The independent NFP that hospitality desperately needs

Why aren’t the woman showing up? It’s the question Shirley Yeung and Pippa Canavan asked themselves after attending multiple tastings or trainings where they were the only women.

The pair knew there were plenty of highly talented women in the industry who were keen for professional development, and who were leading teams and opening venues. But industry events often felt like boys’ clubs.

Off the back of this, Yeung and Pippa established Mix House in March 2021.

“We have three core missions,” says Yeung. “The main goal is to see more women represented in our industry.”

“The second part of our mission is to upskill women in the industry through education and scholarships. Thirdly, most importantly, is to create these safe spaces for women, AFAB, and non-binary people.”

“We want to encourage them to flourish and grow and feel comfortable enough to network and build off that,” says Yeung.

The team’s first event was a fundraiser in 2021, which kicked off a steady stream of popular talks, bar takeovers and training sessions.

This month will see Mix Haus return to Sydney Bar Week for the second year in a row, running an open panel discussion, Haus of Allies.

“We always bring it back to women; female educators, female-owned businesses,” says Yeung. Even outside of the hospitality industry, Yeung and Canavan purposefully hire women for graphic design, to make merch, and as photographers on events.

The team has recently expanded into Brisbane with the help of a small Queensland team.

“We held a huge fundraiser there earlier this year in March where we raised $9k,” says Yeung. “And they just did a bar takeover in Toowoomba in Sante Cocktail Bar. It’s a big push on bringing the regional city and the main city together.”

Apart from Mix Haus, Shirley Yeung and Pippa Canavan are Perth hospitality stalwarts.

Yeung is the group operations manager of Foxtrot Hospitality in Western Australia, which includes underground Perth cocktail bar Foxtrot Unicorn, Fremantle’s small wine bar Nieuw Ruin, and Northbridge venue Edward & I.

Pippa Canavan is an award-winning bartender with over a decade of hospitality experience. She recently opened her first venue, Bar Love, alongside co-owner Murray Walsh.

Mix Haus’ Haus of Allies panel discussion will take place on Tuesday 10th September from 1-3pm at Grana Privato Hinchcliffe House as part of Sydney Bar Week.

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