The next cohort of dynamic talent to be selected for the Australian grape and wine sector’s flagship leadership development program Future Leaders has been announced today.
The Future Leaders for 2023 are:
| Amy Blackburn | AVL Wines (Sunraysia) |
| Andrew Duff | Hart & Hunter Wines (Hunter Valley) |
| Andrew Shedden | Endeavour Drinks Group (Melbourne) |
| Belinda van Eyssen | The Cutting (Barossa) |
| Bodhi Edwards | Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA (Adelaide) |
| Caitlin Davies | Jericho Wines (Adelaide Hills & McLaren Vale) |
| Eloise Jarvis | Cape Mentelle Vineyards (Margaret River) |
| George Taylor | Treasury Wine Estates (Barossa) |
| Jamie Pike | Pikes Wines (Clare) |
| Katie Spain | Wine journalist and feature writer for Good Food, WBM, and Gourmet Traveller (Adelaide) |
| Kendall Clements-Virag | Pernod Ricard Winemakers (Adelaide & Barossa) |
| Lucy Etheridge | Yarrawalla Vineyards (Yarra Valley) |
| Monica Gray | See Saw Wines (Orange) |
| Ray Ruiming Chen | Endeavour Drinks Group and Rongo Wines (Melbourne & Yarra Valley) |
| Steven Paul | Oakdene Wines (Geelong) |
On learning of her selection, Lucy Etheridge General Manager of Yarrawalla Vineyards said, “Whether you’re a farmer like I am, or another part of the wine industry supply chain, the responsibility sits with every single one of us to stay curious and consciously make a difference to ensure a thriving and resilient wine sector into the future.”
Fellow Future Leader 2023 Andrew Shedden Head of Fine Wine at Endeavour Drinks Group said, “It's an incredibly exciting opportunity. On a personal level, I've spoken to a number of individuals who have been through this program and they rave about the quality of the people and the outcomes associated with it. Professionally, I'm looking forward to spending some solid time with a real cross-section of people from across the wine industry to better understand how I can continue to contribute the growth and success of the Australian wine sector.”
Eloise Jarvis, Senior Winemaker from Cape Mentelle Vineyards said, “I hope to come out of the Future Leaders program with increased confidence to fulfill my ambitions of continuing to facilitate the link between national programs and strategies with regional communities at the grass roots level, helping those people and businesses reach their full potential.”
The fifteen Future Leaders 2023 were selected from a field of more than 100 applicants and this year’s cohort is reflective of the diversity of applications received, notably with 62 per cent from women this year.
Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Cole said the selection panel – which comprised six Future Leaders alumni, Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive Lee McLean and Dr Cole – were delighted by the quality of the applications received.
“It was a highly competitive process and the selection panel all volunteered a significant amount of time to ensure that this cohort was not only the best of the best, but that it reflects the diversity within and the range of roles across our sector,” Dr Cole said.
“The Future Leaders chosen demonstrated exceptional thought leadership to address immediate challenges facing our sector especially around business restructuring, diversification of our export markets, innovation in products, and in sustainability and ESG.”
The Future Leaders will embark on a tailored six-month program coordinated and funded by Wine Australia, supported by Australian Grape & Wine and delivered with Pragmatic Thinking.
Future Leaders inspires emerging grape and wine sector leaders wanting to achieve impactful change at a personal, business and sector level. It supports participants to sharpen decision-making abilities, build networks and enthusiasm to take the grape and wine community forward into tomorrow.
Applications for the next program will open in early 2025.
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Image caption: Future Leaders 2023; from top left to right Amy Blackburn, Steven Paul, Andrew Shedden, Belinda van Eyssen, Monica Gray, Bodhi Edwards, Caitlin Davies, Eloise Jarvis, George Taylor, Ray Ruiming Chen, Jamie Pike, Katie Spain, Kendall Clements-Virag, Lucy Etheridge and Andrew Duff.
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About Wine Australia
Wine Australia supports a competitive wine sector by investing in research and innovation (R&I), growing domestic and international markets, protecting the reputation of Australian wine.
Wine Australia is an Australian Commonwealth Government statutory authority, established under the Wine Australia Act 2013, and funded by grape growers and winemakers through levies and user-pays charges and the Australian Government, which provides matching funding for R&I investments.
About Future Leaders
Future Leaders is a professional and personal development program that encourages innovative, collaborative and change-making behaviours in the Australian wine sector. It encourages those who have demonstrated leadership potential to dare to ask ‘Why’ and ‘What if…?’
Future Leaders creates a network of confident, committed individuals who will ‘be next’ to contribute to the future success of the Australian grape and wine community. Future Leaders is funded by Wine Australia and supported by Australia’s major wine sector body Australian Grape & Wine. Future Leaders is designed and delivered by Pragmatic Thinking, using contemporary leadership thought practices grounded in behavioural science and psychology.
Wine Australia invests in the Future Leaders program as part of its policy of investing in sector leadership. In the same vein, it supports the Next Crop regional leadership program, the Wine Industry Mentor Program and research scholarships.
About Australian Grape & Wine Inc
Australian Grape & Wine Inc is the national association of grape and wine producers. We address issues across the supply-chain that impact on the profitability and sustainability of the sector. We lead and advocate public policy that enhances the ability to responsibly produce, promote and enjoy Australian wine in moderation.
Australian Grape & Wine is recognised as a representative organisation for winegrape and wine producers under the Wine Australia Act 2013, and is incorporated under the SA Associations Incorporation Act 1985. We work in partnership with the Australian Government to develop and implement policy that is in the best interests of winegrape growers and winemakers across Australia.