At the highly anticipated 2025 Star Academy National Finals recently, Heineken Malaysia Berhad celebrated a historic win as Ms Cora Jean Cantwell of Langkah Syabas Beach Resort, Sabah, became the first woman ever to claim the title of National Champion in Star Academy history.
With her trailblazing triumph, Cora Jean has earned an exclusive journey to the Home of Heineken® in Amsterdam—where she will immerse herself in the brand’s heritage and innovation, experiencing firsthand how the Joy of True Togetherness is brewed.
Now in its seventh year, HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Star Academy continues its mission to uplift Malaysia’s services sector by empowering local talent. The programme consistently equips bartenders nationwide with world-class skills, setting new industry standards and raising the bar of excellence in hospitality and tourism.
This year, Star Academy introduced “Tap Into The Future,” a first-of-its-kind immersive Virtual Reality (VR) training module. The cutting-edge experience transforms skill development through a multi-sensory, gamified learning environment—enhancing memory retention, deepening product knowledge, and refining pouring techniques in a dynamic and enjoyable way. It marks a bold step forward in how HEINEKEN Malaysia shapes the bartenders of tomorrow.
HEINEKEN Malaysia’s Managing Director, Martijn van Keulen, said, “With over 11,000 bartenders trained to date, Star Academy reflects our commitment to elevating the services industry, strengthening the capabilities of our local F&B sector, and supporting a vibrant hospitality ecosystem. As one of HEINEKEN Malaysia’s flagship programmes, we are incredibly proud to see Star Academy raise the bar for service excellence nationwide.”
The 2025 Star Academy National Finals showcased top talent from across Malaysia, with finalists representing KL/Selangor, Sarawak, Sabah, Penang, Perak, and Johor.
Jimmy Ding, Sales Director of HEINEKEN Malaysia, added, “We are grateful to our trade partners for their unwavering support and to the dedicated bartenders who continue to challenge themselves and uphold the highest standards. Their passion drives the industry forward. This year, we are especially excited to introduce our pioneering VR training, which enhances the programme with hands-on, immersive learning.”
This year’s judging panel featured Cian Hulm, Commercial Quality Manager, and Wayne Wong, Commercial Quality Lead of HEINEKEN Malaysia, alongside special guest judge Jason Dennis D’Cruz, the 2024 HEINEKEN Global Draught Champion.
Reflecting on her groundbreaking win, National Champion Cora Jean Cantwell shared, “I feel amazing winning this competition, and I am so proud to represent Sabah at this year’s Star Academy National Finals! Thank you, HEINEKEN Malaysia, for this incredible opportunity. I am excited to go to Amsterdam!”
Source – Heineken Malaysia