Our Community 

 ​Les Dames d'Escoffier is not limited to the Province of Ontario. 
We are connected globally to 45 chapters, composing of a powerful, far-reaching professional network.
Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario (LDEO) is the premier invitational organization of influential women leaders in food, beverage and hospitality,
​which was launched in Toronto June 2019. ​

Meet our Board and Committee Members

    Liz Palmer

Doris Miculan Bradley

Heather Zordel

Jo-Ann McArthur

 President, and Board Chair

First Vice President

Second Vice President

Third Vice President

​Liz Palmer is a wine journalist and award-winning author. She is also the founding partner of UPSocial Wine and Spirits agency which designs digital marketing strategies for global wine and spirit brands. Liz has been recognized as one of the “Top 20” Global Social Media Influencers on wine and spirits,
she is ranked Top 1% in LinkedIn. Among her accomplishments, Liz was awarded the title of “Dame Chevalier”
​of the Ordre de Coteaux de Champagne, has recently participated as a judge in the Canadian Marketing Awards; is a TEDxToronto Insider,
​ and a Facebook - Business Insights Panel Member. Liz sits on the Board of the Federation Internationale des Journalistes et Ecrivains des Vins et Spiritueux Paris, and is the founding President of Les Dames d'Escoffier Ontario, and Women in Wine Talks.

Doris Miculan Bradley is a Professor at George Brown College, with a history of working in the higher education industry specializing in program and curriculum development. She has a diverse educational background and is skilled in Event Management and Not-for-Profit Charitable Fundraising, Management, Leadership, Social Media Development, and Adult Education. She is an experienced author, wine journalist, wine judge and chef. 

Heather Zordel is a partner in the Securities Group at Gardiner Roberts LLP, focusing on corporate finance, securities regulatory compliance, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions. In addition to her law practice, Heather is currently a Board and Audit Committee member of Toronto Hydro Corporation; and Chair of the Condominium Authority of Ontario. She is a former Commissioner and Audit Committee Member of the Ontario Securities Commission and is a OSC Tribunal Panel Member. She is a former Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, Board and Audit Committee Member of LawPro. For the Albany Club of Toronto, over 10 years, Heather served in roles as Executive Vice President, a Board Member, Executive Committee Member, Development Committee Member, and as Finance Committee Chair and Membership Committee Chair.

Jo-Ann has spent a career building brands with consumers and retailers at Molson, Procter and Gamble, Unilever and Cadillac Fairview. As a Founding Partner and President of Nourish Food Marketing,
Jo-Ann now builds powerful brands for food and beverage products in Canada, the US and Europe. Jo-Ann is founding chair of the Sponsorship Marketing Council of Canada, a Past President of The Empire Club of Canada where she hosted leaders from around the globe and serves as Past Chair of ABC Life Literacy Canada.

      Shari Mogk-Edwards                         Riva Walia                      Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright

      Fifth Vice President                          Sixth Vice President                       Fundraising

Shari Mogk-Edwards is the Founder of Shari’s Picks Consulting.  Shari’s company offers specialized consulting services for the beverage alcohol (wine, spirits, beer) industry in brand development and merchandising.
​Her career spans 36 years with the world’s largest single buyer of beverage alcohol – the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Shari currently sits on the board of IWEG, Toronto.

Riva Walia is an accomplished multilingual global executive with 25+ years of demonstrated leadership experience in strategy consulting, global FDI and non-profit management.
​A true value creator and trusted business partner with a unique ability to develop diverse- large teams & foster stakeholder relationships across levels of governments, boards and global businesses. Riva is currently the Managing Director of France Canada Chamber of Commerce – Ontario and sits on the board of Breast Cancer Society of Canada.

Jenny Ratcliffe-Wright is a Cape Wine Master, South Africa’s highest wine qualification.  She was born into the wine industry in South Africa where she lived until 2018. She has worked in all sides of the wine and food industries, including running her own catering company, being a private chef, writing a wine book, editing a wine magazine, selling wine globally as well as being a wine producer.

       Anne Popoff                                        Maria Depenweiller

Anne Popoff was born in Paris, France and has lived, studied and worked in several countries before and after immigrating to Canada.
​Following an international career in Investment Banking, Precious Metals and Microfinance,  Anne embraced a second career in the wine industry. A Certified Sommelier (International Sommelier Guild) and holder of the prestigious Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, past President of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) Ontario, Anne is also a noted international wine judge. 

Maria Depenweiller is a professional home economist,
writer and a nutritionist.
She is an active member of OHEA.
She has worked on recipe testing and development,
led culinary master classes and authored six books
in two languages on various culinary topics.
​Two of her books are prestigious award recipients.

Be a part our community

Join an accomplished group of over 2,400 female influencers in a myriad of wine and culinary related professions. Our by-invitation membership is composed of chapters in Canada, the United States, France, United Kingdom, and Mexico.  Our community is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality. 

Don't Miss Our Next Gathering!

---