Meet Australia's future leaders in wine

The latest cohort of Future Leaders in wine has graduated following five months of study.

Fifteen grape and wine sector professionals participated in the program that sets out to support professional development and expand their networks to ensure the sector remains informed, educated and skilled from generation to generation.

Future Leaders is coordinated and funded by Wine Australia and supported by Australian Grape & Wine. Launched in 2006, more than 100 professionals have graduated from the program.

The Future Leaders were tasked with formulating visionary and innovative responses to the grape and wine sector’s challenges.

Future Leaders 2022 graduates Emily Hay, Steve Faulkner and Katherine Herd reflected on their experiences through the program. 

Emily Hay, marketing and communications professional at Barossa Australia said, “It's hard to adequately describe the transformational power of the Future Leaders program. No 'paint by numbers' here, it's raw and real, taking you beyond the standard rhetoric and tactics to tap into leadership in your own way. With the confidence and strength this has unlocked in us all, we'll successfully navigate the turbulent times our sector continues to face.”

The graduates come from all parts of the grape and wine value chain. This year's Future Leaders 2022 are:

• Aaron Mercer, Mercer Wines (Hunter Valley)
• Amanda Whiteland, Margaret River Wine Association (Margaret River)
• Briony Hoare, Beach Road Wines (McLaren Vale)
• Daniel McDonald, The Cutting & Pernod Ricard Winemakers (Barossa Valley)
• Emily Hay, Barossa Australia (Barossa Valley)
• Ewan Proctor, Vivino (Yarra Valley)
• Jean Macintyre, Pernod Ricard Winemakers (Adelaide)
• Josh Hixson, Australian Wine Research Institute (Adelaide)
• Kate Sturgess, Brokenwood Wines (Hunter Valley)
• Katherine Herd, Domaine Chandon (Yarra Valley)
• Lauren Hansen, Penley Estate (Coonawarra)
• Mavis Zhang, Wine Network Consulting (Melbourne)
• Richard Burch, Howard Park Wines (Perth)
• Steven Faulkner, Oakridge Wines (Yarra Valley), and
• Zoe Downer, Counter Space (Adelaide).

Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Cole said effective and well-trained leaders are an invaluable asset across all areas of the Australian grape and wine sector.

“Both Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia continue to value the way in which the Future Leaders program fosters agile and resilient leadership behaviours. It supports and celebrates the diversity of thought from the emerging leaders across our sector,” Dr Cole said.

“One of the strengths of our sector is its people, and I am delighted that Future Leaders has nurtured the enthusiasm of this talented group of people who are willing to contribute solutions to the challenges facing our community and make a difference for everyone.”

Applications to join the next Future Leaders program will open at the end of January 2023.