Marina Gayan, Argentina's first and only Master of Wine, earned her MW title in 2003 and went on to build extensive experience in brand strategy, portfolio management, and label design while working across London and global markets. After returning to Argentina in 2018, she began channeling this expertise into reshaping the local industry—mentoring MW candidates, organizing tastings, and advancing regional education—all while emphasizing the need to align product styles with consumer preferences. Her career began in 1992 at Bodega Catena Zapata, where she fundamentally shifted the industry’s narrative—moving the conversation from “tradition” toward “sensation and experience.” She led the redesign of key brands such as Valderrobles and successfully revived the struggling premium label San Felicien through innovative packaging and high-profile collaborations. Today, she has turned her focus to cooler wine regions, guiding several small wineries in their exploration of more international winemaking styles and grape varieties.

Claire Han is a next-gen wine entrepreneur and communicator in China, best known as co-founder of SommCat and WiMo “葡刻.” She blends content and algorithms to make wine discovery approachable for new drinkers, while WiMo pioneers canned sparkling wines and wine-based mixes for on-premise and premium retail channels. Leveraging an FMCG-style supply chain—global bulk sourcing plus domestic blending—her team standardizes taste and scales quickly. Featured by Forbes China’s Young Overseas Elites initiatives, Claire represents a digitally savvy, category-innovation path for growing the wine.

Úrsula Mejía-Melgar is a dynamic force in global spirits marketing. She joined Diageo in 2018, initially leading Scotch whisky portfolios in Iberia.She currently steering Diageo’s UK innovation strategy. With a reputation for marrying data-driven precision with creative storytelling, she has revitalized legacy brands while incubating sustainable initiatives. Her Southern Europe tenure saw double-digit growth for Scotch and tequila categories, while her recent UK shift focuses on AI-driven consumer experiences. A vocal proponent of women in leadership, Mejía-Melgar embodies Diageo’s "Society 2030" goals through campaigns that pair commercial success with social impact. Under her leadership, the team has pioneered innovative drinking occasions through strategic music festival partnerships, effectively navigating the rapidly evolving market landscape.

As the co-founder of Brunswick Aces, Diana Abelardo has been a driving force behind Australia’s inclusive drinking culture, creating one of the country’s first premium non-alcoholic distilled spirit ranges that redefines the social meaning of “drinking.” Her mission is to ensure that everyone—regardless of alcohol preference—can enjoy the same sophistication and sensory pleasure. Together with her team, she developed the Sapiir Series (0.0% ABV), crafted through genuine distillation and multi-layered botanical blends, free from artificial flavors or added sugars. The series has since become a benchmark for high-end zero-proof spirits in Australia. She also spearheaded the creation of Brunswick Aces Bar, recognized as Australia’s first fully non-alcoholic cocktail bar, providing a welcoming and elevated space for the growing “sober curiosity” movement. Beyond product innovation, Diana emphasizes social purpose—making Brunswick Aces a symbol of mindful choice and healthy living, with inclusivity reflected in every detail of its design and experience.

Julie Dupouy-Young is a groundbreaking French sommelier based in Ireland, renowned for her historic third-place finish at the 2016 ASI World Sommelier Championships. With a background in Michelin-starred restaurants (Patrick Guilbaud, The Greenhouse), she now works as a freelance consultant, educator, and Brand Ambassador for Champagne. She co-created the SommNinja app to democratize wine education and holds leadership roles at the International Sommelier Association (ASI) and Irish Guild of Sommeliers, blending traditional expertise with digital innovation.

Angela Velenosi is the co-founder and driving force behind Velenosi Vini, established in 1984 in the Marche region of Italy. Starting with little capital or industry experience, she built the winery into an internationally recognized brand. In the cellar, Velenosi combines temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentation, automated cap management, and small-lot vinification to protect aroma integrity and structural balance. Oak aging, however, remains traditional and hands-on, with master winemakers overseeing maturation through sensory evaluation rather than automation alone. In the vineyards, the estate practices precision viticulture, employing satellite mapping and sensor-based monitoringto track soil humidity and canopy health, thus minimizing chemical inputs and optimizing irrigation. The winery also invests in traceability and anti-counterfeiting technology, enabling blockchain-based tracking from vineyard to bottle—strengthening consumer trust and authenticity in global markets.

Amandine Crépin is the Director of the Mission Coteaux, Maisons et Caves de Champagne, overseeing heritage, environmental, and landscape conservation for Champagne's hillsides, houses and cellars. Trained in geography and urban planning, she has led management, planning and communication efforts in the UNESCO-listed wine-region heritage. Her work focuses on preserving vineyard landscapes, wine houses and cellars within the context of sustainable development, balancing cultural heritage, viticulture, and tourism in the Champagne appellation.

Catherine (Cathy) Héraud is the co-manager of Château Saint-Christoly in Médoc, Bordeaux, working alongside her sister Sandrine as part of the estate’s seventh generation. Deeply involved from vineyard to cellar, she is dedicated to crafting wines that express their terroir with a personal, feminine touch. A passionate advocate for sustainable viticulture, the estate has eliminated herbicides and earned High Environmental Value certification. Beyond the estate, Cathy is an influential voice in the regional wine community. As an elected member of the Agricultural Social Mutual Fund (MSA), she actively champions mental health awareness and provides a crucial support network for fellow winemakers. She leverages her platform to foster a "strength-in-numbers" approach, connecting small growers through direct resource coordination and collaborative sales channels like the annual fairs organized by alumni of the TV show Love in the Meadow, in which she appeared as a candidate.

Marie-Laure Panon is a dynamic French communications executive at Champagne Laurent-Perrier, where she drives brand storytelling and sustainable practices. Celebrated as one of 2024’s top wine personalities by Vitisphere, she merges the maison’s centuries-old legacy with contemporary ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) values. Her work highlights include spearheading eco-conscious campaigns and elevating Laurent-Perrier’s global profile through strategic narratives.

Jenny Dobson is one of New Zealand’s experienced consulting winemakers and founder of Wine by Jenny Dobson. Trained at Domaine Dujac under Jacques Seysses in Burgundy, she went on to become the first female Maître de Chais in Bordeaux’s Médoc at Château Sénéjac, earning recognition as a pioneering woman in French winemaking. Returning to New Zealand, she has advised numerous wineries while championing organic and sustainable practices. In 2015 she launched her own label, with signature wines such as Florence Fiano, celebrated for varietal innovation and environmental stewardship. In 2025 she was honored as a New Zealand Winegrowers Fellow, recognizing her enduring impact on the wine industry.She practices organic and sustainable viticulture in her projects—such as Florence Fiano—explicitly employing organic + sustainable growing methods, and promoting biodiversity and dry-farming in her vineyards.