The finalists and winners of the 2024 Australian Hotelier Future Leaders Scholarship were announced at the end of the Pub Leaders Summit conference on Tuesday 10 September.
Australian Hotelier launched its inaugural Future Leaders Scholarship in June, in partnership with Allara Learning and Carlton and United Breweries. The scholarship was launched with the aim to help foster the careers of people working in pubs at the AVM level, in specialised roles or in junior group roles.
The finalists were invited to attend the Pub Leaders Summit conference, where they were celebrated throughout the day, before a ceremony at the end of the conference brought all the finalists on stage where they were acknowledged by the 250 publicans and industry stakeholders in the room.
The finalists came from all over Australia – from Adelaide to regional New South Wales to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. While the majority of finalists are assistant venue managers, others were in specialised roles like events or beverage quality manager.
“We are so thrilled to have launched the Australian Hotelier Future Leaders Scholarship this year, and we’re pleased to do our part in putting a spotlight on new talent in the industry, and assisting them to develop new skills that will progress their careers within pubs,” stated Australian Hotelier managing editor Vanessa Cavasinni.
The winners
While the intention was to only announce one winner, the high quality of applications overall made it very difficult for the judging panel to pick one winner and decided instead to announce two winners on the day: Courtney Bull, functions and events manager at Settlers Inn, Port Macquarie; and Aydan Marshall, assistant venue manager at The Pub Tamworth.
“I am feeling very honoured and grateful to have won the Future Leaders Scholarship. Winning this award at the Pub Leaders Summit was an incredible experience, and it has truly inspired me to continue striving for success in the pub industry. This scholarship is an amazing opportunity for my career and will assist my growth and development immensely,” stated Bull.
“My leaders and team within Settlers Inn Hotel and the Flower Hotels group have shown continuous support and belief in me throughout my career, instilling knowledge and confidence in everything I do. Special mention to my mentor Zoe Archer, general manager of Settlers Inn for always leading by example and Alistair Flower, managing director of Flower Hotels for encouraging me to apply for the scholarship. I am excited to see where this takes me and the impact this will have on my career.”
Marshall was also thankful for the Scholarship win.
“Winning this scholarship is an incredible honour, and I’m genuinely thrilled. It’s a recognition of my hard work and dedication, and it motivates me even more to excel in my field. I believe this award will have a significant impact on my career by opening new doors and providing opportunities for growth and development.
“I’m immensely grateful for the support I’ve received from my team at The Pub Group, especially Tierzah Douglas and Craig Power, Drew Holgate and everyone behind the scenes that was cheering me on. Their encouragement and belief in my potential have been instrumental in my journey. This recognition is not just a personal achievement but also a reflection of the collaborative spirit and commitment to excellence that defines our team. Thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way!” Marshall concluded.
The prizes
The two winners will each receive an Allara Learning leadership program valued at up to $5000, while the finalists will receive heavily subsidised leadership training opportunities through Allara.
“We were absolutely blown away by the exceptional quality of the candidates, who embodied the passion and potential that fuels the hospitality industry. Their recognition of the wealth of career path opportunities and deep personal connections forged in this field, underscored why pub leadership is a truly viable and rewarding long-term career choice,” stated Andrew Lewis, CEO of Allara Learning.
“The winners’ passion and dedication to the industry shone through, leaving us truly inspired and filled with optimism for the future of hospitality. Being part of this scholarship is a testament to that bright future, and we are honoured to play a role in educating and nurturing the leaders who will shape it.”
Further adding to the prize pool, all of the finalists were invited to attend a tour of the 4 Pines Brewery in Brookvale the day before the Summit courtesy of Carlton and United Beverages. The tour also included a drinks trends presentation and lunch, where they could all network.
“The brewery tour was brilliant, I loved every second of it,” stated finalist Jonathan Person, group beverage quality manager for Maeva Hospitality.
Peter Yeomans, general manager sales NSW/ACT for Carlton and United Breweries, shared his support for Scholarship.
“Carlton and United Breweries was thrilled to support the Future Leaders Scholarship program. Pubs are an integral partner of ours, and assisting in developing a new crop of publicans is a worthwhile cause in ensuring that the industry continues to flourish. This year’s finalists and winners are all outstanding talents, and we were proud to host them at the 4 Pines Brewery for a one-of-a-kind experience. We have no doubt that this group of young publicans will go on to have thriving careers within pubs.”
Australian Hotelier congratulates all of the finalists and the two winners of the 2024 Future Leaders Scholarship. You can view the full list of finalists below:
- Angie Bishop, Assistant Manager, Brighton Hotel Motel
- Courtney Bull, Functions and Events Manager, Settlers Inn, Port Macquarie WINNER
- Declan Hewton, Assistant Manager, The Highway Hotel, Plympton
- John Holz, Assistant Manager, Oriental Hotel Tumut
- Valencia Lama, Assistant Venue Manger, The Log Cabin
- Aydan Marshall, Assistant Venue Manager, The Pub Tamworth WINNER
- Madeline McDonald, Venue Manager, Grafton Village Green
- Michael Montgomery, Assistant Manager, Tacking Point Tavern
- Jonathan Peirson, Beverage Quality Manager, Maeva Hospitality
- Anita Sattler, Restaurant Manager, Saint & Rogue
- Rhiannon Smith, Assistant Venue Manager, Studley Park Boathouse
- Camellia Stenning, Duty Manager, Terrigal Hotel
