Women On Tap reveals powerful new advisory board

Women On Tap has appointed an advisory board made up of women who can make a significant difference to the beer sector.

The board, which is initially for a short-term period from August 2024 to January 2025 will work through a review process and develop new plans for the next three years for the community interest company.

Speaking to the drinks business, Women On Tap founder, Rachel Auty said: “We’ve brought together a board that represents the beer industry; one that also blends corporate-scale experience with research and change projects; and one that boasts an astounding level of equality, diversity and inclusion specialisms. The board members will also open doors to access to new networks we simply wouldn’t have access to directly.”

At present, 11 advisory board members will work with the directors over a six month period. They are:

Karen Bosher, portfolio NED and board advisor – European diversity champion 2022. Bosher was formally on the executive board at Greene King for 10 years and was awarded European Diversity Champion in 2022 for this work. In addition, she has been recognised twice by the Guardian as a Powerlist Ally. She now enjoys life as a portfolio director – a NED and strategic advisor to the industry – currently working with four bar and pub companies.

Amanda Bruns, founder of Ale Advised. Bruns is a craft beverages consultant, specialising in craft beer and is the founder at Ale Advised. She is a certified cicerone and serves on the DEIJ committee for the Pink Boots Society and is a volunteer marketing director for the Women’s Craft Fermentation Alliance.

Ellie Buck, packaging manager at Saltaire Brewery. Buck was the first non-office based female member of staff that Saltaire Brewery hired and has been instrumental in getting the team to a 50/50 gender-split – fairly unusual if not unique in the beer industry. A graduate in theoretical physics, Buck has worked in the brewing industry for the past five years.

Jennifer Easton, marketing executive at Flourish Marketing, masters graduate in international marketing with consumer psychology at Heriot-Watt; undergraduate in business management. Easton is motivated to advocate for women in the brewing industry and use her voice for younger generations to come. With a background in marketing and a passion for branding, Easton is hoping to bring her expertise to the forefront to help raise awareness and shape a new future for beer that has many women in it.

Amy Edgar, customer diversity and inclusion specialist, Transport for London.
Edgar is dedicated to fostering equitable environments for all. Beyond her professional pursuits, she is an avid runner and yoga teacher and her year away from the corporate world in the craft beer industry deepened her appreciation for local breweries and knowledge of craft beer.

Laura Emson, CAMRA national director for people and awards. Emson’s involvement in CAMRA grew through beer festivals alongside her people-focused career in the NHS. A strong voice for inclusion and a focus on creating a positive experience for everyone in CAMRA.

Erin Fleming, people analytics and insights manager, KingMakers. Fleming is a people analytics manager with over 10 years of varied human resources experience in the non-profit, technology, and consumer sectors. Her expertise includes data analysis, visualisation, and storytelling around team engagement, DE&I, talent retention, performance and productivity, recruitment, and more.

Laura Mackie, non-executive at SIBA. Having spent 20 plus years within the brewing industry, primarily in senior finance, sales and marketing roles, Mackie is currently a non-executive director with SIBA. Mackie is also heavily involved in the adult social care sector and, as a chartered banker, is also a financial services NED.

Joan O’Connor, EMEA head of brand and corporate communications/sustainability at Subway International; former EMEA/European PR and communications director at The Coca-Cola Company. O’Connor is a seasoned International PR and communications director with over 30 years of expertise in marketing, brand management, and corporate communications for global brands. Her experience includes both in-house and agency roles, specialising in food and beverages, FMCG, retail, sports, music, and asset management. O’Connor is an advocate for positive societal change and has consistently delivered campaigns and built strong stakeholder relationships. As an ambassador for Women In PR and former chair of the PRCA consumer committee, she continues to influence the industry and share insights on consumer and brand PR issues.

Annabel Smith, award-winning beer sommelier, educator, writer, and broadcaster. Having managed several renowned cask ale pubs for 12 years, Smith worked as a trainer for Guinness before becoming the first female beer inspector for the Cask Marque Trust. In 2012, she became one of the first cohort of beer sommeliers to be accredited by the Beer & Cider Academy. In 2014 she founded BeerBelle, a company specialising in designing and delivering bespoke beer training courses and events for a wide range of clients. In 2017 she won the Imbibe Educator of the Year award. In 2018 she was awarded a lifetime achievement award from the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group for services to the beer industry and is a former director of the British Guild of Beer Writers. She is the founder member of Dea Latis, an organisation which educates women about beer, and conducts research into female behaviours, attitudes and opinions about beer.

Catherine Webber, business development manager, Attic Brew Co and founder of Brum Beer Babs. Webber has been the BDM at Attic Brew Co for the last two and a half years and has worked in various roles in the drinks world since 2019. Prior to that, Webber worked for Mondelez International (better known here as Cadbury’s) in food safety, quality and training. Outside of work she is the founder of ladies beer group Brum Beer Babs and annual beer festival Brum Brew Fest.

Describing the development and additional support to boost women’s presence in beer, Auty told db: “This is an exciting time for Women On Tap CIC, and in kick-starting this new piece of work we make a commitment to an industry that we love and to all the women we’ve met and worked with over the years to say – we want to change and we are here to drive it.”

She added: “An EDI evolution is in the best interests of the industry and its future health and so I guess this piece of work is our love letter to beer.”