OC Events

Dear Beverage Industry Professionals, please join us for this exciting opportunity and forward to your networks.

We are pleased to invite you to an upcoming Masterclass hosted by the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BC BTAC) in partnership with WeBC and Okanagan College, as part of the TogetHER – Innovation + Strategic Alliances for Women Leading the Way initiative.

📅 Wednesday, March 18th
🕔 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
💲Cost: Free
📍 Hybrid Format

In person at BC BTAC – Okanagan College, Penticton Campus, Wine Sensory Lab – In person participants will be offered light refreshments, a chance to network with peers, and a tour of our new BC BTAC production lab.

Online (link distributed to registered participants)
This masterclass will be delivered by Dr. Sonja Lloyd, who has been working with microbes for over 25 years.

After earning a BSc in Microbiology and Immunology from UBC, Sonja completed a PhD in Veterinary Microbiology at Washington State University and conducted postdoctoral research in Texas. Her research focused on bacterial foodborne and animal diseases. Since arriving in the Okanagan in 2011, she gained experience in the wine industry as a lab technician before joining BC BTAC. Today, she combines her scientific expertise with a passion for fermentation, helping producers troubleshoot and improve beverage stability across wine, beer, cider, kombucha, and emerging low/no alcohol categories.

Who Should Attend?
Women in the beverage industry, product developers, QA and food safety teams, startups, and applied research or technical staff working in low/no alcohol, functional, or innovative beverage categories.

Topics Include:
Why removing alcohol increases safety and microbiological risk
Key spoilage and pathogen risks in NOLO beverages
Loss of traditional “hurdle” protection systems
Practical mitigation strategies (process, formulation, packaging)
Regulatory and food safety context


Registration Required: Although this is a complimentary event, advance registration is required for all participants (In-Person and Online)

👉 Register here

You are also invited to our in-person TogetHER Leadership Summit in Vernon, BC, March 5+6

We look forward to welcoming you to this important and timely discussion.