About the Academy

Smith is an award-winning drinks journalist, specialising in the bar industry. Based in London, he edits UK bartender magazine CLASS, works across sister title Drinks International as Bars Editor and is a former editor of The World's 50 Best Bars. Over a 10-year career in drinks, Smith has established himself as a key commentator of the global bar industry.

A native New Yorker, experienced drinks journalist and self-confessed Europhile, Alia Akkam has called Budapest home since 2015. She is the former editor of Beverage Media and Hospitality Design, publications she continues to contribute to regularly, Akkam has an affinity for writing about cocktails and bars, as well as design, travel, food, and culture. Her work has appeared in outlets ranging from ArchitecturalDigest.com to Men's Health. In October 2020 she published Behind the Bar: 50 Cocktails from the World's Most Iconic Hotels with Hardie Grant.

Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Carvallo has over 20 years' experience in the bar and spirits sector. Today, she focuses her work on supporting drinks sector entrepreneurs creating the brands of the future. Carvallo is also the co-founder of Barra Mexico, the leading spirits tradeshow in Latin America and the first zero-carbon bar show in the world.

Nikolskaya is owner of Nomad Bar Show, the first 'travelling' bar show which launched in Kazakhstan in 2023. She was previously head of the Moscow Bar Show, which was the leading bar exhibition in Eastern Europe. A perfect mix of two of the world's greatest drinking cultures – half-Irish and half-Russian – she is a leading figure in Eastern European bartending community. Nikolskaya regularly travels the world on the hunt for new ideas, speakers, techniques and inspiration to bring back to the vast region and to help deliver a unique experience to thousands of bartenders every year.

Czech editor and journalist Urbanová has almost 20 years' experience in food and drinks. From 2010 to 2015 she worked as editor-in-chief on Barlife magazine and in this capacity assisted in organsing the Prague Bar Show and Czech Bar Awards. Since 2015 she has been editor-in-chief and co-owner of online journal AtBars.com, which focuses its content on bars' business and related fields.

Nikoloulia first studied political science before moving to work in lifestyle and travel magazines in her home country, Greece. From here, she developed a great passion for the bar sector and is now dedicated to great Martinis, creative mixologists and exceptional bars. She is the co-founder of non-profit civil partnership Metron Ariston: Making Responsibility a Trend; co-organiser of Athens Rum and Whisky Festival; co-organiser of Cyprus Cocktail Festival; and co-organiser of Aegean Cocktails and Spirits, a project that promotes Greek spirits through various activations, projects and festivals.

Monti is a Belgian, Madrid-based cocktail and spirits writer. He is the author of three books, including El Gran Libro del Vermut and 101 Cocktails to Try Before You Die. His writing has appeared in various publications across the world and he has led seminars at some of the largest global bar events, such as Berlin Bar Convent. He lives for a good seat at the bar.

Sundin began his journey as a bartender in 2004 and began to grow his passion for hospitality. He is most notable as the host and one of the founders of Bartenders' Choice Awards, an awards programme dedicated to the Nordic bar community. Sundin currently stands as a managing partner of Purfict, which focuses on the development of the bar sector and cocktails through creative concepts, photography and events.

Reichert is a Berlin-based bar journalist with a passion for the people behind the bar and heavily peated whisky. Having studied philosophy, she's constantly seeking the big questions around the global bar scene and is an enthusiastic observer of trends. She is at the frontline of bars reporting in Germany and beyond.

Marot is a journalist who has been specialising in the world of cocktails, spirits, and beer for more than a decade. She moves between trade publications, mainstream media, and specialised guides, tracking trends, techniques, and the stories behind cocktails and bottles. A regular judge in cocktail and spirits competitions, she brings her expertise to spotlight the talents behind the shaker. Passionate about the cocktail universe, she travels across France and beyond meeting the people shaping these liquid crafts. She is also the author of several spirit books, notably on rum and cocktails Sur la Route des Rhums (2024).

A Milan-based food and beverage editor, Vaglini travels the world to experience the best restaurants and cocktail bars to tell their stories in L'Officiel Italia, ICON Magazine, Forbes and Gastronomika. She is the digital content coordinator for Robb Report Italia, as well as the co-founder of Coqtail Milano, the first Italian community focused on mixology, which also has an online magazine. A specialist in trend research, she edits annual reports analysing the food and beverage industry as well as writing features on the latest spirits news.