The OurWhisky Foundation has announced the 25 women+ chosen to participate in its 2026 Atonia Programme, a six-month intensive personal and professional development initiative for those working in the whisky industry. The cohort represents the eighth group of mentees to take part in the program since its inception in 2022.
The nonprofit received almost 100 applications after opening the process in February. Candidates applied from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
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Fifty applicants progressed to interviews with the OurWhisky Foundation team before the final 25 were selected. Applications came from across the industry, spanning operations, sales, marketing, journalism, tourism, and hospitality.
The program includes the award-winning Power Room confidence-building sessions with The Academe founder Lucy Cox, monthly professional development workshops, and regular one-to-one meetings with carefully matched mentors. Mentees also gain access to the OurWhisky Foundation’s WhatsApp Community, connecting them with fellow participants and graduates worldwide.
A graduation ceremony is scheduled for January 2027, at which participants will receive an Atonia pin and certificate.
Becky Paskin, founder of the OurWhisky Foundation, said: “This year’s Atonia Programme cohort are an incredibly diverse group of women+ who have demonstrated their unrelenting passion and ambition to thrive in the whisky industry.”
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“With redundancies and DEI cutbacks affecting every corner of whisky right now, our Atonia Programme has never been more important,” Paskin added. “The OurWhisky Foundation is dedicated to supporting women+ establish successful, rewarding careers in whisky, in turn supporting the long-term health of the industry.”
Paskin also stressed the broader stakes: “Despite facing current financial challenges it’s imperative that the industry continues to make whisky inclusive and support women+ in their careers. Otherwise we face a future that’s less diverse, skilled and attractive to new talent.”
Since 2022, the OurWhisky Foundation’s mentorship program has guided over 200 women working in whisky toward their goals. Graduates report a 53% increase in confidence, with a third securing promotions or new roles within 12 months.
The 2026 cohort includes professionals from distilleries such as Mortlach, Cotswolds, North Uist, Isle of Harris, Bruichladdich, and Lindores Abbey, as well as individuals in freelance writing, hospitality, and marketing.
Among the 25 mentors volunteering this year are Kirstie McCallum, master blender at Whyte & Mackay; Caspar McRae, CEO and president of The Glenmorangie Company; Ewan Gunn, senior global brand ambassador at Diageo; and Ashley Smith, master blender at Glen Scotia.
More information on the Atonia Programme is available on the OurWhisky Foundation’s website.
