How did you get into spirits?
I started my career in the alcohol beverage industry with an internship at Diageo’s Brewery in Dundalk, Ireland, followed by a position at their bottling facility in Huntingwood, Sydney. These were incredible learning experiences for which I will always be thankful. Following a stint of advocacy in the pharmaceutical industry, I returned to the alcohol beverage sector and took on a role with a newly established trade association in Ireland for the drinks industry (Alcohol Beverage Federation of Ireland). I had the opportunity to observe the growth and development of the spirits industry in Ireland with great pride, while also contributing to the drafting of the technical files for Irish Cream and Irish Whiskey Geographical Indications. Six years later, I had the wonderful opportunity to join Jim Beam Brands Company, focusing on their International Public Affairs engagement. During the past 11 years at what is now known as Suntory Global Spirits, I have grown the public affairs function and work with the best team in the industry. It is a privilege to represent the proud and premium products of our company, every day is different, but every day (well mostly) is fun.
What is your role as Chairwoman of the Spirits and Society Committee of spiritsEUROPE?
As Chairwoman, I get to collaborate with spiritsEUROPE's incredible Head of Advocacy, Tania Bain, and my Vice Chair, Douglas Meikle of the Scotch Whisky Association, to set the agenda for the issues that the industry should be focusing on as a whole. As you can imagine, the Spirits and Society Committee faces numerous challenges and issues; however, with the representatives around our table, we can collaborate to align on positions and carry out agreed-upon actions to ensure that we advocate for our premium products, which we create with pride and export all over the world.
What are the current challenges and opportunities for the spirits sector regarding alcohol consumption?
Most European countries have seen a decrease in harmful alcohol use and underage drinking in recent years. This is a crucial truth that we should increase awareness about. The sector should also keep an eye on our activities to combat harmful alcohol use or underage drinking, such as our University Programme and the various actions that the companies and trade associations in spiritsEUROPE participate in. We are extremely proud of our products and do not want them to be mistreated. I also feel that we have a great chance to embrace digital labelling as a tool for providing useful information to consumers in a relevant manner.
When meeting with Olivér Várhelyi, newly appointed Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare in the European Commission, what would be your top 3 wishes?
I would begin by welcoming him to this important role and requesting that he collaborate with our sector to combat harmful alcohol usage. We all want the same thing; I believe that by working together, we can effect substantial change to address the issues we are both concerned about. I would then encourage him to think about how we might use digital approaches to provide consumers with more relevant, useful, and informative information. QR codes can be extremely useful in providing more thorough information in the language of the specific consumer. Finally, I would ask that he would represent the positive features of our industry, our heritage, our economic contributions, and our sustainability and responsibility efforts at critical WHO and UN events. We can only dream!
What's your favourite cocktail for this winter?
It would have to be a Kilbeggan Irish Hot Whiskey with lemons, cloves, and honey. It is the perfect drink to have after a winter sea swim or a hike both things I love doing at the weekend with my partner Sean.
