18i3_News
Shabnam Weber
Shabnam Weber, a Toronto-based tea retailer and founder of The Academy of Tea, is the new president of the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada (THAC).
Weber, who co-founded the Tea Emporium, a chain of specialty tea shops, serves as a member of the THAC board.
“The tea industry has been an enormous part of my life for almost two decades and I consider myself privileged to be a part of this world,” said Weber. She replaces Louise Roberge who retired June 1.
In making the announcement THAC board chair Ron Sadler praised Weber’s work leading the education committee. “She assisted in developing and authoring the Tea Sommelier Education program with THAC and more recently, through her company The Tea Academy, has been the third party provider of THAC’s Tea Sommelier Education program,” he said.
Weber said that serving on the THAC Board for almost ten years “has given me a broader and richer insight into all aspects of the tea industry. My vision for THAC moving forward is to build on our strengths, but to also have an association that embraces all parts of the tea world.
"I was an independent specialty retailer when I started my involvement with THAC,” she said, adding, “I am a testament to this statement: nothing happens without engagement.”
Weber will divest both her retail business and her interest in the Tea Academy to avoid any conflict of interest.