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Susan Watkins

Susan's connection to the wine industry stems from a childhood spent on her parents vineyard and boutique winery in the Okanagan Valley.
She comes from a strong hospitality background and has held roles as sommelier and wine director in some of Vancouver's most celebrated restaurants. In 2020, Susan pivoted into a marketing role for Canada’s largest certified organic and biodynamic winery. Susan’s exposure to challenges regarding export strategy, regional identity and governance in an emerging wine region inspired her current pursuit of an MBA in global wine and spirits business at Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France. Afterwards, she hopes to address these complex issues as an entrepreneur and educator.

Susan Watkins

José Luis Fernández

Born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia.
José Luis is a certified CAPS and a CMS Advanced Sommelier.
He won 1st place and the title of Best Sommelier in Ontario in the 2019 competition.
His most recent achievement was winning the 2022 Restaurants Canada Show Champagne sommelier service competition.
José Luis was the Ontario finalist for the IVDP & CAPS “Master of Port Canada 2019” competition, where he got third place overall.
He currently works as a Sommelier at Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa, located in Cambridge, Ontario.
He is actively working towards achieving his Master Sommelier accreditation.

José Luis Fernández

Shreya Punshi

Hello, my name is Shreya and I am currently a Diploma WSET candidate studying at IWEG, looking for job opportunities in the wine industry. I have worked for over 7+ years in the Hospitality Industry, in multiple departments such as Purchase and Receiving, Food and Beverage, Kitchen and HR. Currently, I am working as a Production + Inventory lead for a chocolate shop in Toronto. I studied French Pastry Arts and Wine and Beverage Business Management at George Brown College and actually made a move to Canada solely to pursue my WSET Diploma. A personal goal of mine is to become a Master of Wine (MW) and then educate communities back home, and upcoming young professionals and make sure India is recognized as a New World Wine region as well.

Shreya Punshi

Janik Livera

Janik is a hospitality professional to the core of his being.
Born and raised in Sri-Lanka and moved to Vancouver in his early teens. Janik's love and enthusiasm for all things food whether it be his Mother's traditional curries or exploring food cultures in the places he traveled to, led him to a diploma in Culinary Arts from The Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in Vancouver and was the first Canadian to compete at the World Tapas Championship in Valladolid Spain. Followed by a stint with the Fairmont Vancouver Airport, Janik quickly realized he would rather be working with people rather than halibut, he transferred his skills from the culinary field into hospitality where his love for all things wine blossomed. Janik had the opportunity to work and learn with some of the best in the industry during his time with the Vancouver Club. Janik studied Sculpture and Art History for his undergraduate degree and worked on a Masters of Divinity to realize his true passion and calling was Hospitality. Janik is currently the Hospitality Manager at Maverick Estate Winery, located in Oliver BC and leads a team of wine enthusiasts and sommeliers in providing an authentic and informative wine experience to a variety of guests. Janik's passion for hospitality has led to mentoring students who have graduated from programs from the University of Victoria and Okanagan College and has focused on developing "Personal Brands", embracing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Wine Industry and creating memorable experiences for his students and his guests.
Janik lives in Oliver with his wife and daughter and can be found riding his bike in his free time. And if hospitality is not enough, Janik is also a licensed officiant performing marriage ceremonies across the Okanagan Valley.

Janik Livera

Akshay Gupta

I have an extensive background in Marketing and Distribution of ready-made garments and bags which I hope to translate into the Wine industry.
I am currently in the final term of my MBA from Brock with a special focus on marketing and entrepreneurship.
I am also enrolled for the WSET II offered by CCOVI at Brock University.
I will be assisting Dr. Antonia Mantanokis with her research in consumer perception influenced by wine labels.

Akshay Gupta

adarsh saini

So far I have done my graduation from India in hospitality and now I'm continuing my master's in wine and spirit from Fanshawe Toronto. I got fascination to learning more about the wine

adarsh saini

Stephanie Chan

Wset 2, 3
French Wine Scholar

Stephanie Chan

LaSaan Georgeson

LaSaan trained at International Sommelier Guild, The Court of Master Sommeliers, and Wine, Society of Wine Educators. Upon completion of her studies she created a wine experiential community for wine enthusiasts, Bwinedate.com.

LaSaan found time to complete the first of several books she has written, If A Wine Were Me Which Would it Be? and has expanded the community to incorporate BwineClub focused on unique experiences using her trademark style of educating consumers about wine and spirits.

LaSaan Georgeson

Christine Omollo

I am a Bcom graduate ,Level 2 graduate and VIA international alumni.
I have 18 years experience in the wine industry and since wine education and mentors is rare in Africa.I look forward to get a mentor

Christine Omollo
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