The OurWhisky Foundation has launched the OurWhisky Foundation Community, a digital platform and app designed to connect whisky industry professionals around the world.
The community has been created to connect professionals from all areas of the whisky industry, with a focus on empowering, recognising, and supporting women.
Member benefits of the community include:
- Connecting with like-minded individuals passionate about whisky for mutually enriching learning experiences
- Gaining personalised insights and guidance from industry experts
- Discovering new career opportunities through the job board
- Gaining access to exclusive virtual events
- Building a supportive network of peers
- Contributing to a more inclusive whisky industry through discussions
The community recently launched with a series of events, which included an interview with Gillian MacDonald, a network event for World Whisky Day, and a panel discussion on celebrating women in the industry.
Whisky Magazine spoke with founder Becky Paskin on the launch of the new platform.
Whisky Magazine (WM): How long had you had the idea for this community platform? Was it always an ambition from when you originally founded the foundation?
Becky Paskin (BP): We always wanted to establish a safe space for folk in the whisky industry to connect, network, learn and share ideas across borders — both geographically and categorically. Our mentees have historically benefited from their own WhatsApp groups as part of our mentorship programme, but we really wanted to create a multi-functional platform where anyone from across the industry — mentees, mentors and other professionals — can connect.
WM: In what ways do you hope the platform can help further support what the foundation has been doing for women in the industry?
BP: Over the last few years, we've found one of the most common needs of women in the industry is to feel like they belong to a community. Many women in whisky work in isolated areas, whether in rural distilleries or as solo brand representatives within their region, and often as the only women in their teams. Having the opportunity to connect with others though a digital space and in-person events can often be a lifeline and the tether that helps them feel connected to the industry.
On a more practical level, the Community also has so many benefits for members, from networking events, workshops and exclusive content that helps with both personal and professional development.
All funds from the Community are also redirected back into the work the Foundation continues doing to advocate for women in whisky. So by being a member you are also supporting our wider work and enabling us to continue helping women around the world.
WM: In regard to the members that are part of the community — are they generally from one area of the industry (i.e. production) or is there a diverse range of careers, such as writers, salespeople, marketing, brand ambassadors etc?
BP: Our members span the breadth of the industry. We have distillers, blenders and production co-ordinators, stock controllers, warehouse supervisors and distillery managers, all the way through to brand managers, marketing directors, HR professionals, business development and sales managers, CEOs, distillery founders, writers, editors, presenters, university lecturers, academics and grain specialists. If you can think of a whisky profession, it's likely represented by someone in our community.
WM: What has the response been from the industry to this launch, and how many recognisable professionals do you hope will be using the platform within the next few months?
BP: So far the industry has been extremely supportive of the OurWhisky Foundation Community platform. It already counts over 200 members including some of the biggest names in the industry, from Emma Walker, master blender of Johnnie Walker and Stephanie Macleod, director of blending at Dewar's, through to Jayne Murphy, marketing director at Chivas Brothers, spirits educator Tracie Franklin, and Brian Kinsman, malt master at Glenfiddich. It's our hope that even more whisky professionals from across the global industry — both established names and emerging — will discover the benefits of joining our community.
WM: Outside of the UK, which other countries around the globe have embraced the foundation most so far in the past three years?
BP: While being headquartered in the UK, the OurWhisky Foundation has always had a global focus. Our services are available to any professional working in the whisky industry around the world. As such we've been able to assist women, men and non-binary individuals based in places such as the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, even Kenya. Our community really knows no bounds!
WM: Is the platform exclusively for professional connections and opportunities, or is there a casual element too for members to talk about new whiskies they’ve tried, new distilleries they’ve visited etc?
BP: The platform is for whisky professionals only, but discussions range from technical production topics through to whisky recommendations and bars to visit around the world. We have various groups within the platform from Sustainability to Fitness, and will likely add new areas over time alongside various events. We host a monthly 'Whisky Show & Tell' over Zoom where members are encouraged to bring along a whisky that means something to them and present it to the group. It's a great way of breaking the ice, meeting new people, learning something new and starting conversations over something everyone in the room has a vested interest in.
Memberships are available from £10 per month, and more information can be found here.
