deep knowledge and passion for whisky, as well as his finely tuned palate and often eccentric tasting notes. He has a keen sense of quality, and his cask picks have won a multitude of awards. He is highly active in the Canadian whisky community and is a sought-after speaker and educator for festivals and private events. He delights in guiding both novice and experienced drinkers through the complex and fascinating world of whisky.

Founder & CEO, Wayward Distillery

Brimacombe’s first career was in the Canadian Armed Forces and Air Force and after leaving the service, he opened Wayward Distillery, a certified craft distillery in Courtenay. Wayward pioneered crafting spirits with B.C. honey, and uses B.C. grain, fruit and botanicals, supporting local agriculture. Four Homegrown Bee demonstration hives operate onsite at the distillery, and one per cent of spirits sales are directed to supporting pollinators and food security via Pollinator Partnership Canada.

Technical Sales Manager, Lallemand Distilling

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 Distilling 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.

Founder/Consultant, Craft CRM

Clarke created created Craft CRM to support marketing, sales and operations of craft breweries, distilleries, cideries and wineries. Clarke previously worked with several start-ups including QuickMobile, Kontexto and Fusa Capital, as well as beverage alcohol companies. From 1995-2000, he worked with J. Wray & Nephew Ltd. and helped build Appleton into a leading rum brand in Canada.

Technical Sales Manager, Lallemand Distilling

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 Distilling 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.

Okanagan Barrel Works

Cal Craik’s 25 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry has covered practically all facets of the business. Craik was founder, co-owner and general manager of Okanagan Barrel Works, Canada’s largest commercial cooperage and the country’s last full-service cooperage, for 16 years. He was responsible for making new oak barrels and tanks and providing repair services to wineries and distilleries in BC, Ontario, Washington and Oregon.

Co-Executive Director, British Columbia Cooperative Association

Elvezio (“Elvy”) Del Bianco works on developing partnerships with co-ops and with governments, allied trade unions, post-secondary institutions and other civil society organizations to realize a strong enabling environment for the development and growth of cooperative enterprises. He has 20 years’ experience in the cooperative sector as a consultant and co-op developer. Previously, as Vancity Credit Union’s Cooperative Portfolio Manager, he led numerous study tours exploring the cooperative economy of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region

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.

General Manager, High Point Beer Wine Spirits

Forsythe has been a High Point Beer Wine Spirits team member since 2012 and became the store’s General Manager in 2019. With a previous background in bartending, she brings a passion for the industry to curating the selection at High Point and is constantly seeking out new and exciting products for customers to discover. She is a certified beer server through Cicerone, has completed WSET Wine Level 2 and is working towards Level 3.

Director of Engineering, Revival Stillworks

Fry holds a degree in mechanical engineering and has dedicated nearly a decade to specializing in the design and fabrication of distilling systems across North America and the world. In his role as the director of engineering at Revival Stillworks, he relishes the challenge of harmonizing traditional craftsmanship with modern-day technology to craft remarkable showpiece distilleries.

Professor of Artisan Distilling, Niagara College

Andrea has worked in the wine and spirits industry in education, production, media, sales, and marketing for over a decade. A Niagara College graduate (Wine and Viticulture Technician program, 2012), she subsequently moved to the U.K. to pursue an MBA with a focus on wine in the global food industry. Andrea has worked with some of the best in the global wine and spirits sector, from sales and marketing at Moët Hennessy, working with brands like Dom Pérignon and Belvedere, to developing new gins at one of the world’s largest contract distilling firms, Thames Distillery. In 2019, she was hired to teach for Niagara College’s Artisan Distilling program.

Co-Founder, Westland Distillery

Matt Hofmann is one of the pioneers of American artisan distilling, and has been an instrumental player in establishing the new American Single Malt Whiskey category. Until recently he was the co-founder, master distiller and managing director of Seattle-based Westland Distillery. Over the last 15 years, he has explored the regionality Pacific Northwest spirits through everything from local grain and maltings to the use of Garryana oak maturation barrels. He completed a postgraduate program in brewing and distilling science at Herriot-Watt University in Scotland. He was named American Master Distiller of the Year in 2018 at the World Whiskies Awards, which also named Westland 2016 Global Craft Distillery of the Year. It was also named Sustainable Distillery of the Year in 2022 and received many international awards for its American Single Malt whiskeys.

Director of Sales and Business Development, Revival Stillworks

Lane, a professional engineer with a business development background, has diverse industry experience to help craft distillers overcome their unique challenges. As co-founder of Revival Stillworks, Lane believed it was imperative that the company be built on pillars of trust, respect and integrity. Revival takes pride in providing the finest quality of Canadian-made distillery equipment and top customer service.

Chemistry Department Chair, 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.

Sales Manager, Revival Stillworks

With a background in mechanical engineering and a passion for innovation, Lewis transitioned to the spirits industry, joining Revival Stillworks as Sales Manager in 2021. With his history of customer-focused, custom-engineered projects, he is committed to delivering innovative distilling solutions and exceptional distilling equipment that meets the unique needs of Revival’s clients.

Business Area Manager (Caribbean & North America), Distilled Spirits, Lallemand Distilling

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 Distilling 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.

Business Director, Hired Guns Creative

While he was a music composition student, Miltenberger began teaching himself to build websites from scratch. The hobby became a career, first as a freelance web designer and developer, then as a full-time digital creative, beginning in 2006. Hired Guns Creative was formed in 2008, and today, he is the business development force driving the Nanaimo, B.C.-based design firm specializing in the beverage alcohol industry. He speaks on branding and packaging design at conferences for craft brewing and other industries across North America. He is a father of three very busy young children.

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.

Co-owner and COO, Burwood Distillery

Ramey earned a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in association with the University of California, Los Angeles, and then developed and ran the first western Canadian teaching brewery at Alberta’s Olds College. He completed distiller training and, in 2016, he and his partners founded Burwood Distillery, located in Calgary’s historic Currie Barracks, where it operates a collaborative restaurant with a partner brewery. Burwood is focused on using ultra-local Alberta ingredients, including malt and honey.

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.

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.

Master Distiller, Iron City Distilling

After establishing several distilleries in the U.S. and Canada and holding various industry roles, Strickland is now the distiller at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania artisan distillery. His primary focus is whiskey, though he has also produced a number of award-winning rums, gins, vodkas, and liqueurs. He also sites on the faculty of The Distilled Spirits Epicenter and The Siebel Institute, and on the Board of Examiners for Distilling at The Institute of Brewing & Distilling. Strickland writes for publications such as Distiller Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Brewer Distiller International and Whisky Magazine and has written two books: Cask Management for Distillers (White Mule Press, 2020) and Batch Distillation: Science and Practice (White Mule Press, 2021).