Katherine Vellinga

Katherine Vellinga — Innovation, Bold Leadership, and a Global Ukrainian Brand

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Katherine Vellinga is the visionary Co-Founder and CEO of Zirkova, an award-winning ultra-premium vodka brand proudly produced in Ukraine and sold in Canada.

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A Systems Design Engineering graduate from the University of Waterloo, Katherine made a bold entrepreneurial leap in 1997 — leaving her corporate career to move to newly independent Ukraine, her family’s ancestral homeland. There, she co-founded EBS, a management consulting firm with a 25-year legacy of empowering market leaders across industries.

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While living in Ukraine, Katherine discovered the birthplace and rich heritage of vodka — and the remarkable legacy of women Master Distillers. Inspired by this story, she founded Zirkova with a mission to elevate the spirit through craftsmanship, innovation, and purpose.

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Under her leadership, Zirkova launched two distinct ultra-premium vodkas:

• Zirkova One — crafted for exceptional sipping and martinis

• Zirkova Together — formulated to create noticeably better-tasting cocktails

Zirkova is the top-selling Ukrainian vodka brand available in Canada and has been featured at Ukraine House Davos during the World Economic Forum.

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Beyond business success, Katherine leads with purpose. Zirkova has raised over $500,000 for humanitarian and charitable organizations across Canada, the U.S., and Ukraine, supporting hospital foundations, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, Ambulances for Ukraine, KyivPride, and many others. The company has also donated profits to Ukrainian Humanitarian Appeal Funds.

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Katherine is a sought-after speaker and media commentator on entrepreneurship, business leadership, and Ukraine, with appearances on BBC, CTV, CBC, Financial Post, and The Globe and Mail.