Dr. Karin Grosstessner-Hain is originally from Austria and completed her PhD in Technical Sciences in Vienna. Following two postdoctoral positions in the field of molecular proteomics and a role as Regulatory Manager with the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, she transitioned into the wine industry in British Columbia’s (BC) Okanagan Valley. Karin gained international experience working in wineries across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, with Canada becoming her long-term home base. She has been actively involved in the BC wine industry for over 13 years. In January 2025, Karin returned to applied research, as the Manager of the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre (BTAC) at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus. In this role, Dr. Grosstessner-Hain leads applied research across wine, beer, cider, spirits, and nonalcoholic beverages. Bringing together her hands-on experience as a winemaker and her strong background in analytical chemistry, Karin supports the full production continuum — from grape to finished product — ensuring high-quality outcomes supported by precise analytical data and sensory evaluation.